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Losquadro Wins Tight Brookhaven Highway Chief Race

The state assemblyman poised to take over the job as scrutiny over the town's highway department remains high.

In a race that gained significant attention following Brookhaven's disastrous response to the Feb. 8 blizzard, State Assemb. Dan Losquadro, R-Shoreham, beat town councilwoman Kathy Walsh, scoring 51 percent of the vote with 294 out of 295 precincts reporting.

According to Newsday, Walsh conceded the election at campaign event in Medford.

As of 10:56 p.m., 23,501 residents turned out at the polls, voting 12,169 to 11,332 in favor of Losquadro, according to Suffolk County Board of Elections results, a low turnout considering the town has close to 300,000 registered voters.

Losquadro was named Brookhaven's Republican candidate early in January. Walsh, formerly a Republican, changed party affiliations and registered as an Independence party member after the Republican committee went with Losquadro as its candidate. She was later endorsed by the Brookhaven Democratic Committee to run on that party line in the highway superintendent race.

The vacancy was created after former highway superintendent John Rouse was voted in as a county judge.

Losquadro won Tuesday despite attempts by several write-in candidates to score votes away from the candidates. Losquadro may also have staved off a push from gun rights supporters to back Walsh as retaliation for the assemblyman's vote for the New York's strict new gun control law.

The win for Losquadro sets up a special election to fill his Assembly seat; he was re-elected to his state post this past November.

The highway superintendent race gained more attention in the aftermath of the blizzard in February, during which the town was widely criticized for leaving many streets unplowed for days.

