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REPUBLICANS TO THE RESCUE

To protect 'taxpayers'   - Reprinted from Newsday

Town Republicans pick candidates for November, including first black woman for board; focus on taxes

BY ERIK GERMAN
erik.german@newsday.com

 May 25, 2007

The Brookhaven Town Republicans yesterday formally announced their full slate of candidates for the November election, including several familiar figures as well as the first black woman to ever run for town board on the GOP line.

"These are community-based, civic-minded, tax-fighting candidates," said Town Republican Party leader Jesse Garcia. "They have one purpose in mind: to protect the taxpayers and roll back the historic tax increase enacted by the Democrats and Brian Foley."

 Republican supervisor candidate Robert DiCarlo also focused on taxes.

"Brian X. Foley has saddled the people of Brookhaven with the biggest tax increase in the history of this town," he said. "Now is the time to 'ex-Foley-ate' the supervisor and his monstrous tax increases."

The town GOP made history last night by nominating Roberta Owens, of Coram, for a run against Democrat Connie Kepert. Owens is the daughter of the late Elsie Owens, a longtime Gordon Heights civic activist and 20-year president of the Brookhaven NAACP.

The town Republicans also officially confirmed that Jane Bonner will run for the seat left open by departing Republican councilman Kevin McCarrick. McCarrick's decision to step down deprived the GOP of a well-known figure in Rocky Point, but Bonner's candidacy could offer a possible fix. The former Rocky Point school board member is a fixture in the hamlet's civic association and she served as its president for several years.

In the potential battleground 6th District race, Republicans announced that Keith Romaine, son of county Legis. Edward Romaine (R-Center Moriches), will square off against newly minted Democrat Edward Hennessey for town board. Hennessey - who switched parties after spending 12 years as a Republican councilman - is well known in the district, especially after his unsuccessful campaign for supervisor against Foley in 2005.

The Democrat currently holding the 6th District seat, Carol Bissonette, is stepping down at the end of her term to run for tax receiver. But the GOP won't make it an easy race, nominating East Setauket businessman Louis Marcoccia. Party insiders say Marcoccia plans to put a substantial amount of his own funds into the campaign.

Republican incumbent board members Tim Mazzei and Kathleen Walsh also were renominated.

The town GOP nominated no candidate to run against incumbent Democratic Highway Superintendent John Rouse.