On Election Day, a tale of two downtown parties
Riverhead Republicans revel while Dems concede, plan for 2011
8 comments below
Supervisor-elect Sean Walter (center) and supporters celebrate as election results pour into Riverhead Republican campaign headquarters.
The numbers for Voting District 3, which runs along West Main Street, were the first to be announced on Election Day.
"Cardinale, 19," committeewoman Diane Stuke called out to a hushed crowd as she wrote the numbers onto the big board. "Walter, 57."
Supervisor Phil Cardinale gives his concession speech Tuesday night at Democratic campaign headquarters.
Down the line in District 3, save for the highway superintendent position, the GOP had trounced the Democratic candidates.
The trend continued, and so did the clapping, smiling and fist-pumping throughout the night at the East Main Street headquarters downtown.
Mr. Walter called the results a combination of "fatigue" with Mr. Cardinale as well as a national trend toward Republicans, spurred in part by opposition to President Barak Obama's health care plan.
"We hit 5,000 doors and the sentiment was running against Phil day in and day out," said Mr. Walter, a Wading River attorney who defeated Mr. Cardinale by 241 votes. "And what helped us immensely was when the president, in August, was really pushing the health care bill."
He recalled that, in his travels across town, people would ask him and his team if they were Democrats or Republicans, and whether they were for or against the federal health care bill.
When they said they were Republicans and opposed the health care bill, "they would say, 'You've got our vote,'ââ" Mr. Walter said.
Almost 39 percent, or 7,947 of the town's 20,454 registered voters, cast a vote for supervisor on a seasonably warm Election Day, according to the county Board of Elections results, which remain unofficial.
Incumbent Republican Councilman John Dunleavy was the top vote getter among the Town Board candidates, followed by his running mates Jodi Giglio and George Gabrielsen. Mr. Gabrielsen will fill an unexpired two-year term.
Mr. Dunleavy attributed the results to "hard work and being for the people."
He said he didn't think any one issue swayed the results, but, now that Republicans have all the votes on the board, "progress is going to be made."
At the Democrats' campaign headquarters -- about two blocks west on East Main Street -- Mr. Cardinale said he knew early that his chances of capturing a fourth term looked bleak.
Mr. Cardinale spent much of the night quietly pacing, sipping from a plastic cup of water as the numbers were announced.
"When I looked at those first figures, I knew at best it was going to be a long evening," he said. "With the first returns from Aquebogue, I knew it was a different race than the last several races I've won. And I usually pick up a few hundred votes in Wading River. That didn't happen.
"In many ways it was an outpouring of people going back to their registrations," he continued. "That's always an issue out here because you have about 2,500 more Republican registrants; you have to keep them on your side of the ledger."
Mr. Cardinale, a Jamesport attorney, conceded the supervisor's race shortly after 10 p.m. when it became clear he still needed to make up at least 200 votes and there was only one district left to count. Joined by his son and his executive assistant, Bill Welsh, he walked to Republican headquarters and shook Mr. Walter's hand.
"Honestly, you ran a very impressive race," Mr. Cardinale said as the two shared about a minute-long pleasantry.
Consolation prizes for the Dems came in the form of the highway superintendent and town clerk races, which went to incumbent Democrats George Woodson and Diane Wilhelm, respectively.
"Our party has had better nights," Democratic committeeman and former Town Board member Rob Pike said as he sat quietly in a somber headquarters. "We'll have better nights again."
mwhite@timesreview.com
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8 comments found
Let's wait and see... : 11/14/2009
He won, they won and until they prove that they cannot do what they say they will do, we might want to stop all the negativity and wait, time will tell - it always does. If they don't - we kick them out as those before were, and try it again with a team who keep their promises. That, my fellow Americans, it OUR job. I don't care if a candidate wins by 241 or 20 votes, either one changes everything.
BAD Votes!!!! : 11/9/2009
Wow, Riverhead made two big mistakes in this election!!! The big mistake was to retain the local dispatchers. That will cost each of us a 10% increase in our real estate taxes... The second was to elect an unknown for town supervisor. He will surely botch things up like listening to people wanting a racetrack at the Grumman site. Dumd idea...
50% population vote : 11/9/2009
It took 20% more people to vote and Walter still barely won. In a Republican area. In an area where McCain dominated. Once the 'tenthers' and 'birthers' fade back into the darkness everyone will realize what a mistake it was to vote in a disciple of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. Unfortunately ultra-conservatism is the new fad. Riverhead will suffer.
Trusted Public Servant : 11/5/2009
It is with clarity that the group you mention as crazies see the founding principles of this great Nation. We the People, includes all the People. It is that Trust in Service that We give to the priviledged few. It is only by the consent of the governed, that a Trusted Public Servant will govern. We invite all the People of The United States of America ( including Riverhead) to look at and understand the Constitution of the United States and the founding principles upon which this grand experiment is based. Not to say the previous administration was lacking - individually they all had noble intent - and I applaud them for their service - We, as a People, need to hold our Trusted Public Servants accountable, and invite all to join in that endeveor. This is America, and it requires personal accountability and participation of all. Thanks to all candidates, incumbants and challengers for your spirit of civic service. We shall see ....... GOD Bless America
9-12 movement : 11/5/2009
So, will our new Trusted Public Servant, thanks to the 9-12 movement of "We the People" supposedly getting out the vote that put him in office, be taking orders from the Glenn Becks of the world, or be held accountable by that mob of dupes and crazies? Sheesh! What time is the next Patriot parade?
Congratulations! : 11/5/2009
Congratulations -- a clean sweep and a new tide had now begun! Thanks to the Suffolk 9-12 Project for getting the word out--Riverhead went from 30% to 50 % of population who voted! Amazing. Stick to the principles of fiscal responsiblity, less burden on the taxpayers and GROW jobs and business and you will have a chance for a second term Sean!
grumman property : 11/4/2009
hope they relook at the grumman site property now. build for the people of riverhead and Long Island. We want to spend our money here. build the racing and entertaimenet complex. we will come and spend ASAP. Long Island needs a new motorsport park. It would give an immediate boost to many small and large businesses. more work, more jobs, more tax base. listen to us. We are here to support an effort. open the runways, we wil spend in your town tomorrow. and move to it soon if you build for the Long Islanders who support outdoor life and motorsports. thank you, Chris O.
New Supe : 11/4/2009
Congratulations to Sean Walter. He's got the football now. Can he fix downtown? Balance the budget with the dispatcher expenses? Can anybody? I hope he will be able to alter at least some of his ultraconservative perspective, but that somehow seems doubtful. Time will tell.
