Election News

Dear Friends: If I heard it once, I heard it a thousand times on Election Night: "If only the rest of the County was like Smithtown!" How proud I am to announce that all of our Town Council Candidates won handily. You have returned Wehrheim, Creighton and Varicchio back to town hall. You have also returned both Nowick and Kennedy back to the County legislature. You gave Judge Jack Toomey an incredible edge in his win over his opponent for the County Court Judgeship and all of our Conservative Judges including our own Judge Joseph Pastoressa were easily elected to the offices for which they ran. Unfortunately, while Smithtown did vote for Angie, the rest of the County failed her in the County Executive race. The GREAT news is that the "C" line did extremely well throughout the County and I am VERY proud with how well our Conservative line performed here in Smithtown. Thank you to all of you who voted our line and for getting your friends and family to vote that line as well. We get to rest for now, to enjoy the holidays with our families....but very shortly my committee and myself will be busy working behind the scenes to gear up for the elections of 2012. We will have a big congressional race again, and with two available District Court spots we will be working hard to fill them with the right individuals who represent YOUR values and ideals. I am looking for interested individuals to be committee people in their districts so let me know if you have an interest in getting more involved. Our party is growing as is our influence, town AND county wide. The only way that will continue is if we get new faces and fresh ideas to put forth our message. If you always wanted to have a say and never knew how to get your voice heard, this is the way to do it. Be a part of the process and not just a bystander...every voice is heard in our party and we DO make a difference. Whether you supported our efforts by putting up signs on your lawns, or attending our fundraising events, or passed out literature for our candidates or just used word of mouth to spread our message, I thank you for suffering through my emails and helping us make Smithtown the place every good Conservative-Republican would love to call home. See you around town. Sincerely, Janine From the Desk of Janine A. Barbera Chairwoman of the Conservative Party of Smithtown JBarbera@smithtownconservatives.org http://www.smithtownconservatives.org/ http://smithtownconservatives.blogspot.com/ 631-473-5100

8 days to Election Day

Who said this was supposed to be an off year in politics?? Nothing could be further from the truth here in Suffolk. This county has the opportunity to make some very radical changes in the most basic sense....local races this year are the key. The County Executive race should be an easy choice if you have been following the candidates and their policy ideas. Angie Carpenter is the the candidate who can and will make a difference in County government. Angie's ideas were developed from watching county officials make the wrong choices and being the lone voice in trying to fix the way government works.Angie has stood up to her own County Chairmen and fought to get the nomination when the good old network tried to close her down. Angie prevailed. Doing this her way she has no one she needs to repay when she gets into office on what was a grassroots campaign right from the beginning. While Bellone will owe his soul to the political powers and special interests groups who showered him with funds for his campaign, Angie walks into office as an independant thinker out to do the people's business without the need to appease anyone but the voters who put her in office. The choice here is easy. Do you want another politician who will put the old boy network first? Then don't vote for a boy! Vote for Angie. Two other important races involved two very capable Smithtown judges. Judge Joseph Pastoressa is running for Supreme Court and Judge Jack Toomey is running for County Court. Both gentlemen are Smithtown residents running in bi-county elections and need our help to win these important seats. As a practicing attorney I have had the honor of appearing before both of these gentlemen and can tell you that you would be hard pressed to find a better example of judicial temperment and sense of fair play. Smithtown can be proud of these two men running and we ask that you support them on election day. Our town council race is upon us and truly there have never been two more worthy candidates than the encumbents Bob Creighton and Ed Wehrheim. These gentlemen are a mainstay in our town and the movers and shakers we need to push Smithtown into the town it aspires to be. Economic development is the number one issue on both their minds and every day they tear through the red tape to get Smithtown the resources it needs to be successful. Our town councilman are well known throughout the County and the State and are an example to town boards across the County of what can be done when a board works together. We are proud to endorse both Creighton and Wehrheim and ask you to support them as well on election day. As a final note: There are two races of importance outside of our area that are worth a mention. My friend Deborah Poulos is running for the County Legislature in Huntington against the encumbent Steve Stern. Deborah is a fierce advocate (I know I have had many cases on the opposite side of the table with her!) and she will work well with Angie to get the Executive and legislative branch to work together again for the good of the County. If you live or know anyone in this legislative district, please ask them to vote for Deborah Poulos. In Brookhaven a gentleman named Ed Munoz has dared to buck the political machine in that town and is making quite a bit of noise in the Brookhaven Town Council race. Ed is man of his word and he has a real shot at this position. Another person who did not take NO for an answer, Ed fought to get the line and we as Conservatives are proud to endorse this maverick for town Council.

