Although Republican Suffolk County Executive-elect Ed Romaine soundly defeated Democrat Dave Calone, the GOP fell one seat short of securing a veto-proof supermajority in the Suffolk County Legislature.
Republicans hold 12 seats to Democrats’ six — an exact 2/3 majority — according to the Suffolk County Board of Elections’ unofficial election results.
Both parties flipped seats. Republicans flipped the first legislative district, which Suffolk Legislator Al Krupski (D-Cutchogue) vacated to make a successful bid for Southold Town Supervisor, with his aide Catherine Stark defeating Democrat Catherine Kent by a margin of 53% to 47%, returns show.
Republicans also flipped the sixth district, held by term-limited Suffolk Legslator Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai). In that race, Chad Lennon defeated Democrat Dorothy Cavalier by a margin of 61% to 39%, according to the BOE.
But Democrats managed to flip one seat, the 16th district. In that race, Rebecca Sanin unseated freshman Suffolk Legislator Manuel Esteban (R-East Northport) by a margin of 53% to 47%, tallies show. Esteban was the only incumbent legislator in Suffolk to lose his re-election bid.
Democrats also won the vacant fifth legislative district, with Steven Englebright defeating Anthony Figliola by a margin of 53% to 47%, results show, to keep the seat vacated by former Suffolk Legislator Kara Hahn (D-East Seauket) in Democratic hands.
With these results, Romaine does not hold a veto-proof supermajority and will be forced to negotiate with Democrats to get legislative approval on major initiatives such as the county budget.
