Town Supervisor Frank Petrone was re-elected by a narrow margin Tuesday night, fending off a sharp challenge from Gene Cook to win his fifth term as Huntington's chief executive.
Voters also re-elected Mark Cuthbertson, the top vote-getter in Town Board elections, and added Tracey Edwards, while ousting Republican Mark Mayoka, and turned down Josh Price, also running as a Republican for Town Board.
The new lineup gives Petrone a 4-1 advantage on the board, with Cook an independent who has Republican support.
"This was a long, long campaign. But you know what? The people of Huntington spoke and prevailed. They like what’s going on in Huntington," Petrone said. "I’m thrilled."
"A lot of you have worked so hard and we’re so thankful. We will not let you down."
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The only happy news for the Republicans gathered at Albert's Mandarin Restaurant in Huntington Pete Gunther's win over long-serving highway superintendent William Naughton and the election of David Reilly of Northport to the State Supreme Court bench.
Republicans gathered at Albert's Mandarin Restaurant in Huntington where Toni Tepe, chairwoman of the Republican Town Committee, said there was a chance results could change after a recount or when absentee ballots are counted.
"We ran a very hard campaign," Tepe said. "We were outspent by thousands but do believe that we had the right message for the people."
Unofficial results at 11 p.m. gave Petrone 50.79 percent of the vote to Cook's 49.16 percent.
"We ran a good race, an honest race, and we're proud of it," Cook said.
Mayoka thanked his supporters and said, "The electorate made its decision."
Patch will continue to update this breaking-news story.
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