Smithtown remained reliably Republican on Tuesday night as Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park) easily secured a third term.
Wehrheim was re-elected with 12,283 votes over Rosemary Griffin’s (D-Kings Park) 6,970 votes. Griffin had suspended her campaign for Supervisor in July, but remained on the ballot as the deadline to remove her name had passed. Smithtown Democrats then touted a write-in campaign for term-limited Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga). Trotta had previously told The Messenger he was not actively campaigning in that regard.
Trotta had mounted a primary against Wehrheim in the spring, which, by Election Day in June, had disintegrated into a brutal, nasty campaign. Wehrheim defeated Trotta by about ten points in the June primary.
Wehrheim took 58.60% of the vote to Griffin’s 33.26%. According to the Suffolk County Board of Elections, 1,706 write-in ballots were cast, making up 8.14% of the town-wide vote.
“The people of Smithtown have spoken loud and clear. They have chosen proven leadership over chaos, progress over politics, and community over division,” Wehrheim told supporters at Napper Tandy’s in Smithtown on Tuesday night, where he declared victory. “Tonight, the people rejected a desperate attempt by the socialist party to circumvent democracy – by writing in the same candidate who was already defeated by double-digits in the primary. Good riddance!”
Wehrheim touched on his record as the town’s chief executive over the last eight years, as well as what motivated the electorate to hand him a mandate for another four years.
“They want our parks fully restored. They want walkable, thriving downtowns. They want outstanding infrastructure, safe neighborhoods, and quality services that make Smithtown the envy of Long Island,” said Wehrheim. “This victory belongs to the people – and to every single one of you who made it possible.”
Wehrheim also thanked Suffolk GOP Chairman Jesse Garcia (R-Ridge), Smithtown GOP Chairman Bill Ellis, and Suffolk Conservative Party Chairman Mike Torres, and County Vice Chairman Gary Forte.
“To our volunteers, our incredible athletic leagues, coaches, parents, and kids – you are the heartbeat of this town,” said Wehrheim, also expressing his thanks to partners in law enforcement and the “hardworking men and women of labor who have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us – from the cold days back in February, through one of the grimiest, dirtiest primaries we’ve ever seen.”
Wehrheim also spoke highly of his executive team, campaign managers, and department heads in Smithtown for their “leadership” and “synergy” throughout his tenure.
“You’ve endured more stress, heartache, and relentless attacks these past eight months than anyone should in one lifetime,” said Wehrheim. “You were followed, doxxed, bullied, and harassed online by cowards – yet you stood tall beside me through it all. I am forever grateful for your courage and strength.”
Wehrheim pledged a night of celebration, but right back to work on Wednesday morning to complete the park renovations, the sewering and revitalizing of the three downtowns, and protecting the “bedroom communities for years to come.”
In the Town Council, Councilman and Deputy Supervisor Tom McCarthy (R-Nissequogue) and Councilwoman Lynne Nowick (R-St. James) were re-elected with 12,126 votes (29.33%) and 12,005 votes (29.03%), respectively, over challengers Michael Catalanotto (D-Smithtown) with 8,629 votes (20.87%) and Jesse Phillips (D-St. James) with 8,563 (20.71%), respectively. 24 write-in votes were accounted for in this race.
“Thank you to every volunteer, supporter, and neighbor who stood with us. Your hard work and belief in our team made this victory possible,” said McCarthy. “Our families endure these races with us; thanks to my wife and daughter who are here with me tonight. I am thankful to have them stand alongside me.”
“We did it! You all did it!” said Nowick. “The long weekends at the grocery store, the miles we walked together – it was all for this moment and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m so grateful to everyone who gave their time, energy, and heart to this campaign. This win belongs to the people of Smithtown.”
McCarthy and Nowick earned decisive primary wins in June alongside Wehrheim.
Town Clerk Tom McCarthy (R-Smithtown) was handily re-elected for a full term after winning a 2023 special election. He earned 12,569 votes (60.69%) to Deborah Roberts’ 8,122 (39.22%). Roberts did not actively campaign.
Highway Superintendent Bob Murphy (R-St. James) was re-elected for another four year term. He earned 14,977 votes (99.04%), while write-in votes accounted for 145 votes (0.96%). Murphy faced no partisan opposition.
County Legislature Results
The northern half of Smithtown and parts of Huntington have a new Legislator in Sal Formica (R-Commack).
Formica will succeed term-limited Legislator Trotta in the solidly-red Thirteenth District. He earned 9,285 votes (59.14%) to Kings Park Board of Education Trustee Shala Pascucci’s (D-Kings Park) 6,398 votes (40.75%).
“Boots on the ground – that’s what got all of us over the finish line,” Legislator-elect Formica told supporters at the GOP watch party in Patchogue on Tuesday night. “Most importantly, I want to thank my fellow brothers and sisters in blue; I look forward to working with you.”
Formica, flanked by his wife, Susan, thanked his family,
“It’s a real honor to be able to serve with this majority,” said Formica.
Formica leveraged his extensive record in law enforcement – namely with the NYPD – fire and EMS – a decades-long member of the Commack Fire Department, with years served as an ex-chief – and as a small business owner who ran Sal’s Ristorante, where he was also head chef.
The Thirteenth District includes Fort Salonga, Head of the Harbor, Kings Park, Nissequogue, San Remo, St. James, and parts of Commack and Smithtown hamlet within Smithtown Township, and parts of Commack within Huntington Township.
In the Twelfth District, Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset) easily won a sixth and final term. First elected in a March 2015 special election, Kennedy has won handily every two years.
“We are winners here today, but we’re not winners alone. Without all the help and volunteers, we wouldn’t be where we are,” said Kennedy to supporters in Patchogue.
The Twelfth District is split between the southern half of Smithtown and parts of Middle Country, with the Brookhaven parcels taking in Lake Grove and parts of Centereach.
