Jens-Smith Ousted in Riverhead, Southold Race Is Tight, South Fork Incumbents Hold

Pictured Above: Incumbent Democratic Riverhead Town Supervisor Laura Jens-Smith and Supervisor-Elect Yvette Aguiar at a debate in late October.

Republican Riverhead Town Supervisor candidate Yvette Aguiar has won election with 54.24 percent of the vote, upsetting incumbent Democratic Town Supervisor Laura Jens-Smith, who took home 45.73 percent after her first term in office.

Ms. Jens-Smith had been the first female town supervisor in Riverhead, and Ms. Aguiar will now be the first female Republican town supervisor in Riverhead.

Incumbent Riverhead Republican Councilman Tim Hubbard was re-elected, along with his running mate Frank Beyrodt. Hubbard took 29.8 percent of the vote, Beyrodt took 27.64. Democratic newcomers Diane Tucci and Pat Snyder took 21.92 and 18.88 percent, respectively.

Democrats had a good night on Shelter Island — Democratic Town Supervisor candidate Gerard Siller has taken 57.57 percent of the 1,214 votes cast, ousting incumbent Republican Town Supervisor Garry Gerth.

Shelter Island Democrats Michael Bebon and incumbent James Colligan were the top vote-getters in the five-way Town Council race for two seats.

In Southold, incumbent Republican Town Supervisor Scott Russell took 51.41 percent of the vote and Democratic challenger Greg Doroski has 48.58 percent, with 7,756 voters casting ballots on Election Day.

Nearly 500 absentee ballots were also cast in Southold, and they have not yet been counted. As of 10:30 p.m., with 220 votes separating the supervisor candidates, no candidate in Southold had declared victory or conceded.

In the Southold Town Council race, incumbent Republicans Bill Ruland and Jill Doherty have 25 and 25.78 percent of the vote, respectively, while Democratic challengers Sarah Nappa and Robert Hanlon have 24.69 and 23.94 percent, respectively.

Southold’s Town Board has been in Republican control for more than a decade — Mr. Russell has been supervisor for nearly 14 years — and this is one of the closest races they’ve faced in years.

Incumbent Democratic East Hampton Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc took home a hefty 70.78 percent of the votes election night, while his independent challenger, David Gruber, has 28.87 percent. There is no Republican in this race.

Incumbent Democratic East Hampton Town Council members Sylvia Overby and David Lys were the top vote-getters, with 30.78 percent and 34.91 percent of the vote, respectively. Independent candidates Bonnie Brady and Elizabeth Bambrick had 18.72 percent and 15.55 percent of the vote, respectively.

With 41 of 42 Southampton districts reporting, incumbent Democratic Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman has won re-election with 55.25 percent of the vote. Republican challenger Greg Robins took 29.53 percent of the vote and Independence party candidate Alex Gregor took 15.14 percent.

In the five-way Southampton Town Council race for two seats, incumbent Democrat John Bouvier was the top vote-getter, with 26.19 percent, followed by Republican Richard Martel with 25.15 percent.

Republican Charles McArdle had 23.26 percent of the vote, Democrat Craig Catalanotto had 22.21 percent and Independence Party candidate Hannah Pell had 3.17 percent.