Hempstead Supervisor John Ferretti, challenger Joe Scianablo go face-to-face over 2008 Facebook post

The heated Town of Hempstead supervisor’s race reached a new level of contention Monday when the two candidates confronted each other face-to-face in the middle of Beltagh Avenue in Wantagh.

Joe Scianablo, the Democratic nominee for supervisor, crashed a rally that Republican interim Supervisor John R. Ferretti Jr. had staged in front of the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter to condemn a vulgar Facebook post made from Scianablo's account in December 2008.

"I just —— myself while watchinG animal porn," the post reads. 

Scianablo told Newsday on Monday that his brother Jason made the post as a joke. His brother later corroborated that in a statement.

Ferretti was joined at the rally by about 30 supporters, some of whom brought their dogs. Other supporters held signs that read “Stop Animal Abusers.”

"It's deeply disturbing that somebody who would want to run one of the largest animal shelters on Long Island, would celebrate animal abuse," Ferretti said. "We are calling on Joe Scianablo to do the right thing, take responsibility for his Facebook page, and apologize to every Town of Hempstead resident, specifically those with animals, and those that respect animals." 

Scianablo, flanked by about 10 supporters, screamed over Ferretti from across the street as Ferretti spoke. At one point, a staffer handed Ferretti a microphone to drown out Scianablo.

The Democratic candidate, a former police officer, prosecutor and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, told Newsday his "goofy" brother, Jason, had made the Facebook post as a practical joke. Scianablo showed Newsday a digital archive of his Facebook activity from Dec. 27, 2008, which includes the status, as well as another post from later that day: “just took my computer back from my brother Jason.”

A subsequent post from his cousin Staci Scianablo Day reads: "haha that def was Jason."

Scianablo had attempted to show Ferretti the digital archive during their confrontation in the middle of the street.

Scianablo placed his hand on Ferretti's shoulder and asked if he could show him something on this phone.

“No, you can’t,” Ferretti said, not breaking stride. “Don’t touch me.”

Scianablo responded with another question: “Do you like lying to the people, buddy?”

Ferretti, apparently taking issue with Scianablo’s omission of his title, turned around and pointed his finger at his opponent. “Supervisor,” he said firmly. “Supervisor.”

Jason Scianablo, in a statement Monday, said, “In 2008, I made a stupid, juvenile post on my brother’s Facebook as a joke. My brother had returned from serving in combat as a US Marine in Iraq. For months, our family lived with the fear that we might lose him. When he came home, the relief was overwhelming, and I slipped back into being the kid brother who teased him instead of the man who should have been thanking him." 

"We're sick and tired of career politicians spreading lies, disinformation; they're really scraping the bottom of the barrel here," Joe Scianablo said in an interview.

He accused Ferretti of hyping up the old Facebook post to distract from issues surrounding the animal shelter, which he said has been plagued by "mismanagement, fraud and abuse."

Ferretti, who served four terms in the Nassau County Legislature, was appointed to supervisor last week after then-incumbent Supervisor Donald X. Clavin resigned. 

Ferretti had been announced as the party’s candidate earlier in the year. Hempstead Democrats have condemned Ferretti’s appointment as an unfair tactic designed to give him the advantage of incumbency in November’s election.

Town spokesperson Brian Devine told Newsday last week that Clavin would continue to work for the town in the Department of Planning and Economic Development.

Ferretti on Monday declined to comment when asked about Clavin’s title and salary.

CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct a typographical error in a quote from Joe Scianablo: " ...  they're really scraping the bottom of the barrel here," he said.

By Joshua Needelman

joshua.needelman@newsday.com

Joshua Needelman covers the Town of North Hempstead for Newsday. A Long Island native and University of Maryland graduate, his work has appeared in publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post.