News

Assemb. Dean Murray Concedes Election to Democrat Ed Hennessey

Nov
17
2012

Republican Assemb. Dean Murray led challenger Ed Hennessey by 36 votes on election night, but a recount has turned the tables and Hennessey, a former Brookhaven Town councilman is now headed to Albany.

Officials confirmed that Murray, of Patchogue, conceded the 3rd Assembly District race to Hennessey after a second day of recanvassing Thursday put the Democrat on top.

Newsday reported that Hennessey, a lawyer, won by 226 votes when all the ballots were counted Friday.

Murray, who took office in 2010 after winning a special election and won a full two year term later that year, posted a note on his Facebook page Friday morning thanking his supporters.

"It has truly been an honor and...| read more ››

Hennessey unseats Assemb. Murray in 3rd District

Nov
17
2012

Former Brookhaven Town Board member Edward Hennessey has won an improbable political comeback in the 3rd Assembly District, turning a 36-vote election night deficit into a 226-vote victory over GOP incumbent Dean Murray, who was seeking his second full term.

Hennessey, a Republican-turned-Democrat who spent virtually no money and does not live in the newly redrawn district, managed the triple-digit win after election officials finished counting nearly 4,000 absentee and provisional ballots late Friday morning.

Murray, of East Patchogue, conceded earlier Friday in a call to elections officials. Hennessey had opened a 148-vote lead when the recount stopped at 8 p.m. Thursday, with 56 of the 72 election districts counted.

Murray thanked his supporters on Facebook about 8:50 a.m., calling...| read more ››

GOP Assemb. Dean Murray concedes race for 3rd District seat

Nov
16
2012

GOP Assemb. Dean Murray has conceded the race for the 3rd District seat to an opponent who ran a grassroots campaign and spent almost no money.

A Suffolk County elections official confirmed Friday that Murray conceded to Democratic challenger Edward Hennessey.

Murray thanked his supporters on Facebook, calling it an "an honor and a privilege" to serve the residents of the 3rd Assembly District over the past three years. He added that "it wasn't in the cards for me to continue doing so."

In the second day of recanvassing, Hennessey pulled ahead of Murray. As of 8 p.m. Thursday, Hennessey had a 148-vote lead with 56 of the 72 election districts counted, officials said. County election officials were expected to...| read more ››

Krupski running for County Legislature

Nov
14
2012

A week after his name was first mentioned as perhaps the Democrat’s best hope to capture the Suffolk County Legislature seat Ed Romaine is leaving, Al Krupski ended all speculation Tuesday night.

He’s going for it.

Mr. Krupski, a Peconic farmer who has served in elected office in Southold for 28 years, announced his decision during a meeting of the town’s Democratic Committee.

“It’s an exciting opportunity,” said Mr. Krupski, one of only two Democrats in town government. Should he gain the seat, he said, “I’ll still be serving Southold, only in a different capacity.”

The Legislature’s First District includes Southold, Riverhead and part of southeast Brookhaven. Mr. Romaine, a Center Moriches Republican, will leave the Legislature once he’s sworn...| read more ››

Bellone: Bypassing LIPA leaders to restore power

SC Executive Steve Bellone
Nov
10
2012

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said Saturday he is bypassing LIPA's top managers and working directly with local substation coordinators to restore power to Suffolk County residents by Sunday night.

"We are taking matters into our own hands here," said Bellone at a 2 p.m. news conference in the parking lot at the LIPA / National Grid office in Brentwood.

He blasted the home inspection process LIPA implemented five days after the height of superstorm Sandy.

Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer also spoke about his efforts in negotiating with LIPA attorneys over restoring power to the homes south of Montauk Highway that were without serious structural damage.

Bellone also asked residents not to take their frustrations out on individual...| read more ››

Amid storm and cleanup, public not heard from at morning budget meeting

Nov
8
2012

Town leaders throughout Suffolk County are weathering conditions and holding 2013 budget hearings. Despite damage done by two recent storms, they said they expect to approve the spending plans by the Nov. 20 state deadline.

At Brookhaven's public hearing Thursday, hundreds of people in the packed Town Hall auditorium spoke largely against layoffs in the proposed $247 million budget.

Several board members have introduced resolutions to restore staffing and programs to various departments. Craig Lucas, a building inspector and union steward, pointed out the building department is still slated to lose six full-time jobs. "We don't get much respect. We're like a stepchild," he said. "The backbone of this town is the workers. If you mess around with the backbone,...| read more ››

Krupski, Russell, Faulk, Densieski for Legislature?

Nov
8
2012

Scott Russell vs. Al Krupski?

County Legislator Ed Densieski?

Faulk for Legislature?

These are some of the names being bounced around by party leaders to replace County Legislator Ed Romaine, who won a special election Tuesday for Brookhaven Town Supervisor.

Mr. Krupski was the only potential candidate named Tuesday night by Suffolk Democratic chairman Richard Schaffer. He said Wednesday that he’s interested, but he can’t commit to running in a special election just yet.

“I can’t say yes but I’m not saying no,” said Mr. Krupski, the only Democrat to hold a Town Board post in Mr. Romaine’s district. “I’m going to talk about it with Rich and then talk about it with my family. I certainly know the district...| read more ››

Important Voting Information

Nov
6
2012

Suffolk County Voters,

Please see the following information regarding poll relocations in Suffolk and balloting.

We will post updates as we receive them.

Babylon ED 130
If you are registered to vote in Babylon...| read more ››

On L.I., Islip among towns where Dems keep gaining on GOP

Nov
4
2012

Nassau Democrats have continued to increase their voter registration edge, enrolling nearly 12,000 more voters than Republicans since the start of the year.

Since Jan. 1, Democrats have enrolled 94,655 new voters, while Republican have enlisted 82,732, according to Nassau elections officials. There were also 61,555 new voters not aligned with either party.

The new registration figures added to the Nassau Democrats' overall 33,031 edge in countywide voter enrollment, which now stands at 358,198 Democrats to 325,167 Republicans.

In Suffolk, meanwhile, Democrats have since April cut by more than half the Republican enrollment lead. October voter registration figures show that Republicans outnumber Democrats 301,206 to 296,047, a difference of 5,159.

In April, Republicans had a 10,039 voter edge -- and...| read more ››