News

We are pleased to share with you the endorsement of the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association of our Supervisor Ed Smyth.

Ed proudly supports our law enforcement officers and first responders.  Under his leadership, our town Code Enforcement Officers work cooperatively with the Suffolk County Police Department on quality of life and public safety issues of importance to our residents.  With your support, Ed will continue to work to make Huntington safer and more affordable for all its residents.

Huntington Republican Committee Chairman Thomas McNally is calling out The North Shore Leader and its de facto publisher, Grant Lally, for orchestrating a politically motivated misinformation campaign targeting Town Supervisor Ed Smyth. The newspaper has published a series of anonymously authored, unsourced articles—under the byline “Leader Staff”—intended to smear Smyth and bolster his GOP primary opponent, Brooke Lupinacci.

“Grant Lally is manipulating the editorial voice of The North Shore Leader to advance his personal political agenda,” said McNally. “This is not journalism. It’s a political attack machine cloaked as a newspaper.”

Lally has claimed he is not the publisher of The North Shore Leader, yet the newspaper explicitly identifies Lally Communications, Inc. as its publisher. According to public records, the sole owner of Lally Communications Inc. is Ute Wolff Lally—a retired Justice and currently a Judicial Hearing Officer (JHO) with the Supreme Court, Nassau County. Despite her official ownership, it is Grant Lally who appears to direct the paper’s editorial content, raising serious concerns about transparency and accountability in its operations.

Conflict of Interest and Campaign Interference

Lally not only influences the paper’s editorial slant—he also personally gathered 169 petition signatures to place Lupinacci on the ballot against Supervisor Smyth. He has since used his media platform to promote her candidacy and attack Smyth through misleading coverage.

Debunking the False Narratives

Among the most egregious falsehoods are claims that:

• Huntington is experiencing an “unprecedented wave” of mass apartment construction.
• The Melville Town Center proposal would lead to overdevelopment.

These assertions are demonstrably untrue. Under Supervisor Smyth’s leadership:

• The Town has enacted stricter apartment regulations.
• Large-scale residential projects have been blocked.
• The Melville proposal is aimed at revitalizing a commercial corridor, not residential sprawl.

Call for Ethical Journalism

Citing the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics, Chairman McNally emphasized that legitimate journalism must:

• Clearly identify sources to build public trust;
• Disclose and avoid conflicts of interest;
• Label commentary as opinion, not misrepresent it as fact.

Demands from the Huntington GOP

Chairman McNally and the Huntington Republican Committee are demanding that The North Shore Leader:

1. Disclose the authors behind recent anti-Smyth articles;
2. Admit Grant Lally’s editorial influence and political involvement;
3. Cease the publication of politically motivated disinformation and recommit to responsible journalism.

“If Mr. Lally wishes to serve as a campaign operative, he should leave the newsroom behind,” said McNally. “The people of Huntington deserve a fact-based press—not a partisan echo chamber.”

Smyth to Seek Re-Election as Town Supervisor; Bennardo and Sorrentino Also Running for Re-Election; Grizopoulos Joins Slate for Town Council

Huntington Republican Committee Chairman Thomas McNally has announced the party’s slate of endorsed candidates for the 2025 election.

Town Supervisor Ed Smyth Seeks Re-Election

Ed Smyth, first elected Town Supervisor in 2021, is seeking another term to continue his leadership. Under Smyth’s administration, Huntington has maintained its AAA bond rating, kept budget surpluses, and controlled spending while investing in infrastructure and downtown revitalization.

A lifelong Huntington resident, Marine veteran, and attorney, Smyth has championed government reform, enacting term limits and stronger ethics laws, while fighting against overdevelopment and keeping property taxes in check.

“Ed Smyth is a proven leader with a clear vision for Huntington’s future,” said McNally. “His record speaks for itself, and he’s the right person to continue leading our town.”

“I’m honored to have the committee’s support,” said Smyth. “We’ve made great progress, and I look forward to building on our achievements.”

Bennardo and Sorrentino Run for Re-Election; Grizopoulos Joins the Ticket

Dr. David Bennardo, a former school superintendent, is running for re-election to the Town Council, where he has prioritized quality-of-life improvements, environmental protections, and fiscal responsibility.