Bring your voter outrage to the polls

This is definately not a year for complacency. Voter outrage is at an all time high and we are all sick of what is happening in the nation. The first step however, if to get our own house in order. Suffolk County needs to bring in someone who needs to hit the ground running on January 1st. This is not a time for on the job training....been there done that and look where it left us. I am not talking about the old guard now, there is a new but familiar face among the contenders and that face is a trusted long time friend of this County. Angie Carpenter has been around the County long enough to be familiar with the process but has been outside of the inner sanctium of politicos to be the voice of reason and change we need here in Suffolk to get things done. Angie doesn't threaten, she doesn't need to negotiate that way. While other politicians seem to think that negotating with unions is a dirty word, Angie knows that union members are tax payers too and that everyone has a stake in not bankrupting our County. She also is not an enemy of the legislature, since she was one of them she has already reached out to and told them that in order to get back on track they need to work together and the soon to be Republican majority is on board. Angie has run a business in this County and knows how difficult it is to meet a payroll every week. This type of experience is invaluable in this economy. Yes, she can make tough decisions and stand by her convictions, that was clear when she announced her intention to run and came out on top of the heap of would be Republican hopefuls against the wishes of the leadership. Angie proved she has the stamina, fortitude and grit necessary to bring our county back to prosperous times. Angie will do more than plant flowers around town, she will find jobs and bring businesses not horticulture back to Suffolk County. Let us not forget the other names on the ballot however, there are 10 judicial spots open for Supreme Court and they are bi-county positions where our Suffolk judges are mixed in with Nassau judges. If you want law and order on the bench you have no choice but to vote the "C" line all the way down. Don't stop voting however after the first 10 or you will miss some very important races. Our local judge Jack Toomy is running for County Court and of course our local town board candidates Bob Creighton and Ed Wehrheim are on our line as well. If you want good government, for a change..., if you want to elect individuals who have the same values and ideas that you do; vote on the line that will make a difference in this election. Vote line "C" all the way across. The Conservaitve candidates are all cross endorsed by the Republican's this year and for good reason; we are out to change the politics in this country; One election at a time.

Victory is Ours

A big THANK YOU to the voters in Smithtown who spoke out loud and clear on Primary night. Both Conservatives an Republicans came out in record numbers to defeat the challengers of the endorsed party candidates. The numbers are astounding and it is my understanding that this is a historic defeat. In yet another example of how good conquers evil we are off to win the November election with a full heart and pride in ourselves. Our candidates are respected and share the values of the people of Smithtown. When asked to choose the overwhelming majority will recognize those who do not have the best interests of their communities at heart and see through their lies to the black heart that beats within. All of those elected have only one goal and that is to make this community the best it can be. With your help we will continue to put forth candidates who share your values and your goals. The unofficial results can be seen below. Smithtown residents should be proud. I am proud and humbled to be your Chairwoman and I will continue to ring the bell of freedom and good government loud and clear, thank you all for walking with me and my committee. See you on Election Day!! Janine Barbera- Dalli <

Candidate Party Votes Share CREIGHTON, ROBERT J Conservative 332 47.29% WEHRHEIM, EDWARD R Conservative 306 43.59% DONNELLY, DANIEL W Conservative 64 9.12%

Candidate Party Votes Share PULEO, VINCENT A Conservative 280 30.14% MORRO, FRANK Conservative 264 28.42% BARBERA-DALLI, JANINE A Conservative 257 27.66% DI BERNARDO, KATHLEEN Conservative 73 7.86% DONNELLY, DANIEL W Conservative 55 5.92%

Candidate Party Votes Share GARGUILO, STEVEN G Conservative 292 32.41% SCHULE, RONALD C Conservative 284 31.52% DALLI, BARTOLO F Conservative 263 29.19% DONNELLY, LINDA Conservative 62 6.88%

Smithtown Primary Day Tomorrow, Tuesday September 13th

Please Remember to vote and try to bring 5 friends with you. All Conservatives and Republicans need to vote tomorrow. Let us voice our displeasure to all those who try to trick their way into office because they think no one is paying attention.

Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all -- the apathy of human beings. - Helen Keller

