GOP Walsh loses Brookhaven party support

Brookhaven's Republican party Monday decided not to endorse party member Kathleen Walsh for re-election to the town board. Walsh has clashed with the party establishment since being named deputy supervisor.

The GOP will go forward without a candidate for Walsh's town board seat, Republican chairman Jesse Garcia said. The seat is one of seven that will be on the ballot in November. The decision came at a closed-door committee meeting in Farmingville.

Walsh has frequently sided with the Democrats since Supervisor Mark Lesko, a Democrat, named her to the deputy supervisor post in April 2009. Walsh's vote gives Lesko and the two Democratic members of the seven-member board a 4-3 majority on contentious votes.

The non-endorsement of Walsh came as the Republicans endorsed a slate of candidates for town posts, including planning board member Cecile Forte for supervisor. The Republican committee also authorized Garcia to cross-endorse highway superintendent John Rouse, a Democrat, for re-election.

Asked why the GOP chose to cut ties with Walsh -- who was endorsed by the Democrats last month -- Garcia said the party is focused on taking back the supervisor's office and the town board majority.

"Our commitment has been to expand our majority on the town board. We have endorsed an energetic slate of newcomers to do that," he said.

Attempts to reach Walsh were not successful. Rouse said he was "extremely grateful" for the endorsement.

One of the GOP newcomers is Ed Munoz of East Setauket, a retired New York Police Department officer who will face incumbent Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld, a Democrat, for town board. Munoz is the first Hispanic person endorsed by the Brookhaven GOP for town board, Garcia said.

Rick Cunha of Farmingville was tapped to face incumbent Democratic board member Connie Kepert. Cunha, a businessman, lost a close race against Kepert in 2009.

Walsh and the other incumbent Republicans screened for endorsement as a group, Garcia said. The other GOP incumbents -- Daniel Panico and Tim Mazzei, the board's longest-tenured member -- and Conservative incumbent Jane Bonner were all endorsed.

Panico will face community activist Susan Gonzalez, a Mastic Beach Democrat. Mazzei faces Patchogue resident and county Board of Elections worker Tom Cavanaugh, a Democrat.

Bonner is challenged by Marie Berkoski, a Rocky Point Democrat who works for the county economic development commission.

Tax receiver Lou Marcoccia, a Republican who was cross-endorsed by the Democrats, was also endorsed.