News

Huntington Republican Committee Chairman Thomas McNally today called on the State Legislature to reject Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposal to overrule local zoning and require municipalities to permit accessory dwelling units, like basement and attic apartments, in areas zoned for single family housing. Hochul’s plan would also compel local governments to change policies, like on-street parking restrictions, needed to implement this policy.

“Governor Hochul is continuing the Democratic Party’s war on the suburbs,” said Chairman McNally.  “For generations, single family zoning has been the foundation of the suburban quality of life that has made Huntington and other Long Island towns a destination for families.  The governor’s plan will end that, overcrowding our streets and our schools, and forever changing our communities.”

Hochul’s plan is the continuation of a broader national movement within the Democratic Party that led Governor Gavin Newsom to the abolish most single family zoning in California and the Biden Administration to attempt to implement this policy nationwide.  In fact, Democratic Socialist Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez required candidates to pledge their support to end single family zoning to earn the endorsement of her political action committee.

“Unfortunately, the Democratic Party’s push to end the single family zone policies is just their most recent attempt to undermine our suburban quality of life,” said Chairman McNally.  “From ending cash bail for dangerous criminals to shutting down our schools and small businesses during the pandemic, the Democratic Party’s agenda has targeted public safety, education, jobs and the things that matter most to us on Long Island.”

“Long Island Democrats in the State Senate like James Gaughran have a responsibility to prevent Governor Hochul from using the state budget process to pass damaging policies like this,” concluded Chairman McNally.  “This isn’t a partisan issue.  It’s about the survival of our suburban communities and the future of Long Island.”

Record turnout on Election Day 2021 ushered in an historic victory for Huntington taxpayers and families.

Supervisor-elect Ed Smyth is a leader who has worked to improve public safety, end unchecked overdevelopment, and improve critical infrastructure while holding the line on property taxes. With his new partners on the Town Board, Councilmen-elect Dr. Dave Bennardo and Sal Ferro, Ed Smyth will ensure that protecting our suburban quality of life is the top priority for town government.

Huntington voters also made a tremendous choice by electing Andre Sorrentino as our new Highway Superintendent. Andre will bring experience and an extraordinary ability to achieve results to the Highway Department.

A huge red wave swept both Huntington and Suffolk County in 2021.

Voters resoundingly elected Ray Tierney as Suffolk's new District Attorney with a clear mandate to seek out and end county corruption. For the first time in 16 years, we flipped control of the Suffolk County Legislature to a Republican majority – another game-changer for taxpayers on Long Island.

Legislator Rob Trotta held on to his seat in the 13th District, Stephanie Bontempi turned a blue seat red as our new County Legislator in the 18th District, and while absentee ballots have yet to be counted, Manny Esteban has appeared to have flipped the 16th District red!

Voters resoundingly rejected the Democratic propositions that would have:

1. weakened independent redistricting and allowed Democrat gerrymandering,
2. allowed same day voter registration, inviting election fraud and abuse, and
3. allowed no excuse absentee voting and ballot harvesting.

Every single one of our candidates fought hard for the team and put their best into the campaign, along with our dedicated Committee Members and volunteers – this was an extraordinary team effort. We proved on Election Day that we are Stronger Together.

As the Huntington Republican Party Chairman, I am proud of our success on Election Day and I’m extremely optimistic for the future of our town.

THANK YOU FOR PUTTING YOUR TRUST IN THE REPUBLICAN TEAM – WE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN.

Dear Neighbor,

Election Day is finally here.

I’ve walked door-to-door almost every day since June and I am so grateful I did. There is no better way to take the pulse of our community than talking to residents at their front door. I am humbled by the incredible support I have received from across the political spectrum.  Not only have I learned so much from the many residents I have spoken with over the past four months, but I also lost 15 lbs.!

The recurring theme I’ve heard from you is that you choose to live in Huntington because it is a beautiful suburban town, but the over-development that has occurred is very alarming.

As a Town Councilman, I have been outspoken on my views regarding the over-development which has overwhelmed our roads, infrastructure, parking, and environment. I am not in support of watching our town turn into a little Queens. 

