Independence Party candidate still listed as Democrat

VictoriaSerpa identifies herself as an Independence Party candidate running on the Republican line against Assemb. Phil Ramos (D-Brentwood), but she remains listed as a Democrat with the Suffolk Board of Elections.

She said she changed her voter registration to the Independence Party last year, but unless she made the change by Oct. 11, her enrollment will not change until after Election Day. Last year, Town of Islip Democratic chairman Gerry Palotta ousted her from the party executive committee amid infighting over a number of primaries.

Serpa once worked as a community relations director for former Suffolk Executive Steve Levy. Since March she's been executive assistant in Islip's public works department. -- Rick Brand