Republicans Sweep in Historic Election Wins

by Chris O’Neill

Republicans swept to huge victories across the North Shore: Oyster Bay Supervisor Joe Saladino won re-election with over with over 71%; Ed Smyth was elected Huntington Supervisor with 56%; Pam Panzenbeck was elected Glen Cove Mayor with 57%; and Jennifer DeSena became the first Republican Supervisor of North Hempstead in 35 years, winning with 54% of the vote.

Both Nassau and Suffolk Counties experienced a “red wave,” with the Republican Party sweeping most elective offices in what is considered an election bellwether for a move away from Democratic control across the nation.

Republicans crushed in both District Attorney races: in Nassau County with Anne Donnelly at 60%; and in Suffolk County with Ray Tierney at 57%.

For Nassau County Executive, incumbent one-term Democrat Laura Curran was ousted by Republican Bruce Blakeman, who won with over 52% of the vote.

Republicans won huge majorities in both the Nassau and Suffolk County Legislatures; won the Town Boards in Huntington and Oyster Bay; and won the City Council of Glen Cove.

In North Hempstead, Republican David Adhami won the Great Neck seat, becoming the first Persian-American Republican elected ever. His running mate Mazi Pilip, a Falasha refugee from Ethiopia, was elected the first Republican County Legislator from Great Neck ever, defeating a longtime Democrat incumbent.

In Huntington, longtime Huntington Democrat office holder Mark Cuthbertson lost in the Loyd Harbor-Centerport-Northport County Legislative district to first-time Republican candidate Stephanie Bontempi, a teacher at the Greenvale School; Democrat incumbent Susan Berland lost the East Northport- Dix Hills seat to Republican Manny Estaban.

In Oyster Bay, Republican Paolo Pironi won 51% in the hotly-contested race for the north shore, Locust Valley-Bayville-Oyster Bay County Legislature seat. He is beating two-term Democrat Josh Lafazan who trailed with 49%. The mail-in ballots are still to be counted in that race.