GET OUT AND VOTE

Primary Importance- September 13th

Along with the beginning of school and in our town a re-vote of transportation issues another important date to remember is the date to vote in Primaries this year, September 13th. Primaries are usually considered as American as apple pie, and a reaffirmation of our rights as citizens to pick candidates of our choosing. Most times qualified candidates run in the primaries and we as voters get to choose from a group of individuals who are serious candidates eager to make a difference. Not this time. This primary is very different here in Smithtown on both the Republican and Conservatives lines. Two individuals who have absolutely no interest in this community have opted to waste tax payer money and time to wreak havoc on what should have been a very quiet election season. Anyone who has ever read a local paper will have seen the incessant rantings of one Lawrence Gray who deems himself the moral arbitor of all things political, but is blantantly the most bigoted individual who has ever run for political office here in Smithtown. Gray has used derogatory comments to describe, Italian Americans, Irish Americans and does so without apology.Gray has attacked every elected official and was instrumental in the removal of his own wife from the Town Board with all his antics. Now he seeks the Republican line as a challenger against Ed Wehrheim and Bob Creighton our endorsed candidates. On the Conservative ballot the choices again are just as easy. A known failure both in political circles and someone with a proven horrendous record in public service is vying for the Conservative line also as a challenger against Ed Wehrheim, Bob Creighton our endoresed candidates, and the slate of judicial delegates we the Conservatives have put on our line. Dan Donnelly's name is political poison in this town. His one term election as Highway Superintendant was so disasterous not one elected official would back him for re-election. Donnelly has tried to play his political games in every election in this town over the last 10 years. Usually he is swatted away like some annoying insect, but this year he has managed to weedle himself into a primary on the Conservative line for a job he has absolutely no interest in pursuing. Donnelly is NOT the endorsed Conservative candidate and in fact has no backing by the County or the Town Conservative Parties. Donnelly has game played his way out of the party and holds on to the Conservative banner by a mere thread. Not only doesn't he truly believe in the party platform he will jump from party to party in order to fulfill his own agenda...as evidenced by his attempt some years ago to take over the Smithtown Democratic party. Donnelly is a danger to the community and the political system, because he knows how to manipulate the system and like a chameleon will adapt his rhetoric to whomever he is in conversation with in order to win over an unsuspecting citizen. Just ask poor Mrs. Kalabaza.(the woman whose name he put in as running for town council who didn't even know she was running!) Judicial Delegates What are judicial delegates? Why are they important? and Why do you have to worry about voting for them? Judicial delegates are Conservative Party representatives chosen by the County leader to represent the Conservative community to vote for particular judicial candidates who will then come before the voting public as endorsed Conservative candidates. Judicial Delegates are usually the town leaders and members of the executive board of a particular town. Most times you will not see judicial candidates on a ballot since they are very rarely challenged. This year there is a challenge because Donnelly has chosen to try to destroy our party from within, Therefore you must be aware of whom the endorsed candidates are and who the challengers are with full knowledge that they are not real challengers but Donnelly shills put forth to do his bidding. The endorsed judicial delegates and alternates are all on the top line of the ballot and the names are as follows: Janine Barbera-Dalli, Vincent Puleo, and Frank Morro. The alternates are: Steven Garguilo, Ronald Schule and Bartolo F. Dalli. To reiterate: Stay away from anything with the Gray or Donnelly name and only choose the endorsed candidates of the Republicans and Conservatives: Standing together we will be victorious in sending these interlopers back to their caves. Below is the slate I ask you to support. Please tell your family and friends and get out there and vote!! September 13th! Endorsed Candidates: Robert Creighton- Town Council Edward Wehrheim- Town Council Judicial Delegates:(Conservative Primary Only) Janine A. Barbera- Dalli, Vincent Puleo, Frank Morro. Alternate Judicial Delegates- Steven Garguilo, Ronald Schule, and Bartolo F. Dalli

Dawidziak: Go ahead, sign the petition

Beware, your neighborhoods are being invaded.

Armies of people are besieging your streets and coming to your homes. No, it isn't a foreign invasion or a science-fiction nightmare come true. It isn't even young men in white shirts and skinny ties, as portrayed in "The Book of Mormon," come to convert you and save your everlasting souls.

These armies aren't armed with guns or Bibles, but rather with clipboards and pens. They don't want your money, allegiance or conversion. Only your signature. You should give it to them.

It's that time of the political calendar when political parties and candidates have to collect signatures on their nominating petitions. It's an arduous task, accomplished for the most part by volunteers. The State Board of Elections, which sets the dates for elections and campaign financial filings, also determines when petitions can be collected. It's roughly the same time every year, and this year it's the 38 days from June 7 to July 14.

The number of signatures per office varies with the size of the jurisdiction. For a countywide position, such as county executive, 2,000 signatures are needed. But once the petitions are filed with the Board of Elections, they're immediately scrutinized by opponents for signatures that may not withstand legal challenges. Because, let's face it, the easiest way to win an election is not to have a challenger. So to be "bulletproof," most experts recommend collecting twice the number of signatures required. Four thousand signatures is a daunting number -- particularly in just 38 short, hot days.

Political parties have committee members to accomplish this task, but would-be candidates who wish to challenge the convention-nominated choices in a primary usually only have a ragtag group of volunteers to gather the needed names.

Many voters resent the intrusion when someone knocks on their door asking them to sign a nominating petition. They're too busy washing the car or running the kids to soccer games to deal with this annoyance.

They also don't understand what their signature represents. Any seasoned petition gatherer will tell you that the most oft-quoted objection to signing a petition is, "I haven't decided who I am supporting." The correct response by the person behind the clipboard is that signing isn't a show of support, but rather the mechanism by which voters get a choice come Election Day.

And that's the point. These volunteers are out on some of the hottest days of the year, risking biting dogs and slamming doors, so we all can have a real choice in a primary or general election. This is how democracy works. If these workers don't get the signatures, then you don't get a choice at the polls.

So whether it's for the Democrats, Republicans, Conservatives, Working Families, Independence Party, the Green Party or even an independent, go ahead and take the few minutes to sign it. You can decide later on whom to actually vote for. Rather than be annoyed by the intrusion, thank your fellow citizen for doing the grunt work that makes the wheels of democracy go 'round. If it happens to be a beastly hot day, you might even offer that volunteer something cold to drink.

Our country's founders bequeathed to us a participatory system of government. That means it doesn't work if people choose not to participate.


- Michael Dawidziak is a political consultant and contributor to Newsday.