Angela DeVito, the Democratic candidate for supervisor in 2013, who announced last month she would seek her party’s nod for a second run this year, said yesterday she has withdrawn her name from consideration as a candidate for office.
“I don’t think at this point I’m the best candidate,” DeVito said in an interview yesterday. “In the last election the voters of Riverhead didn’t choose me. It’s a very difficult thing to convince people who voted against you that they voted incorectly and this time they have to change their vote. I don’t believe that is doable in the current climate in Riverhead,” she said.
DeVito had interviewed with the Democrats’ screening committee for both town supervisor or town council positions.
“I didn’t feel there was strong committee support for my candidacy for either position,” DeVito said. “But my decision also comes from within, for personal reasons. I’m comfortable with the decision.”
Devito said she’s not throwing her support behind any particular candidates right now. “I haven’t been privy to their screenings,” she said.
Anthony Coates, former political advisor to incumbent Supervisor Sean Walter, who is seeking re-election to a fourth term of office, has screened with the Democrats for both town council and town supervisor seats. When DeVito announced last month that she was interested in running for supervisor again, Coates followed that with an announcement the next day that he would not seek the party’s nomination for supervisor and would support DeVito’s candidacy. He did subsequently interview with the Democratic party’s screening committee nevertheless.
Coates said this morning he remains a candidate for town supervisor but is not seeking a council nomination.
“I was surprised by her decision,” Coates said. “You don’t have to be a candidate for public office to contribute to the town. Angela makes a daily contribution to the betterment of the town. I support her and wish her well.”
Retired salesman Glenn Friedman, of South Jamesport, and business consultant Greg Fischer, of Calverton, are also seeking the supervisor nomination, according to screening committee chairman John Stefans.
The full Democratic committee had a question and answer session with prospective candidates last night.
Party chairwoman Marge Acevedo said before the meeting that DeVito’s decision came as a surprise and her initial reaction was “concern” for her. DeVito called her yesterday afternoon.
“We all have to do what we have to do for ourselves and she said this is the best thing for her. My only concern was for her,” Acevedo said just before last night’s committee meeting got underway.
There also remains a lot of uncertainty in Republican quarters in the run-up to next month’s party conventions, when each committee will choose its designated candidates.
Councilwoman Jodi Giglio, who is in the middle of her second four-year term, is challenging fellow Republican incumbent for the top spot on the ticket. Both have been interviewed by the screening committee and the full committee — and both have said they would run a primary campaign for the nomination if passed over by the party committee. Walter, who had been a registered Conservative and is a past chairman of the Riverhead Conservative Party, has also said he might run for re-election on the Conservative line if he fails to secure the Republican nomination.
“I’ve been canvassing committee members and I believe I have a pretty good shot. I’ve got a lot of support,” Walter said yesterday afternoon. “I’m running on my record and will be out knocking on doors talking directly to the voters.”
Councilman George Gabrielsen, one of two members on the all-Republican board whose term expires this year, has withdrawn from the race, citing family and business obligations. The other incumbent, James Wooten, is seeking re-election.
Recently retired police officers Tim Hubbard and Robert Peeker are seeking the Republican nomination. Hubbard, who also screened with the Democrats, has taken himself out of consideration by the Democratic party, he said this morning.
Fischer, Riverhead Move the Animal Shelter founder Denise Lucas, Northville Beach Civic Association president Neil Krupnick, Mattituck school board member Laura Jens-Smith, attorney Edward Knoedler are seeking the Democratic nomination for the two council seats.
Jeanmarie Costello and Lori Hulse are seeking the Democratic nomination for the vacant town justice seat. Longtime justice Richard Ehlers announced this year he is retiring at the end of this term.
Costello and Hulse have also screened with the Republicans, screening committee chairman Vic Prusinowski said today. Town attorney Robert Kozakiewicz, former town attorney Dawn Thomas and former deputy town attorney Mary Hartill are also seeking the Republican nomination for town justice, he said. Deputy town attorney Annmarie Prudenti and Riverhead attorney William Andes have withdrawn, Prusinowski said.
The Republicans will hold their party convention on May 12; Democrats convene to nominate their slate on May 26.
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