By Nicole Falco
The Central High School graduate moved to Liberty 12 years ago, quickly developing a passion for the community. At first, his passion was satisfied through the local Rotary, chamber of commerce and economic development corporation, as a member of the Village of Liberty's planning board and as a sports coach. After spending 12 years as a community activist, DeMayo realized he needed "government's ear" to really get things done. He could have simply spoken louder, but he decided to become "government's ear" instead.
Election Day was Nov. 4, but DeMayo didn't learn he had won the race until late last week. He spent election evening at a local restaurant with his supporters and two Democratic running mates, who were vying for open seats on the Town Council. When DeMayo went to sleep election night it looked as though he had lost the election by three votes. When he woke up the next day, the poll results showed he had bested his opponent, Shirley Lindsley, by two votes. A recount, 73 absentee ballots and two weeks later, DeMayo finally learned he had won the too-close-to-call election by five votes. He will officially replace Richard Martinkovic, who chose not to seek re-election, in January.
"I was up, I was down, I was up, I was down," DeMayo said of his recent roller coaster election win. After being declared the winner, DeMayo told the Herald, "I was pretty excited, but it was nerve-wracking."
DeMayo was optimistic, but he was up against an opponent who is a lifelong Liberty resident who served on the city council before running for town supervisor.
"This is kind of shock for them," DeMayo said of his opponent and her team. "They didn't expect we were going to win, but we worked hard for this thing."
DeMayo said both sides ran a clean campaign and he is looking forward to taking office. DeMayo said his overall goal is to make sure the town works with the village, school, county and state governments to provide the best for the community. The Town of Liberty, located in Sullivan County, includes the Village of Liberty and four hamlets: White Sulphur Springs, Parksville, Swan Lake and DeMayo's own, Ferndale. In all, there are approximately 9,000 residents of the town.
The Herald learned of DeMayo's win after receiving a request from his mother, Pat, for an announcement in the Neighbors in the News section of the paper. Pat, a Valley Stream resident more than 47 years, expressed pride in her son's accomplishment.
"I think he'll do just great because he just loves that town," Pat said. "He's been working hard for the town ever since he moved up there. That's how he was in Central."
DeMayo graduated from Central in 1975. He played soccer and basketball, and was a member of the Drama Club. Though he says his election to town supervisor is his "first crack at a government position," DeMayo was elected co-vice president his senior year at Central.
DeMayo first moved to Liberty from Long Island after being hired by Cablevision Industries to design and manage the construction of their national headquarters. He and his wife, Rita, decided to stay. The couple has two children, Katlyn, 17, and Patrick, 16. Eventually, DeMayo's sister and her family moved there as well, and his parents, Pat and Frank, are contemplating a move too.
