Republican committee members from across Smithtown gathered in the halls of the Elks Lodge on Edgewood Avenue on February 22, as many of them have done seemingly countless times before, to put forward a slate of candidates well-positioned in the Republican[1]dominated town to win their given elections. The group met under the leadership of Smithtown Republican Committee Chairman Bill Ellis.
Councilman Tom Lohmann and Councilwoman Lisa Inzerillo received the nomination of the committee in their bids for re-election. They were joined by Receiver of Taxes Deanna Varricchio, who was praised by Supervisor Ed Wehrheim for the work she did during the tumultuous tax collections of COVID-19.
Nominated to replace Vinny Puleo for the position of town clerk for the remaining two years of the term was Thomas McCarthy, bearing no relation to Councilman Thomas McCarthy.
“It’s an honor to be your nominee,” McCarthy said while praising Puleo’s guidance and continued support. “I look forward to joining my future colleagues, Ed Wehrheim and the town council.”
“The things we’re doing in Smithtown,” McCarthy added, “are only possible through the tireless efforts of this team we have before you today.”
The committee also took the step to put forward the nomination of the two county legislators who cover Smithtown, Legislators Leslie Kennedy and Rob Trotta, who cover the twelfth and thirteenth districts, respectively.
However, the legislators’ nominations will officially be done today at the Suffolk County Republican Committee’s nominating convention, where they are expected to receive the nominations.
In the Republican-dominated town, it isn’t hard to think of the nomination and primary process of the Republican Party as reflective of who will win in November. Regardless, McCarthy urged committee members to campaign as hard as they ever have.
