Suffolk Dems expected to retain six-seat advantage

Hotly contested races for open seats that threatened to narrow Democrats’ majority in the Suffolk County Legislature appear to have gone the party's way.

Coming in, Democrats and their allies held a 12-6 advantage over Republicans. With at least two districts still in play after 1 a.m. Wednesday, Democrats expressed confidence that they wouldn't lose a single seat. With all precincts having reported, the numbers show Democrats were winning those seats -- each by less than 200 votes.

“We will not only retain a majority but all 12 seats,” said Suffolk Democratic chairman Richard Schaffer, who attributed his party’s apparent success to grassroots campaigning.

“Not only did we have committee people and volunteers, but we made an investment in paid canvassing and that’s making the difference,” he said.

Before the final numbers were in, Republican chairman John Jay LaValle said, “We’re still out to lunch” in three districts.

Still, in the 7th District, only a handful of votes separated Patchogue Democrat Robert Calarco and Bellport Republican John Giannott. The seat was open because of the retirement of Legis. Jack Eddington (I-Medford). With all districts having reported, Calarco led by 103 votes.

In the 18th District, Democrat William “Doc” Spencer, a Centerport physician, led by 179 votes over Republican Elizabeth Black, a retired teacher from Huntington, to succeed term-limited Legis. Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor). All districts had reported.

“It’s very close," Spencer said. "I did everything I could, and I have no regrets.”

In the 6th District, where Democrat Legis. Sarah S. Anker led by 357 votes, GOP challenger Karen Wilutis said the electorate is sour.

“People are upset with the economy. It’s hard to find a job,” Wilutis said.

Long-term incumbents fared better in both parties. Presiding Officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook) and Minority Leader John M. Kennedy Jr. (R-Nesconset) cruised to victory.

Just a day prior, the legislative leaders had introduced a 2012 budget that hikes police district taxes and taps millions of dollars in onetime revenue sources to keep the county running through June.

The budget restores all but 88 of the 710 layoffs proposed by lame-duck County Executive Steve Levy, a Republican, but leaves his Democratic successor, Steve Bellone, to find a way to keep the workers paid through year’s end.

Bellone, in his victory speech, said he looked forward to giving Lindsay the partner he’s rarely had in the county executive’s office. Levy often fought with legislators and vetoed their measures.

"We’ve been waiting for a year for a county executive who will actually work for us," Lindsay said. "We look forward to great relations with the new county executive.”

In the 16th District, which the GOP had also targeted, Legis. Steve Stern (D-Dix Hills) won by just 763 votes in 2009, but beat Conservative Party member Deborah Poulos, an attorney who is also from Dix Hills, by more than 1,000 votes.

Just outside that district, a voter said Tuesday she felt there needed to be a change in leadership in general.

But overall, turnout appeared close to 20 percent, according to election results.

“The way our elected officials are thinking now has got to go,” said Nilsa Michaels, a Huntington Station resident who voted at Jack Abrams School in the hamlet. “We need to find new representatives with fresh ideas that represent all points of views.”

With Deborah Morris, Rick Brand and Kery Murakami