It was also reported that Trunzo made his required GOP signatures only because of Brookhaven Town signatures gathered. His own Islip Town Committee, that he chairs seemed barely able to file enough for their Judicial nominees. I attached Newsday's Rick Brand article to give my fellow TAPers a flavor of how bad shape the Republican Party is in Islip!
Candidates filed petitions yesterday to launch four major party primaries for Congress, State Senate and Assembly, and even district court judge, across Long Island.
Jennifer Henry, daughter of former Suffolk District Attorney Patrick Henry, filed more than 3,700 signatures - nearly twice the 2,000 signatures required - in a bid for the district court in Islip.
"I'm comfortable and confident we'll be on the ballot," said Henry, of Brightwaters, who collected more than 700 signatures herself.
However, the badly splintered Islip Republicans as of 5 p.m. had not filed petitions at the Suffolk Board of Elections in Yaphank for party designees 17-year GOP incumbent judge Hertha Trotto, of Holbrook, and Suffolk Legis. Cameron Alden (R-Islip). Several party sources said GOP activists were still collecting petitions late yesterday. The town party had until midnight to postmark petitions by mail. The two highest vote-getters of the three in the primary will get the nomination.
Trotto also filed about 240 signatures for a Conservative primary challenge to Henry and Alden, the party's designees. Trotto needed 175 to enter the primary.
Suffolk Conservative chairman Edward Walsh has already filed general objections to Trotto's signatures. He has six days to detail them. Trotto did not return calls for comment.
Two Democratic contenders seeking to challenge 36-year GOP state Sen. Caesar Trunzo also filed petitions. Brookhaven Supervisor Brian Foley submitted 3,300 signatures to qualify for the primary, while Jimmy Dahroug, who has already run twice against Trunzo, submitted 1,400 signatures. A minimum of 1,000 signatures are needed.
In Nassau, meanwhile, Assemb. Earlene Hooper (D-Hempstead), who filed about 1,700 signatures, is facing a primary challenge from Henry Conyers, a Hempstead Village trustee for the past three years, and Sergio Argueta, of Uniondale, an anti-gang activist. Conyers filed 1,000 signatures, while Argueta submitted 1,100 signatures. The minimum to qualify for the ballot is 500 signatures.
Robert Previdi of Manhasset is challenging veteran Republican Rep. Peter King of Seaford in a GOP primary.