Andre Sorrentino is seeking another term as Highway Superintendent, continuing his work on road maintenance, beautification projects, and community service initiatives.

Greg Grizopoulos, an attorney and former Assistant District Attorney, has been nominated for Town Council, replacing Sal Ferro.

“We’ve accomplished a lot in the past four years,” McNally said. “With Greg joining our slate and with the foundation that Sal has helped build, our team is stronger than ever.”

2025 Town of Huntington Republican Candidates

	Hon. Ed Smyth – Town Supervisor Hon. Edmund J.M. Smyth was elected Town Supervisor in 2021. Under his leadership, Huntington’s bond rating was upgraded to AAA by Fitch, while Moody’s maintained the town’s AAA rating for the 10th consecutive year, saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. He also passed a budget below the mandated tax cap for the eighth consecutive year. Smyth spearheaded technological upgrades to the building department, improved the permitting process, and oversaw major revitalization projects, including the reconstruction of Al Walker Park and a $1.5 million playground installation at Heckscher Park. Before serving as Supervisor, he was elected to the Town Board in 2017, becoming part of the first Republican majority in a quarter-century. During that time, he enacted term limits, strengthened ethics laws, increased government transparency, fought overdevelopment, preserved open space, and worked to reduce taxpayer burdens. A lifelong Huntington resident, Marine veteran, and attorney, Smyth has deep ties to the community. He and his wife, Coriander, are raising their four children in Huntington.
	Dr. David Bennardo – Councilman Dr. Dave Bennardo has lived in Huntington for over 25 years and has dedicated his career to education, serving as both a high school principal and the superintendent of South Huntington Schools. Since joining the Town Council in 2021, he has prioritized bipartisan leadership and community-focused decision-making. His efforts include improving drinking water quality, protecting beaches and shorelines, enhancing parks, and ensuring record road paving. A firm believer in fiscal responsibility, he has played a key role in maintaining Huntington’s AAA bond rating through tax cap-compliant budgeting. Bennardo is known for his accessibility and engagement with residents, welcoming input from all corners of the town. He encourages community feedback and can be reached at (631) 351-3172 or [email protected].
	Greg Grizopoulos – Candidate for Councilman Greg Grizopoulos is focused on fiscal responsibility, keeping our community safe, promoting integrity and transparency in government, progress but no overdevelopment and preserving Huntington’s suburban character and quality of life. A former Assistant District Attorney, Grizopoulos prosecuted violent crimes and serious felonies, gaining extensive experience in law enforcement and public safety. He also served as Nassau County’s Stop-DWI Special Prosecutor and has trained officers in alcohol breath testing, highway safety, and accident reconstruction. Grizopoulos is a partner at the law firm Grizopoulos & Portz, P.C., handling matters in Suffolk and Nassau Counties. He and his wife reside in Melville, where they are raising their three children.
	Andre Sorrentino – Superintendent of Highways Andre Sorrentino, Jr. was elected in 2021 and is a lifelong Huntington resident. He owns Professional Automotive Services and Sorrentino Trucking while also serving as Director of General Services for the Town of Huntington and as a Huntington Fire Commissioner. During his first term as Highway Superintendent, Sorrentino oversaw the paving of a record number of miles of roadway — more than double that of any prior superintendent. He has led major beautification projects, infrastructure improvements, and neighborhood revitalization efforts, ensuring roads remain safe and well-maintained. Sorrentino has also spearheaded cost-saving initiatives like LED lighting installations at town facilities and has overseen major renovations at the Town Senior Center and Veterans Plaza. Committed to giving back, he founded the Sorrentino Family Turkey Drive, which donates thousands of Thanksgiving turkeys to local families each year. Sorrentino lives in Huntington with his wife, Kim, and their two young daughters.

Thank you to everyone who attended the 4th Annual Football Brunch on February 2 at Off Broadway Pub in Greenlawn. It was a great event supporting the Huntington Republican Committee, with special guests including Suffolk County and Brookhaven Town Republican Committee Chairman Jesse Garcia, NYS Senator Mario Mattera, Suffolk County Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey, Suffolk County Legislator Stephanie Bontempi, Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth, Smithtown Town Republican Committee Chairman Bill Ellis, and Babylon Town Republican Committee Chairman Joe Barone. Your support and participation are truly appreciated!