Democrat Steve Bellone will be the new county executive for Suffolk County after a reversal from incumbent Steve Levy last spring that he would not seek a third term because of an ongoing ethics investigation.

Bellone, who was expecting to run as the underdog challenger to Levy, bested county treasurer Angie Carpenter on Tuesday by more than 10 percent.

Bellone has a firm Democratic background but campaigned on cutting the size of government even if it meant laying off government workers.  

“We will make government more efficient," he said during his victory speech. "We will make it work so that we can protect tax payers in this county.”

Despite Bellone’s fund raising advantage, party officials were nervous about low voter turnout. Nearly 20 percent of registered voters turned out.