Cross-endorsements for town board in Smithtown

Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio, Councilman Thomas McCarthy and Suffolk County Legis. Lynne C. Nowick endorsed each other for town council Tuesday, saying they were united on development, environmental protection and quality-of-life issues.

"I could see where my feelings and sentiments were supported. They were with Supervisor Vecchio and Tom McCarthy," said Nowick (R-St. James) at a news conference in Watermill Caterers in Smithtown. "Today, I am asking the Republican voters to support our candidacy for town board in the Republican primary on Sept. 10."

The candidates are battling Councilman Robert Creighton, who is running for town supervisor, and Councilman Kevin Malloy, who is seeking re-election.

Nowick did not receive an endorsement from the Smithtown Republican Committee, which supported incumbents McCarthy and Malloy.

When asked about Vecchio and McCarthy endorsing Nowick, town GOP chairman Bill Ellis said, "This is America. They can endorse whoever they want."

Nowick said she was "tired of hearing other candidates saying Smithtown needs to be fixed" and that "we can all work together . . . to make this even a better town."

McCarthy said the trio "won't always see eye-to-eye on every issue. All three of us have independent natures," he said. "Nor will we vote as a block committed to power politics; rather, we see ourselves as representing the people."

The trio opposes St. Johnland Nursing Center's pitch to build Uplands at St. Johnland, a 199-unit senior housing complex on a wooded parcel on Sunken Meadow Road in Kings Park, said Vecchio.

"One doesn't have to be an environmentalist . . . to recognize that development in the middle of residential zoning is not appropriate for Smithtown," he said. "The current 50-acre site for the Uplands is wrong, it's improper and should never happen."

Creighton advised reserving decision on the project. "We have not seen the final result of the environmental impact statement. I don't think anybody should make a decision before they see the final report," he said.

Creighton said he was "not sure what to make of" the cross-endorsement, but said voters have a clear choice. Vecchio "does not really want to make any improvements in the town . . . in the infrastructure, and he doesn't want to try to attract new businesses to the town," said Creighton, who described McCarthy as an "absentee councilman."

Malloy said he was not bothered by McCarthy's support of Nowick.

"That's how Tommy is. He does what he wants. He doesn't follow protocol," said Malloy, describing the group's endorsement as "self interest . . . not the best interest of the town."