A New York politician said he will personally pay $600 for a veteran Santa Claus to play the role at a general store run by Suffolk County.

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Steve Bellone, a Democrat running for county executive, said he will personally front the money for David McKell, a retired police detective lieutenant and former state trooper, to reprise his role as Santa at the St. James General Store for a 10th year, WNBC-TV, New York, reported Monday.

"This is personal, not political," Bellone said. "Politics ends at the North Pole. This is about all the kids of this county and my own kids getting a chance to come here."

Bellone made the announcement after officials announced there was no money in the budget to pay McKell and they were seeking volunteers to fill the void.

Angie Carpenter, the Republican running opposite Bellone, called the announcement a "cheap political stunt."