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A major cross-endorsement deal is in the works to virtually assure the re-elections of Suffolk Democratic District Attorney Thomas Spota, Conservative Sheriff Vincent DeMarco and GOP Treasurer Angie Carpenter.

But the deal, critics say, will deny voters a choice next fall.

The tentative deal would give all three incumbents four ballot lines - Republican, Democratic, Conservative and Independence Party - leaving other potential contenders a chance to run only on minor party lines or circulate petitions to put their names at the ballot's bottom.

Richard Schaffer, Suffolk Democratic chairman, said his executive committee last week gave him power to complete a deal. "It's a triple win for all the parties involved," said Schaffer.

Harry Withers, Suffolk GOP chairman vacationing in Florida, said he is returning to meet with town leaders Thursday. "There are some pluses and minuses," he said, but emphasized no final decision has been made.

However, other party sources say a deal is likely. Because Republican Carpenter is the most vulnerable of the three, the party needs to conserve resources and cannot anger Conservatives who want to protect DeMarco. "We think it's best," said one top GOP official who did not wish to be identified. "This allows us to concentrate on what is truly important - the legislative races and the towns."

A cross-endorsement would undercut Suffolk police unions' efforts to thwart DeMarco's renomination by enrolling 2,000 police union members last fall into the Conservative Party. The unions are upset that DeMarco in September agreed to have deputy sheriffs patrol the Long Island Expressway and Sunrise Highway. In an economic move, County Executive Steve Levy pulled the county police highway patrol off the roads.

"The most disturbing thing is that it disenfranchises the public," said Jeff Frayler, Suffolk PBA president. "When you have all party leaders in a smoke-filled room protecting their own turf, it takes away the people's right to choose, and there's something very wrong with that."

Edward Walsh, Suffolk Conservative chairman, declined to comment, but party officials said a deal would make DeMarco, a Conservative who won with Democratic support four years ago in a narrow victory, far less vulnerable. "The police union is playing checkers, while Walsh is playing chess," said one party official who declined to be identified.

Cross-endorsements are nothing new in Suffolk politics: Democrat Spota got GOP backing four years ago while GOP comptroller Joseph Sawicki won Democratic support a year later. Without funds or a candidate, the GOP also supported Democratic County Executive Steve Levy in 2007. What makes the current deal unusual is that all three countywide candidates are involved.