Democrat Candidates May Not Fall In Line This Time

Andrew Merola

This year’s Democratic Primary which will be held on September 10, 2015 may prove to be the first time in decades where residents can effect the outcome of who will be on the ballot for the Huntington Town Council race in November.

Councilwoman Susan Berland is up for re-election and she has been granted the nomination to receive the Democratic line.   The other candidate that has been promised the line is Keith Barrett.  During the 2013 elections it was rumored that Barrett was going to be granted the line until now Councilwoman Tracy Edwards opened a can of worms. Edwards accused Mary Collins  of moving committee people to other election districts to manipulate weighted votes in an effort to stack the deck for specific candidates.  After that political fiasco, Suffolk County Democratic Chairman Richard Schaffer stepped in to do what seemed to be damage control. At that point Edwards was given the nomination and although there was possible illegal activity and unethical behavior, everything quieted down and the other candidates moved out of the way for Edwards.

Shortly after stepping aside to make room for Edwards on the ticket, Keith Barrett was given a newly created job in the Department of General Services.  Rumors at the time were that Barrett would be the chosen candidate during the 2015 elections.  That seems to be shaping up to be true.

Normally, the Huntington town democrats are masters at appointing their chosen candidates and clearing the playing field of any other hopefuls. Tactics vary, but insiders tell us they range from patronage to threats.

William Naughton

Darryl St. George who entered the playing field late March 2015 seemed to be a viable candidate but he abruptly dropped out of the race in May after rumors that he was being pressure to do so by local democrats.

After St. George dropped out, anger grew amongst the politically savvy and they started to organize themselves.  There were rumblings that former Highway Superintendent William Naughton was being approached to run a primary as he is one of the only individuals that has enough name recognition to withstand the political tactics. That rumor proved to be true as Naughton recently officially entered the race.

Resident Andrew Merola also expressed extreme displeasure that St. George had dropped out of the race creating what seemed like anointed rather than elected candidates.  He decided to take matter into his own hands and enter the race.

Andrew Merola expressed interest in a seat on the town board last November but came to the attention of the community at the October 21, 2014 town hall meeting where many residents attended to express their displeasure with the town board regarding the murder of Maggie Rosales.

During his speech, Merola  stated, “I speak to you today because I am appalled at the lack of action by this board following the tragedy that befell this community in the loss of Maggie Rosales, may she rest in peace.”  He continued, “I don’t come here expecting you to ever be able to stop crimes from happening, however I do expect you to do what you can and be there to support the local community that you serve and who pay your hefty salaries.”

Mr. Merola expressed the feelings shared by many Huntington residents when he stated, “I’ve been hearing Mr. Petrone speak about this effort to revitalize Huntington Station since I was a student at the same school as Maggie. Now, over a decade later, I see almost no action has taken place.”

He continued, “You have no problem stealing 1.6 million dollars out of the town’s general fund to pay for parking meters, just to nickel and dime the residents of this town who shop locally. But to put up cameras for security reasons and not just revenue reasons, you don’t seem to care.”

He addressed Councilman Cuthbertson and Supervisor Petrone when he stated, Who will be the next Maggie, that is killed on our streets while you’re too busy working back-room deals with Gary Melius & Engel Burman?

Andrew Merola is a lifetime resident of Huntington and a graduate from Walt Whitman High school.

It is no secret that William Naughton has a tumultuous relationship with his fellow democrats on the town board.  He often called them out for lack of transparency and lack of ethics.  On several occasions, they attempted to get him out of office throughout his career.  In 2011, they worked to change the Highway Superintendent’s position to go from elected to appointed.  After public outrage, they backed off and waited until Naughton’s next election attempt in 20013. Naughton won the Democratic line during the primary but did not receive the endorsement of any of the other parties.  Berland, Petrone and Cuthbertson supported Naughton’s Republican opponent, even attending his fundraiser.

What makes this all so interesting  is that it is highly unlikely that Democratic party chair Mary Collins or anyone else will be able to get Naughton to willingly go away.  The jury is still out on Merola although he does not appear to be someone who is looking to cut a deal.

In the last Democrat primary in 2013, approximately 3600 out of a potential 44,000 registered Democrats bothered to cast a vote.  Based on those numbers, it can be anyone’s game.  Just for reference purposes, approximately 1500 residents voted the Huntington School District 3 elections.  School District 3 residents often express displeasure of the disparate treatment they receive in this town.  A high voter turn out in School District 3 (or any community for that matter) will easily decide this race.

It is anyone’s guess of what the outcome will be, but it is fairly certain that this Democratic primary race will be more interesting and costly than in year’s past.