During my tenure as Town Councilman:

• We enacted term limits for all politicians in Huntington. I sponsored the resolution to make the resolution process itself more transparent to both my fellow board members and the public.
• With bipartisan support, we protected taxpayers by resolving the decades-long LIPA litigation that threatened town-wide financial ruin.
• We voted to increase zoning requirements for apartment buildings.
• We invested in our neglected infrastructure: storm drains, sumps, sewers, road surfaces, boat ramps, and bulkheads. These necessary improvements have a direct, positive impact on our beaches, water quality, and other natural resources.
• I co-sponsored the resolution to create native oyster beds in our harbors which will improve water quality by filtering out contaminants.

I will replace the failed affordable housing lottery system with an affordable housing trust fund, which will benefit far more eligible residents, rather than the few lucky lottery winners.

I am unanimously endorsed by all Suffolk County law enforcement associations.  Our quality of life is facing many threats from the extreme policies coming down from Albany and from Washington, D.C.  I do not promote drama or extreme views.  To preserve our quality of life, keep our neighborhoods safe and stop massive over-development projects, it's vitally important you make sure your voice is heard this Election Day.

I am a former U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant (res.) and a small business owner on Main Street.  My wife, Coriander, and I are lifelong Huntington residents.  We chose to raise our four children here and hope they return to raise their families.  Ultimately, I am one of you.  I am a husband, father, and tax-paying citizen who wants the best quality of life, safety, and opportunity for all residents in the Town of Huntington. 

I respectfully ask for your vote on Election Day, November 2^nd.

Best regards,

Edmund Smyth

Log In or Sign Up to View

See posts, photos and more on Facebook.

On the federal, state and local levels, Democrats are working to end single-family zoning and jeopardize our suburban quality of life.

In Washington, Joe Biden’s plan is to “force suburban towns with single-family homes and minimum lot sizes to build high-density affordable housing smack in the middle of their leafy neighborhoods — local preferences and local control be damned.”

Liberal state governments like New York and California are attacking suburban zoning laws too. In September, California “essentially abolished single-family zoning” when a new law was adopted allowing the “development of up to four residential units on single-family lots" across California. This new law has been called a “radical density experiment” that will enable developers to remake neighborhoods without community input.

In Huntington, Mark Cuthbertson, Gene Cook and the Democrats, led by Rebecca Sanin, tried to pass a law that would allow high-rise apartments to be built all across town—overcrowding our streets, overwhelming our schools and overburdening property taxpayers.

Thanks to Ed Smyth and strong community support, we stopped them—for now.

LOCAL RESIDENTS. LOCAL ZONING.

ONLY YOU CAN SAVE OUR SUBURBS.

VOTE REPUBLICAN: VOTE ROW "B"

This Election Day, Tuesday, November 2, send a message and vote Republican to keep Huntington suburban--elect our official Republican candidates: Ed Smyth for Huntington Town Supervisor, Sal Ferro and Dr. Dave Bennardo for Town Board and Andre Sorrentino for Highway Superintendent. You can also vote early in-person at Dix Hills Fire Department and Huntington Station Public Library until October 31.

Mark Cuthbertson's false, vile attacks against Republican-Conservative candidate for County Legislator Stephanie Bontempi earned him more than a rebuke from The Long Islander's owner/publisher Jim Kelly.

Legendary former Town Clerk Jo-Ann Raia has a few choice words for Mark Cuthbertson:

Log In or Sign Up to View

See posts, photos and more on Facebook.

"As a strong independent woman I find the attacks levied against Stephanie Bontempi by Councilman Mark Cuthbertson offensive. Inferring a woman's financial dependency on her husband is a personal attack and serves no campaign purpose. After over two decades in public office, you'd think Mark would have the ability to run on his own record rather than resort to gutter politics. Councilman Cuthbertson: You should be ashamed and apologize."

The former Town Clerk also expressed her disgust in a letter to the editor published earlier in October, as she was offended -- like many Huntington residents -- by Cuthbertson's baseless and sexist attacks on Stephanie Bontempi: