News

How NYers Can Vote by Absentee Ballot in the June 23 Primary

Absentee ballots will be available to all New Yorkers for the June primary
Apr
14
2020

New Yorkers looking to use absentee ballots to vote rather than going to polling places during the COVID-19 outbreak need only fill out an application for a mail-in ballot, according to the state Board of Elections.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s executive order temporarily suspends a portion of state election law. The order will allow voters to apply for absentee ballots because voting in person could make them susceptible to contracting the virus.

A voter must check the box on the existing application for “temporary illness or physical disability,” but will not be required to appear before election officials to obtain an absentee ballot.| read more ››

Cuomo Changes Election Rules in Effort to Slow Spread of COVID-19 Outbreak

Mar
14
2020

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed an executive order Saturday temporarily modifying election procedures to help reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Under the new order, the candidate petitioning process will be suspended effective 5 p.m. Tuesday for the June primaries for congressional, state senate, state assembly and judicial races.

In addition, the signature requirements for ballot access will also be modified under the new order. Candidates now only need to collect 30 percent of the statutory threshold. This means that congressional candidates need only 375 signatures rather than 1,250. Meanwhile, State Senate candidates need 300 signatures rather than 1,000, and State Assembly candidates require 150 signatures instead of the normally-required 500.| read more ››

Voters Elect Jason Richberg to Fill DuWayne Gregory's Seat in 15th District

Mar
11
2020

Jason Richberg, a West Babylon Democrat, defeated by a wide margin two challengers — an Amityville Republican and a Copiague Democrat — in a special election for a prominent Suffolk County Legislature seat.

Suffolk Board of Election results showed that Richberg, a clerk to the legislature, won as many as 2,022 votes of 2,501 cast in a contest to win the 15th Legislative District and replace former Legis. DuWayne Gregory, who once served as presiding officer.

"I think it’s important at this point in time that we get together and listen to what the needs of the district are," Richberg said after the votes were tallied. "Obviously, people want to be heard and I am here to be that...| read more ››

Democrats Attack Sorrentino Over Tax Liabilities

Oct
25
2019

A Republican candidate for Town Board is acknowledging having had several tax liens totaling thousands of dollars against his business, while Democrats are circulating information about the liability and charging theft.

The state liens and tax warrants were brought against Andre Sorrentino and his brother Pat on their PAS Automotive Service in Huntington Station. The 19 judgments entered against them and their company totaled $288,419. Sorrentino provided evidence Thursday night the state tax department had no unpaid tax bills against him.| read more ››

Did Legislator Flotteron Know About Anthony Piccirillo’s Shady Past When He Hired Him?

Sep
17
2019

Today, as more information about Anthony Piccirillo’s past comes to light, the question arises, did Legislator Flotteron know about Anthony Piccirillo’s past? Or did Anthony Piccirillo lie once more?

Keith Davies, spokesman for the Suffolk County Democratic Committee released the following statement:

“Voters in the 11th Legislative District deserve to know how much Legislator Flotteron knew about Anthony Piccirillo when he hired him. It calls into question his judgement and how fit he is to represent the district.”| read more ››

Gonzalez bests field in special election for Suffolk's 9th Legislative District seat

Sam Gonzalez
Mar
20
2019

Union leader Sam Gonzalez easily won a special election Tuesday night to fill the county legislature seat formerly held by new State Sen. Monica Martinez in the heavily Democratic Ninth District.

With all 36 districts reporting unofficial results, Gonzalez, of Brentwood, had 896 votes, or 77.24 percent. Maria Vidal, of North Bay Shore, tallied 239 votes, or nearly 20.6 percent. Conservative Anne Wiggins of Central Islip received 20 votes, or 1.72 percent.

“The people who came out and elected me today are those who know we need change in the community and they feel I’m the right man for the job,” said Gonzalez, at Democratic headquarters in Bohemia. He praised the 40 to 50 volunteers as well as union groups...| read more ››

Samuel Gonzalez expected to get Dems' nod for Suffolk Legislature

Sam Gonzalez
Jan
9
2019

The Suffolk Democratic executive committee is expected to name Samuel Gonzalez Thursday as the party's candidate in the March 19 special election for the county legislature seat left vacant by Democrat Monica Martinez's departure for the state Senate.

The nomination is expected to be finalized in a late afternoon conference phone call. Gonzalez was recommended by the party’s screening committee.

“He’s got extensive community roots and he is an experienced union leader, which will make him a perfect replacement for Monica,” said Richard Schaffer, Suffolk Democratic leader.| read more ››

Big Long Island wins help Democrats take control of State Senate

Nov
7
2018

Democrats also campaigned to block Republican President Donald Trump’s policies on taxes, immigration, social welfare programs, civil rights and environmental protection.

Most Republicans, however, tried to walk a fine line on Trump, who is deeply unpopular in New York. New York Republicans have said they would support some of his measures, such as those that spur the economy, while distancing themselves form Trump’s heated rhetoric.

Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone, who was dispatched statewide to show Democrats how to win in Republican areas, called Stewart-Cousins “the soon-to-be majority leader.”

“I look forward to working together to protect suburban homeowners and finally pass good-government reforms that have been stalled for far too long,” Bellone said.

Democrats controlled the Senate only twice: In 1965 until Republicans won a special election months later; and in 2008, when Democrats won 32 seats in what was then a 62-seat chamber. Republicans scored a net gain of two seats in 2010, giving them a 32-seat majority plus a conservative Democrat who allied with them. GOP rule was further solidified in 2010 when four Democrats broke away from the Democratic majority to form the Independent Democratic Conference, which allied with the Republican majority and Democratic Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to get some progressive measures to the floor. It dissolved in April under pressure within the party.| read more ››

Letitia James Breaks Multiple Barriers With Win In New York Attorney General Race

Nov
7
2018

Letitia James made history on election night by becoming the first African-American woman to be elected attorney general of New York.

James, the public advocate for New York City, also broke barriers as first black woman elected to statewide office in New York, the first woman of any race to be elected as the state’s attorney general, and the first black person to serve in that position.

In a tweet Tuesday night, attorney general-elect said her victory was “for justice” and “our future.”| read more ››

Lys Keeps Town Board Seat in Landslide

Nov
6
2018

East Hampton Town Councilman David Lys, who was appointed to the town board in January, was elected in his own right on Tuesday, defeating his challenger, Manny Vilar, with a decisive 69.3 percent of the vote.

An unofficial tally on the Suffolk County Board of Elections website had Mr. Lys winning 6,177 votes to Mr. Vilar's 2,728. Appointed to fill the seat occupied by Peter Van Scoyoc following his election as supervisor last November, Mr. Lys will now serve the final year of Mr. Van Scoyoc's term. He will have to stand for re-election next year, should he wish to seek a full four-year term.| read more ››