Legislature battle centered in 2 districts

In the battle for control of the Suffolk Legislature, ground zero appears to be in two heavily contested districts in Brookhaven and Huntington, political leaders say.

Democrats and several minor party allies have a 12-6 majority over Republicans.

However, the Democrats next Tuesday are defending three open seats. Legis. Jon Cooper of Lloyd Harbor and Vivian Viloria-Fisher of Setauket, are term-limited, while Legis. Jack Eddington (I-Medford), who caucuses with the Democrats, is retiring.

Democrats, who first took control of the Legislature in 2005 with significant campaign support from County Executive Steve Levy, also are facing their first election since Levy turned Republican a year ago. He is not running for re-election.

"The mood of the electorate is conducive to a strong Republican year," said Suffolk County GOP chairman John Jay LaValle, noting the poor economy and Democratic President Barack Obama's sagging poll numbers.

"When the campaign began, no one gave us a scintilla of a chance to win back the legislature," LaValle said. "Now, we have a legitimate shot."

LaValle said the party has opportunities for inroads in as many as seven districts, though he conceded some are long shots.

But Richard Schaffer, Suffolk Democratic chairman, predicted his party will hold on because of an intense grassroots drive to bring out supporters.

"I think we have outworked them in the grassroots, on the ground, on the phones and knocking on doors," Schaffer said.

In the Sixth District, Republicans are looking to former Brookhaven Town attorney Karen Wilutis to take back the seat from Democrat Sarah Anker, a civic activist who won an upset in a special election in March.

In the Patchogue-based Seventh District, Democrat Rob Calarco, an Eddington aide, is vying with Bellport restaurant owner John Giannott.

In Huntington, Republicans are taking aim at a Levy ally, Legis. Steven Stern (D-Dix Hills). Stern won by only 763 votes in 2009 and is facing a serious challenge from attorney Deborah Poulos, a Conservative.

Republican Elizabeth Black, a former teacher and school board member who opposed the Avalon Bay housing development, is facing Democrat William Spencer, a physician and former Huntington housing authority board member, for Cooper's open seat.

In the 17th District, incumbent Democrat Louis D'Amaro faces Dennis Garetano, an Independence Party member who is backed by the GOP.

Garetano beat D'Amaro in the Independence Party primary and also has the Conservative party line, which D'Amaro had in the past.