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No. 5 Top News Story: Republicans retain seats

By Tim Gannon

BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | Riverhead Republicans celebrate their victorious sweep Tuesday nignt in downtown Riverhead. From left: committee chairman Mason Haas, Councilwoman Jodi Giglio, Supervisor Sean Walter and Councilman John Dunleavy. Mr. Walter said the team tried to stay positive during the campaign. He believes that approach resonated with voters.
BARBARAELLEN FILE KOCH PHOTO | Riverhead Republicans celebrating their victorious sweep in downtown Riverhead. From left: committee chairman Mason Haas, Councilwoman Jodi Giglio, Supervisor Sean Walter and Councilman John Dunleavy.

At the beginning of 2012, the all-Republican Riverhead Town Board appeared to be facing some daunting challenges from within as well as from the outside. But mostly from within.

Supervisor Sean Walter threw his support behind his campaign adviser Anthony Coates in a primary race against incumbent Republican Jodi Giglio. Councilman John Dunleavy also, at times, seemed to support Mr. Coates, while councilmen Jim Wooten and George Gabrielsen came out firmly in support of Ms. Giglio.

But when the primary results were in, Ms. Giglio and Mr. Dunleavy were the top vote-getters, and Mr. Coates finished a distant third.

The Democratic candidates largely waited until after the primary to make any noise and voters overwhelmingly supported incumbent Republicans in November’s general election, meaning the all-Republican Town Board will remain intact for another two years.

Editor’s note: We’re counting down the top 10 news stories of 2013. Check back every day until Jan. 1 to follow along.

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