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Supervisor hopefuls will square off in primary

NEWS-REVIEW FILE PHOTOS | Ann Cotten-DeGrasse and Angela DeVito
NEWS-REVIEW FILE PHOTOS | Ann Cotten-DeGrasse and Angela DeVito

There will be a Democratic primary for Riverhead Town supervisor between party designee Angela DeVito and challenger Ann Cotten-DeGrasse.

The Suffolk County Board of Elections on Friday failed to have unanimous support between its two commissioners for the challenge to Ms. DeGrasse’s nominating petitions and because of this, the petition is deemed valid.

Suffolk County Democratic Commissioner Anita Katz supported the challenge, while Republican Commissioner Wayne Rogers did not. In order for a challenge to be valid, both commissioners must agree.

Ms. DeGrasse’s petitions were challenged by three registered Democrats in town, largely on the issue of her address, which she listed as 8 Legend Lane in Jamesport. The town several years ago changed her house number to 37 for the e-911 emergency system, and people in Jamesport who get mail delivered to their houses get mail from the Riverhead Post Office, not the Jamesport one, so challengers stated her address should have been listed as Riverhead, not Jamesport.

Michael Panchak
Michael Panchak

Meanwhile, Michael Panchak, who was the Republican party nominee for highway superintendent, is officially off the ballot on that line, according to county officials.

He did not challenge a court ruling bumping him from the ballot within the allotted three days, officials said.

Mr. Panchak is a registered “blank,” meaning he has no political party affiliation, and as such, he needed a certificate of authorization from the county Republican leadership in order to appear on the Republican ballot, and he did not have their certificate.

Mr. Panchak will still appear on the Conservation line, and said he plans to run an active campaign.

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