“This is a red wave,” Suffolk District Attorney Tim Sini said, conceding defeat last night to his Republican challenger Ray Tierney.
Sini, a first-term Democrat, lost to Republican Ray Tierney, who won 57% of the vote to Sini’s 43%.
Suffolk voters not only turned Sini out of office but elected a Republican super-majority to the County Legislature.
With results still unofficial, there remain only five Democratic winners in 18 legislative district races, including East End legislators Al Krupski and Bridget Fleming. The race the 5th Legislative District remains too close to call, with Democrat Kara Hahn leading Republican Salvatore SB Isabella by just 74 votes out of 15,090 votes cast. Incumbent Presiding Officer Rob Calarco (D-7th LD) lost his seat, as did incumbent Sarah Anker (D-6th LD.)
Suffolk Sheriff Errol Toulan, was one of a few bright spots for county Democrats. Toulan sailed to victory in his re-election bid, defeating Republican William Amato 54% to 46%.
Tierney is a career prosecutor who most recently held a top post in the Kings County District Attorney’s Office previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of New York and an assistant district attorney in Suffolk. The 55-year-old Holtsville resident said he ran as a reformer to “rid the district attorney’s office of … rampant partisan politics.”
Tierney thanked a cheering crowd at GOP Election Night headquarters in Patchogue, who he said “willed” his victory.
“I will fight every day to keep the citizens of Suffolk County safe,” Tierney said. “I will be fair and I will reach out into the community to develop relationships so we can all have faith in our district attorney’s office,” he said.
Suffolk voters resoundingly rejected all four ballot proposals, which were opposed by the Republican Party and Republican officials across the state.
Statewide, only one of the proposals appears to have won voter support, according to media reports: the so-called “green amendment“ to the State Constitution guaranteeing a right to clean air, clean water and a healthful environment. The other three proposals were rejected by significant margins, according to reporting by the Albany Times-Union.
The survival of local journalism depends on your support.
We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community.
Support RiverheadLOCAL today.
