GOP takes over Glen Cove City Council

Glen Cove Republicans have taken control of the City Council, after more than two decades of Democratic control of the board.

Republican Joseph Capobianco defeated Democrat Theresa Moschetta in Tuesday's election with a vote count of 2,758 to 2,476, according to unofficial results from the Nassau County Board of Elections.

"It's certainly nice to have a majority council, however it's not going to change my agenda," said Mayor Reginald Spinello, an Independence Party member who ran on the GOP line last year. "I have worked very well on both sides . . . the whole thing is a team effort, and I appreciate everyone's input," he said.

Capobianco, a Garden City-based attorney, said he will focus on quality-of-life issues, including illegal housing, when he takes office. "I think it was a great victory, and I'm very happy," he said.

The win leaves the council with four Republicans, two Democrats and Spinello, who had tried unsuccessfully to appoint Capobianco to the council after the death of Democrat Nicholas DiLeo in April.

"I'm very pleased with the results, glad that Joe's going to be joining the council and going to be part of the team," he said.

Lawrence Levy, who heads the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University, credited Glen Cove's GOP victory to a "combination of the great red wave that washed all over the country and the ability of Republicans to make a case for their stewardship."

"Whatever they have been doing, they are probably going to keep doing because it didn't hurt them at the polls," he said.

Moschetta congratulated her opponent in an email to Newsday on Wednesday and later conceded. In the email, she encouraged the city's elected officials to "engage the disenchanted two thirds of the electorate who did not vote in this election."

"Without the support of the residents on critical issues, it will be a challenge to move Glen Cove forward, regardless of which party is in control," Moschetta said.

Capobianco will complete DiLeo's unexpired term, a seat occupied by former Councilman Anthony Jimenez, a Democrat, through the election. Capobianco will take his seat once the county certifies the results, officials said.

"As a Democrat, I would have preferred a Democrat," said City Councilman Michael Famiglietti, adding that the city voted for a split ticket last year. "However, knowing Joe Capobianco as well as I do, I remain confident that he will do what's best for Glen Cove and not play partisan politics."

Capobianco said the GOP majority is a "good thing . . . but I don't really view it that way. I view it as doing what's best for Glen Cove, whether Democratic or Republican."