Libertarians pitch Suffolk DA candidate

Libertarians have put up their own candidate for Suffolk County district attorney.

Although Libertarians are not a formally recognized statewide party, the group has filed petitions to gain an independent ballot line to run Christopher Garvey of Amityville for district attorney.

Parties need to get 50,000 votes in a gubernatorial election to be recognized as an official party.

The same group also is running Michael Houze of Huntington Station for county sheriff and Gene Farmer of Centereach for county treasurer.

In Huntington, the Libertarians also filed petitions to run the Republican slate of Eugene Cook for town supervisor, and Joshua Price and Mark Mayoka for town board. Countering that move, Huntington Democratic Supervisor Frank Petrone and his town board slate have filed petitions for a “Stop the LIPA Tax Hike” ballot line.

And in Babylon, Town Supervisor Richard Schaffer has filed petitions for a separate ballot line for his slate under the name “The Schaffer Team.”

Not to be outdone, Linda Kabot, Republican Southampton supervisor candidate, also has filed for an independent ballot line for her slate under the name “Southampton Now.” Kabot earlier petitioned to wage a write-in primary to get the Conservative line in a race where there is no party nominee, but any potential candidate can now compete.

Each group is required to have 1,500 eligible signatures to qualify for the ballot.