Jane Bonner switches from Conservative to Republican

Veteran Conservative Brookhaven Town Board member Jane Bonner has switched parties and has become a Republican.

Bonner, a town board member for the past decade, first won office in 2007 but always has run with GOP support. Jesse Garcia, Brookhaven GOP chairman, said he has been trying to recruit Bonner into GOP ranks for several years and he does not expect any negative reaction from Conservative officials.

GOP party sources say the move is aimed in part at keeping Bonner from becoming caught in the cross-fire between warring factions of the minor party.

Frank Tinari, Suffolk Conservative chairman, said, “This the first I’m hearing about it.”

He said Bonner has “done a great job as a town board member . . . and I wish her luck.”