Westhampton Beach Man Set To Run Against Schneiderman

The Suffolk County Republican Party has nominated Cornelius Kelly, a Westhampton Beach title agency owner, to run against , I-Montauk, for the second district seat. 

Born and raised in Westhampton Beach, Kelly, 39, is a former bond analyst of billions of dollars in securities.

"He's not known to the community, but he will be known," said Ernie Wruck, the Southampton GOP chairman. Wruck said Kelly is "a guy who promises me that every day Jay Schneiderman gets up, he’s going to be on his tail following him and he’s going to beat him in November and help us bring back the county Legislature."

Asked why he was running, Kelly cited the sex offenders housed in trailers in Riverside and Westhampton. "We store 100 percent of Suffolk County's sex offenders in Southampton," he said. While Schneiderman is against the practice, as well, Kelly said, "Jay left the Republican caucus. Our Republican county executive vetoed his bill, and has got nothing signed into law."

Schneiderman, a former Republican, registered with the Independence Party in 2008 and is seeking a fifth term in office on the Democratic line, as well. Elected to the Legislature in 2003, he was the East Hampton Town supervisor from 2000 to 2004.

Asked to comment on his opponent, Schneiderman said, "How can I comment about someone I've never heard of?"

"I'm running on my record. I think people have heard of my name," Schneiderman said. "Usually, around these parts you get name recognition by working hard around your community and doing good things."

In a statement, Kelly said, "I come from a strong Republican family." His late father was an elected judge in Westhampton Beach for 20 years and his brother is the Judge Robert Kelly, Jr., who took over their father's seat 11 years ago and has won re-election ever since.

A University of Scranton graduate, Kelly also holds an MBA from New York University with a double major in finance and economics.

Kelly founded Liberty Property Services title insurance company in July 2005. Previously, he was a sales associate for Decision 2000 Real Estate Services, a title agency in Riverhead, where he generated more than $450,000 in fees annually, between 2002 and 2005, according to his resume.

He also worked as a bond analyst, trader and broker in New York City between 1996 and 2005.

He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children; Meghan, 4, Lauren, 3, and Finn, 10 months. He said he attends mass at the in Quiogue and is a former volunteer catechism teacher.

With reporting by Joseph Pinciaro.