LI voters cast ballots for primaries

Former Riverhead Town Supervisor Philip Cardinale won his bid to be the Democratic candidate this fall for the position he had held for six years, as voters across Long Island went to the polls to decide a number of party primaries.

Also at stake were several minor party lines that could be prove crucial in tight races this November.

"We did a lot," said Cardinale, who is looking at a rematch with GOP incumbent Sean Walter, to whom he narrowly lost in 2009. "We thought if we could get people out we would do well. We spent a lot of time calling people getting out the vote."

Both men are also on minor party lines, and will be on the November ballot. While the returns are unofficial, Cardinale said he hoped Fischer would back him on the Democratic line. But Fischer said that wouldn't happen. "I planned it this way," he said, adding that he started the Riverhead First line to ensure that he would be in the general election, regardless of the primary vote.

In Brookhaven's 2nd town council district, incumbent town board member Jane Bonner handily defeated former Republican town attorney Raymond Negron for the Republican nomination. Bonner is a Conservative who also runs on the GOP line. "I'm humbled by their support and the confidence they placed in me to represent them on the town board," Bonner said of voters. "I never take any election for granted. I work hard every day."

Meanwhile, 11 legislative races were on tap in Nassau, including races caught up in the legal battle stemming from the GOP's redistricting effort.

There were primaries on the GOP/Conservative lines in four disputed legislative districts in which one candidate was selected to run under existing district boundaries and the other under new lines that were blocked by the state Court of Appeals. Only the candidates running under the existing lines live in the district and want the nomination.

Christian Browne, two-time GOP contender from Rockville Centre, beat Fred J. Jones of Merrick in the 5th Legislative District. Oyster Bay's James Milano beat Sea Cliff Mayor Bruce P. Kennedy in the 16th. Glen Cove's Robert Germino defeated Oyster Bay's Donald MacKenzie in the 18th.

Jones also is running in the 19th District, and he beat Jaswick Williams of Elmont. In unofficial results in Riverhead, town board challenger Ruth Pollack and Democratic Party nominee Matthew Van Glad defeated Marlando Williams for two seats. The tight race between Williams and Van Glad could come down to late absentee ballots.

In Suffolk, Republican town board primaries for two seats in Smithtown, incumbents Edward Wehrheim and former Suffolk police Commissioner Robert Creighton defeated activist Lawrence Gray in GOP town board primaries for two seats in Smithtown.

Creighton and Wehrheim also beat former town Conservative leader Daniel Donnelly in the Conservative primary for the two seats.

GOP and Conservative party leaders had scorned Gray and Donnelly for running what they viewed as quixotic campaigns that they said only served to waste money on unnecessary primaries.

"I'm very gratified that the voters repudiated the distasteful campaign of Larry Gray and Dan Donnelly," Creighton said.

With Sophia Chang,

Mitchell Freedman

and Carl MacGowan

UNOFFICIAL LI RESULTS:

As of 11:35 p.m. Tuesday

SUFFOLK COUNTY

3rd Legislative District: In unofficial results, Legis. Kate Browning (WF-Shirley) had a narrow lead over Republican Susan Sineo of Manorville in an Independence Party primary.

17th Legislative District: Party designee Legis. Louis D'Amaro (D-North Babylon) was leading Dennis Garetano of Huntington Station, a member of the Independence Party, in an Independence primary.

Islip 5th District Court: Republican and Conservative designee David Morris of Oakdale, an Independence Party member, was leading Democrat Robert J. Curran of Bayport in a Conservative primary.

Southold Town Justice: Incumbent Republican Rudolph H. Bruer led Democrat Brian J. Hughes in both a Conservative and an Independence primary.

NASSAU COUNTY

13th Legislative District: Patricia Maher of East Meadow beat Joseph Spinola, a Conservative, in the Democratic primary. Spinola also lost veteran GOP Legis. Norma Gonsalves of East Meadow in the Conservative primary.

4th Legislative District: Legis. Denise Ford, a Democrat who runs on the Republican line, won against Conservative James T. McDermott of Baldwin in a Conservative primary.

2nd District Court for Hempstead and Long Beach: Republicans Gary Knobel of Oceanside, Anthony Paradiso of Rockville Centre secured spots and Democrat Kristen McElroy of Garden City was leading Carmen Victoria St. George of Roosevelt in an Independence primary for three judicial posts. Elections officials said absentee ballots must be counted to determine the victor. Knobel, St. George and McElroy each won on the Working Families line.