Government

He’s in, he’s out, he’s in? Coates screens for supervisor

CoatesAfter saying he was screening for supervisor, and then saying he was not screening, Anthony Coates actually did end up screening with the Riverhead Democratic committee after all Thursday night.

But he says that doesn’t mean he’s decided to run for office.

Mr. Coates said he had gone to the Democrats’ meeting Thursday and as it turned out, they still had an appointment set up for him to screen. So, he did.

“I’m just keeping my options open,” he said.

He reiterated what he said last week: That if the Democrats chose Angela DeVito as their candidate for supervisor, he would defer to her.

“But that doesn’t mean they will pick her,” Mr. Coates said.

“Unfortunately, this all winds up getting done out in the open. But they had previously scheduled a slot for me to screen, so, who knows? Anything can happen.”

He said his decision to screen had “the full blessing of Angela.” Ms. DeVito did not return a call seeking comment.

Incumbent Republican Sean Walter, who used to employ Mr. Coates as a campaign advisor, has said repeatedly this year that he will run on his record and doesn’t think it matters who opposes him.

Ms. DeVito, who ran an unsuccessful run for supervisor against Mr. Walter in 2013, had originally said she didn’t plan to run for office this year, but last week decided to screen for the Democratic nod for supervisor.

The Town Board has had the same five members — all Republicans — since 2010.

The Democrats have screened four people for supervisor, according to Democratic screening committee chair John Stefans: Mr. Coates, Ms. DeVito, Greg Fischer, and Glenn Friedman.

For council, the Democrats are screening Tim Hubbard, Denise Lucas, Laura Jens-Smith, Neil Krupnik, and Ed Knoedler, according to Mr. Stefans, who said Mr. Coates, Ms. DeVito and Mr. Fischer also screened for council, and Mr. Fischer screened for assessor as well.

They are also screening Jeanmarie Costello and Lori Hulse for town justice, and incumbent Town Clerk Diane Wilhelm appears to be running unopposed.

The Republicans are screening Mr. Walter and incumbent Republican Councilwoman Jodi Giglio for supervisor, according to Vic Prusinowski, who heads their screening committee.

For council, they are screening incumbents Jim Wooten and George Gabrielsen, and challengers Theresa Sweeney, Bob Peeker and Mr. Hubbard, who screened with both parties.

The Republicans also are screening Bob Kozakiewicz, Ann Marie Prudenti, Ms. Hulse, Mary Hartill, Ms. Costello, Bill Andes Jr., and Dawn Thomas for the town justice position held by incumbent Republican Richard Ehlers, who is not seeking reelection after seven terms.

In addition, the Republicans have screened incumbent assessors Mason Haas and Paul Leszczynski, whose terms are up for reelection.