Edwards Gets Dems’ Nod In Town Supervisor Race

Huntington Councilwoman Tracey Edwards, center, who won Tuesday’s Democratic primary in the supervisor race, with fellow Democrats, from left: Councilwoman Susan Berland; Councilman Mark Cuthbertson; Emily Rogan; and Kevin Orelli.

By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com

Huntington Councilwoman Tracey Edwards has earned the Democratic line for the upcoming town supervisor race.

Edwards received 3,482 votes (67.36 percent) in Tuesday’s primary election, besting challenger, Northport High School teacher and Navy veteran Darryl St. George, who received 1,664 votes (32.19 percent), according to Suffolk Board of Elections.

An additional 23 votes were cast for write in candidates.

In a phone call Wednesday, Edwards said she’s “ecstatic” about the amount of support she received from Huntington’s Democratic voters.

“I believe that Democrats will come together,” Edwards said. “We have a wonderfully diverse town and I’m willing to work with everyone.”

Edwards said she is looking forward to engaging Huntington residents throughout her upcoming campaign about issues ranging from gang violence and the opioid epidemic to ensuring that millennials and seniors can have access to affordable housing.

In the November election for town supervisor, Edwards will square off against Republican nominee and state Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci; and Michael Raspantini, who will run under his “End Corruption in Huntington” party.

Edwards will also run on the Women’s Equality line, which she secured in the primary election, along with the Working Families and Independence lines. Lupinacci secured the Reform Party line on Tuesday and will also run on the Conservative line.

There was also a primary Tuesday for the Green Party, with Jeremy Grossman, of Melville, on the ballot, but Suffolk Board of Elections officials said a winner would not be determined until next week due to write-in votes.

Looking ahead to his campaign, Lupinacci said he plans to focus on issues like heroin abuse, gangs and keeping town taxes and fees in check.

He said his message could resonate with Democrats who did not vote for Edwards.

“Huntington is a swing area and having the right tone and the right message is most important,” Lupinacci said. “This election is the town’s first opportunity for new leadership in a quarter of a century.”

Further results across town, Suffolk

In the Republican primary for Suffolk County Sheriff Lawrence Zacarese defeated Philip Boyle by 2,737 votes. In a statement posted Tuesday night, Zacarese thanked his supporters. He said, “Tomorrow we start fresh with laser focus on the general election.”

The Democrats’ candidate, Huntington attorney Stuart Besen, was widely seen as a placeholder in a cross-endorsement deal. It was speculated that Besen would decline the nomination, allowing the party to name Boyle as its candidate. With Boyle’s loss of the Republican line, that deal may have fallen apart.

Besen said Wednesday, “I have not made a determination yet.”

In an Independence Party primary for Suffolk’s 18th Legislative District, Dom Spada received 160 votes to defeat incumbent Legislator William “Doc” Spencer (D-Centerport), who received 101 votes.

Spencer, who has already secured the Democratic and Working Families lines, won the Women’s Equality primary.

Spada, meanwhile, will also run on the Republican and Reform lines.

As for Huntington town council, Democrats Emily Rogan and Mark Cuthbertson secured the Women’s Equality line, while Republicans Edmund Smyth and James Leonick earned the Reform Party line.