| stacey.altherr@newsday.com
March 27, 2009
Smithtown Councilwoman Patricia
Biancaniello, the lone Democrat on the town board, plans to announce today her
intention to run for town supervisor.
Biancaniello will go up against current Supervisor Patrick Vecchio, a
Republican who is the longest-serving supervisor in Long Island history. She plans to hold a news
conference Monday on the steps of Town Hall, where she said she will introduce
two candidates to run with her for the open town board seats in November.
Biancaniello said she will make her first official statement on Patrick Halpin's
Cablevision show, "Meet the Leaders," which is taped today but will
air Wednesday.
"This is not about Patricia Biancaniello, and it's not about Patrick
Vecchio. It's about the people of Smithtown," said Biancaniello, 55.
"This is about them, and the future and the integrity and reputation of
the town of Smithtown."
Suffolk County Democratic Chairman Richard Schaffer noted it would be an
uphill battle to wrest the seat from Vecchio, who took 56 percent of the
popular vote in 2005 in a strong Republican town, but he said Biancaniello has
a good opportunity. He referenced the ongoing investigation by the Suffolk
district attorney into the town's building department as an example for the
need for a shake-up in leadership.
"She's someone concerned about her community, and I think she represents a
change from business as usual," Schaffer said. Two of the four town board
seats plus Vecchio's position are to be filled in the election.
Biancaniello said she is looking to improve communications between the board
and town departments, and wants to use work sessions for "real
discussions" on issues such as zoning and purchases.
Vecchio, 80, has been supervisor since 1978. In 1990, he switched parties from
Democratic to Republican. He had no comment for this story.
Smithtown Republican leader William Ellis said he was surprised Biancaniello
would relinquish her council seat to run against the popular supervisor.
"I think that the voters of Smithtown have supported Supervisor Vecchio
for 32 years, and with his fiscal prudence, they will be supporting him again -
without a doubt."
Republican Thomas McCarthy, a 12-year veteran of the town board, said he plans
to run for re-election.