The Islip GOP kept their heads above water in retaining all of their seats at the Town and County level on Tuesday night, with a political newcomer securing an open seat on the Islip Town Board.
DawnMarie Kuhn (R-Bohemia) has won the open seat in the Second Council District, succeeding Councilman Jim O’Connor (R-Great River), who was elected a Suffolk Family Court Judge.
Kuhn cruised to victory in the open seat that includes Bohemia, East Islip, Great River, Islip Terrace, North Great River, and Oakdale, as well as parts of Central Islip, Hauppauge, Islandia, Islip hamlet, Sayville, and West Sayville.
She received 8,137 votes to David Chan’s (D-Oakdale) 5,758 votes – a margin of 58.54%-41.43%. Chan had previously screened with the Islip GOP to run for this seat, and audio recordings obtained by The Messenger divulge his pledge to not seek the Democratic nomination, as rumors had swirled earlier this year that he had been approached by both parties to run.
Chan, a registered Republican, nonetheless ran on the Democratic line, losing to Kuhn by a whopping seventeen points.
“It all started when I was sixteen years old, raising my hand in class saying I wanted to get involved in politics,” Kuhn told supporters in Patchogue on Tuesday night. She referenced her early work on campaigns for John Bugler (R-Oakdale) and the late Senator Ceasar Trunzo (R-Brentwood) in their campaigns for office when she was just starting out in politics.
“They took a chance on me and I’ve never looked back,” said Kuhn. “I’m coming home; I can’t wait to be back in Town Hall again,” she added, referencing her experience as Councilman O’Connor’s chief of staff and her work within Town departments over the years.
To the younger members of the electorate, Kuhn said, “I can’t wait to be your voice on the Islip Town Board.”
Alongside Kuhn was Suffolk County Legislator Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville), who cruised to victory over Kelly Perry-Hyland (D-Bayport), who took up residency in Suffolk just over a year ago.
The typically quiet Eighth Legislative District – Bayport, Bohemia, Holbrook, Oakdale, Sayville, West Sayville within Islip Town, and parts of Holtsville within Brookhaven Town – played host to a particularly contentious campaign this year. Concerns of Perry-Hyland’s lack of experience in Suffolk dominated the newscycle, as well as a testy meet-the-candidates night in Sayville two weeks ago where Perry-Hyland got confrontational with now-Councilwoman-elect Kuhn.
Still, Perry-Hyland was clearly no match for Piccirillo’s home-grown roots in his district, particularly as a graduate of Sachem (‘01) and Dowling College. He obtained 10,624 votes to Perry-Hyland’s 6,432 – a 62%-38% margin, making Piccirillo one of just six Legislature candidates to receive more than 10,000 votes on Tuesday night.
“Let’s keep bringing good government to Suffolk County,” said Piccirillo, thanking friends, family, and law enforcement partners for their support.
This will commence Piccirillo’s fourth term, first elected in 2019 when he ousted then-Legislator Bill Linsday III (D-Bohemia), a scion of a notable political dynasty on the South Shore. The upset catapulted him into favor with the rapidly-changing political landscape of the area, allowing him to win by landslides in 2021 and 2023.
Town Council – First District
Councilman Jorge Guadrón (D-Central Islip) cruised to victory in a rematch over Manny Troche (R-Brentwood). Guadrón obtained 3,473 votes to Troche’s 1,165 – 74.85%-25.11%.
The First District contains Brentwood, North Bay Shore, and parts of Central Islip.
“We gave it all we could. I thank everyone with all my heart for supporting me and working so hard to make a difference,” Troche told The Messenger. “I ran the cleanest campaign and my opponent didn’t,” he added, referencing Guadrón’s social media attacks against Troche, saying that Troche “support[s] hateful rhetoric and acts that terrorize communities of color.”
