Nassau County Legis. Laura Curran (D-Baldwin) declared victory over her Democratic primary challenger in the county executive’s race and early results show New York State Sen. Phil Boyle (R-Bay Shore) lost to a Republican primary challenger in the Suffolk County Sheriffs race.
Curran’s rival, Nassau Comptroller George Maragos, led a slate of two other Democratic challengers that all lost to party nominees in the race for county clerk and Maragos’ successor. With the exception of Boyle’s upset, party nominees similarly survived challenges in other primaries across Long Island.
“Tonight sends a clear message that Nassau County is ready to chart a new path – that we are ready to put an end to the culture of corruption and make our government live up to the greatness of the people of this county,” said Curran, who won with 78 percent of the vote over Maragos’ 21 percent, according to unofficial results from the Nassau Board of Elections.
Maragos “called earlier and left [Curran] a congratulatory message on her resounding primary victory and offered my full support,” he tweeted.
She now faces ex-New York State Sen. Jack Martins (R-Old Westbury) in the general election. The GOP nominated Martins over Republican Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, who pleaded not guilty to federal corruption charges last year.
Long Beach Manager Jack Schnirman, the Democratic nominee in the Nassau comptroller’s race, fended off a challenge from small business owner Ama Yawson, a Maragos ally. Schnirman faces former Republican Oyster Bay Town Clerk Steve Labriola, an ex-state Assemblyman, in November.
The same story played out for Dean Bennett, a Democrat who faced challenger Carl DeHaney in his bid to unseat Republican Nassau Clerk Maureen O’Connell.
In the Suffolk Sheriff’s GOP primary, Boyle lost to Lawrence Zacarese, a Stony Brook University Police chief, by a margin of 56 to 43 percent of the vote, according to unofficial early returns reported by the Suffolk Board of Elections.
In legislative races, Suffolk Legis. Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood) fended off Democratic challenger Angela Ramos. GOP nominee Gary Pollakusky beat Republican rival in the race to challenge Legis. Sarah Anker (D-Mt. Sinai). And Islip Town Councilman Steven Flotteron, the Republican nominee to replace term-limited Legis. Tom Barraga (R-West Islip), won over GOP opponent Michael McElwee.
On the other side of the county line, Legis. Arnold Drucker (D-Plainview), kept his Democratic line from challenger Lewis Yevoli, the former Oyster Bay Town Supervisor.
New York City police veteran James Coll lost his Republican primary against GOP nominee James Ferretti in the 15th legislative district, which Legis. Dennis Dunne (R-Levittown) recently vacated upon his appointment to the Hempstead town board.
