By:Jeff Lipton and Angela Marshall
Dems capture county exec. chair;
incumbents Scannell, Santino re-elected
Led by the spirited victory of Tom Suozzi over Republican Bruce Bent for county executive on Tuesday, Democrats scored a resounding victory in Rockville Centre as Joe Scannell held onto his county legislative seat.
Riding his energetic campaign all the way to the top county post, Suozzi defeated Bent. Final tallies were not available at press time, but Suozzi was leading by a large margin.
"Thousands of Republicans, maybe for the first time in their lives, pulled the lever for a Democrat. We won't let you down," Suozzi said.
Scannell won re-election to a second term in the Fifth Legislative District, which includes most of Rockville Centre, with an impressive victory over Republican challenger Joseph Koch.
Even before the polls were closed, Koch began taking down signs in front of his Baldwin insurance office.
Despite the Democratic victory county wide, Republican Party Chairman Joe Mondello remains positive. "If there is a democratic county executive and legislature, it won't be our demise. You shouldn't look for our demise too quickly."
Mondello did, however, express disappointment in Bent's campaign, saying the candidate didn't spend enough money or time. "If I stay around, it'll never happen again."
Bent said he spent all the money he promised, $1 million, and blamed the World Trade Center attacks for slowing down his campaign.
Town still Republican
In the Town of Hempstead's Fourth Councilmatic District, which includes Rockville Centre, Republican incumbent Anthony Santino defeated Democratic challenger Jerry Lamonica.
In the race for Town of Hempstead supervisor, voters returned Richard Guardino, the Republican incumbent, to a third two-year term, with a victory over Democratic challenger Kevin Gorman.