County Legislature – Ninth District
What was expected to be a down-to-the-wire count was anything but in the Ninth District, which includes Brentwood, North Bay Shore, and parts of Hauppauge, Central Islip, Islip hamlet, and Islip Terrace. Legislator Samuel Gonzalez (D-Brentwood) easily won a fourth term over Bay Shore School Board Trustee and seasoned bricklayer Guy Leggio (R-Bay Shore).
Gonzalez defeated Leggio with 4,160 votes to 2,448 votes – a margin of 63%-37%.
“From the bottom of my heart thank you for your overwhelming support and trust in re-electing me as your representative,” Gonzalez said in a statement on social media. ‘In these challenging times for our nation, I reaffirm my promise to continue being the voice that stands up for and represents our community.”
County Legislature – Tenth District
Legislator Trish Bergin (R-East Islip) won a third term on Tuesday night, having held the open seat red in 2021 and having been handily re-elected in 2023.
She defeated Islip Democratic Party Chair Leigh Ann-Barde (D-Central Islip) by 6,399 votes to 4,975 – a 56.23%-43.72% margin.
Bergin thanked her family, leaders, and volunteers for her re-election win, as well as her staff that runs her office, but also paid homage to the leadership of outgoing Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst).
“He did an amazing job [as Presiding Officer],” said Bergin, referencing McCaffrey becoming the leader of the Legislature upon the party’s capture of the horseshoe in 2021, the first Republican leader at that point in nearly fifteen years.
“We’re certainly going to miss your humor. We love you,” Bergin added.
The Tenth District contains East Islip, Great River, Islandia, Islip Terrace, North Great River, Ronkonkoma, and parts of Central Islip and Hauppauge.
County Legislature – Eleventh District
Deputy Presiding Officer Steve Flotteron (R-Brightwaters) was soundly re-elected over Lucas Deitch (D), who was not actively campaigning and was also Flotteron’s nominal opposition in 2023.
Flotteron earned 7,012 votes to Deitch’s 5,061 votes – 57.94%-41.82%.
“We couldn’t do any of these things, let alone getting on the ballot, unless we all work together,” said Flotteron. “I’ll always be there for my district. Feel free to give me a call any time.”
The Eleventh District encompasses Brightwaters, Fire Island, Ocean Beach, Saltaire, West Bay Shore, West Islip, and parts of Bay Shore, Captree, and Islip hamlet within Islip Township, as well as parts of North Babylon and West Babylon in Babylon Township.
County Legislature – Sixteenth District
Legislator Rebecca Sanin (D-Huntington Station) was soundly re-elected over challenger Chad Lupinacci (R-South Huntington), a former South Huntington School Board Trustee, New York State Assemblyman, and Huntington Town Supervisor. Sanin flipped this swing seat blue in 2023 over one-term Legislator Manuel Esteban, Sr. (R-East Northport).
Sanin received 7,600 votes to Lupinacci’s 5,397 – 58%-42%.
“I am deeply honored and profoundly grateful for the trust that voters of District 16 have once again placed in me to continue serving as your Suffolk County Legislator,” Sanin said in a social media statement. “Every day, I am reminded what a privilege it is to represent this outstanding community – a community defined by hard work, compassion, and shared purpose. Together, we’ve made great progress, and together, we will go even further.”
The Sixteenth District contains parts of Brentwood within Islip Township, as well as Elwood, parts of Dix Hills, Greenlawn, Huntington Station, South Huntington, and West Hills within the Town of Huntington.
County Legislature – Seventeenth District
Legislator Tom Donnelly (D-Deer Park) easily secured a fifth term over Kevin P. Judge (R), who was not actively campaigning. Donnelly received 6,758 votes to Judge’s 2,963 votes – 69.48%-30.46%.
“I want to sincerely thank everyone for their support in my re-election,” Donnelly told The Messenger. “It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve this community – a place I’ve been proud to call home and serve for over forty years. I look forward to continuing our work, side by side, for the future of Suffolk County.”
The Seventeenth District contains Baywood and parts of North Bay Shore within Islip Town, parts of North Babylon within Babylon Town, and parts of Dix Hills, Melville, and South Huntington within Huntington Town.
