Dems regain control in Long Beach

In local Nassau races, the big news was in the cities.

The Democrats appeared to regain control of the Long Beach City Council.

And in financially troubled Glen Cove, Democratic Mayor Ralph Suozzi held a tiny lead, but his party lost two and possibly three City Council seats.

Suozzi was ahead by fewer than 100 votes over Republican challenger Paul Meli in their second faceoff, with all but absentee votes counted in unofficial returns. Neither candidate claimed victory or conceded Tuesday night.

Currently, all seven seats on the Glen Cove City Council are held by Suozzi and his Democratic allies. Unless Meli and three GOP council candidates win, the Democrats would retain control.

Incumbent Democratic Councilman Sean Dwyer appeared to have lost, and the Democrats failed to hold the seat vacated by Delia DeRiggi-Whitton.

Republicans Anthony Gallo Jr. and Reginald A. Spinello appeared to win council seats while running mate Pamela D. Panzenbeck was 27 votes behind incumbent Democrat Timothy Tenke.

In Long Beach, Republicans had controlled three seats to two for the Democrats. Two Republicans and one Democrat were seeking re-election. So whichever side wins two seats will hold the majority.

Unofficial totals showed Democratic incumbent Leoncio Torres, and fellow Democrats Francine Adelson and Scott J. Mandel defeating incumbent Republicans Mona R. Goodman and Thomas R. Sofield Jr. and GOP challenger Marvin M. Weiss. That would leave only a single Republican on the City Council.

In North Hempstead, Democrats appeared to lose one town board seat but will still hold the majority. With 71 percent of the vote counted, Republican challenger Dina M. DeGiorgio had 54 percent of the vote to incumbent Democrat Fred Pollack's 46 percent in the 6th District, which encompasses Port Washington. Pollack held the seat from 1994 to 1997 and won again in 2002.

If DeGiorgio wins, the board will have five Democrats and two Republicans. District 3 Councilman Angelo Ferrara has been the sole Republican for years.

Incumbent North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, a Democrat, defeated Republican Lee Tu.

In Oyster Bay, Republican incumbent Supervisor John Venditto defeated Democratic challenger John E. Capobianco by more than a 2-1 margin.

In Hempstead, Democrat Gary B. Port was defeated by incumbent Republican Supervisor Kate Murray by more than 2-1.

With Emily C. Dooley