Independence Party backs Sini for Suffolk Legislature

The Suffolk Independence Party has named Democrat Tim Sini as their candidate in the 14th legislative district against freshman Legis. Kevin McCaffrey, the GOP caucus leader, in what all sides say is a battleground district.

"We see Tim Sini as a rising star," said Frank MacKay, state and Suffolk Independence chairman. "But it is not an anti-McCaffrey vote, it's a pro-Sini."

Sini is a criminal justice aide to County Executive Steve Bellone, who was embarrassed when McCaffrey, a former Lindenhurst village mayor, won a major upset in the district where Bellone  lives.

The minor party made the move after Randy Barany of Lindenhurst on Monday declined its nomination. The party also named Democratic Southampton Town Board member Bridget Fleming as its candidate in the second legislative district after Frank Dalene of Wainscott declined its nomination.

Independence Party officials also named Conservative Matthew Hughes as their nominee for Suffolk Family Court to replace Kathy Bergmann, who declined the party's nomination Monday. That will give Hughes, a law clerk to state Supreme Court Justice Joseph Pastoressa, the GOP, Conservative and Independence ballot lines in November.