DR Goeff Clarke March 7, 2013 at 01:59 pm
I have no idea whether people belong to a union or not but I am not a fan of Marxism which by definition unions are. They are archaic and serve no useful purpose any longer, we have labor laws in place..Perhaps they were necessary and relevant at one time. Now all they do is raise prices for consumers , bully people into joining and basically give the pack menatility to weak people to further an agenda I simply don't adhere to. I don;t believe the disappearance of unions would affect me in the least but you keep that thought I'm sure it is what bolsters your ego and fills your pension at someone else's expense. I prefer free markets. Win or lose on your own merits not because you have a pack of bullies clamoring for things states and companies cannot afford.
DR Goeff Clarke March 7, 2013 at 02:00 pm
And with a long line of freedom lovers behind you
DR Goeff Clarke March 7, 2013 at 02:02 pm
All I can say is what a difference a few days and snow makes. Last storm I waited 4 days to get out, today my block has already been plowed and sanded before I got out. I think a better choice was made.
DR Goeff Clarke March 7, 2013 at 02:04 pm
It is comparable salary to a physician with 10 years experience and a stack of student loans that will take years to pay off gets without a public pension or benefitrs.
DR Goeff Clarke March 7, 2013 at 02:04 pm
What do you propose the unions pick someone?
Taxed March 7, 2013 at 03:26 pm
Correct. Both candidates were abysmal. There was almost no turnout.
Taxed March 7, 2013 at 03:37 pm
Here is a direct quote from another article in the Sachem Patch:
"Town officials have also reached out to outside snow removal contractors, putting them on call for the impending nor`easter. The contractors will be receiving a new, higher pay after the town board approved legislation raising the hourly rate for outside contractors at its Feb. 26 meeting. " New higher pay for private contractors, but layoffs and cut backs for everyone else. If this doesn't sum up exactly what's wrong with Brookhaven town government, I don't know what does. This "solution" to the snow removal issue is an egregious insult to the taxpayers fo Brookhaven. Why HOURLY rates for contractors?????? Let them BID on the streets. This is a transparent invitation to every unqualified clown with a truck to steal taxpayer money. There is NO excuse for this BS. But it will continue, because Brookhaven town government is rotten to the core.
Taxed March 7, 2013 at 03:45 pm
Well, let's see if Losquadro fires ANY of the idiots who can't plow snow, and there are plenty of them on the payroll. Losquadro will prove to be no better than Walsh as far as firing incompetent drivers goes. The election was a pathetic pretense at making progress.
HERE FOR THE SAME REASON March 7, 2013 at 03:48 pm
I do agree with Justin time. But on a much more grand level. All pub
OC offices shoud be hired by first a resume'. A resume' with no political party and no name on top, only a code number to do the final association. Have an impartial firm protect anonimity until the actual person chosen for the job is chosen. Experience in the job and views on how certain scenarios should be played out (ie. major snow storm etc.) shoud also be gone over in the resume' have the selection committee which should be chosen like a jury review all resume's and put a final 2 or three up for a debate where identities are still hidden somehow. And vote. Now your choices are non partisan, non special interest ie unions etc., no nepotism, you get the picture you would be very surprised at the outcome. Pele wou D be voting against their party all day long and not by choice. Think about all elections for a moment, would most of our leaders from local, all the way up to the Presidency have ever even made the first cut? The sad thing is, all people stick to party lines when in fact parties have Evolved so greatly year to year, you are no longer with the party that your belief systems made you register as in the first place. History is ignored, but it always repeats itself. Like sheep to the slaughter. Just to prove my theory, I asked a die hard left wing friend of mine to point out one thing he is unhappy about with his party, he couldn't. Impossible.
Taxed March 7, 2013 at 03:58 pm
Walsh liberal? You should read Losquadro's own negative campaign material his machine sent out about her. How she's an NRA member and gave plum Town jobs to her Repub friends.
Sandy Hamilton March 7, 2013 at 04:03 pm
Your right, resume with a coding and no names. It is an important job and should not be taken so lightly. Great pay, great benefits, now work for according. Yes, there are some officials who get big bucks an do nothing.
Taxed March 7, 2013 at 04:05 pm
Republicans, indeed. They'll make an ideal world. You're blissfully unaware of the "new" Dems like Rahm Emanuel and Gov Cuomo. Pro-big banks, pro-Wall St, pro-privatization and rabidly anti-labor. That's why I'm an independent. The idea that one party is better than another is laughable.
MatthewD March 7, 2013 at 04:18 pm
The best person for this office would have been (and is) Lori Baldassare. She worked as Assistand Superintendent and knows the issues of the Town very well, she knows the budget process, and let's not forget she is an ethical person who is not beholden to anyone.
Of course, she was fired by Murphy--you know the one who was missing in action during the blizzard.
HERE FOR THE SAME REASON March 7, 2013 at 04:55 pm
Not enough town employees to throw this election I guess. Pay freezes for me and my family, increases in health care costs, no one should be doing better in our government from the top to th bottom if its going to cost us more so they can get raises. Now, the teachers should be next on our list of who should get pay freezes. And the superintendent who makes more than the President of the united states. We voted for this people, wake up and smell your paycheck!!!!!!
HERE FOR THE SAME REASON March 7, 2013 at 05:55 pm
Hourly pay covers the contractors fuel for the hour, higher insurance REQUIRED by the town and in the end the contractors profit. Are you the only one allowed to make money? The old rate was very low and hasn't been adjusted for years. How come you think no one wanted to do it. Duhhhhhhh. That's why your street wasn't plowed, you think just because he lives hear he's going to take it on the chin an do it for 2004 rates. Also, that hourly doesn't include benefits or include a fuel or insurance stipend and it comes with a beautiful 1099 at the end of the year. Would you have paid an additional $2.37 for the year in additional taxes to wake up the next morning and be able to get to work? How many businesses lost money due to this storm. How many teachers sat home with pay as your children did and you had to make arrangements for child care or stayed home yourself without pay? How many vacation plans were ruined because children had to go to school the week they were supposed to be off. Sorry, I don't agree, a little more HOURLY all inclusive pay would have erased the above and much much more I can't even think of. All those plows that went up and down your street with the plow blades up were the guys that would have cleared your street. Instead, they were on there way to the real money. They live on the same island you do and they have bills just like you and families to feed just like you. We sit home and pass judgment on a guy just trying to make a living.
HERE FOR THE SAME REASON March 7, 2013 at 06:07 pm
As far as layoffs and cut backs go, this storm could have been cleaned up in 2 days if done correctly. Instead we paid Murphy and his tooth ache to do nothing. Why not just furrow Brookhaven leadership the next blizzard and higher 10 times the plows necessary. We could have woke up the next morning like nothing happened. Upstate NY has much lower taxes,, I stress,,much lower taxes than we do. It snows much much more than it does on the island. How do they get it done on such a low budget? They have a simple plan, plow blades hit the street when the snow starts and don't stop until the snow stops. This is the high tech game plan we needed. Instead we paid 10 times the cost using excavators and payloaders to clean up the highways for a week. Instead of 20 dollars more an hour for a small business man. Great plan.
HERE FOR THE SAME REASON March 7, 2013 at 06:15 pm
By the way, the low hourly rate gets the unqualified clown, at a higher rate they can be more selective to who they choose, instead of taking whoever shows up. Like Walmart employees who want higher salaries, if Walmart paid 18 dollars an hour than everyone working there now would be out of a job because they could higher college grads with associate degrees to stock the shelves. So be careful what you ask for.
HERE FOR THE SAME REASON March 7, 2013 at 06:21 pm
I agree, how about a random jury with minimum bachelor's degrees reviewing resumes with no names or party affiliations mentioned. Just experience and education.
crookhaven March 7, 2013 at 06:41 pm
fire walsh, kepert and fiore-rosenfeld the wife beater!
EG March 7, 2013 at 09:43 pm
Now we taxpayers get to pay for all the new "Dan Losquardro" signage on every truck, piece of equipment, saw horse, etc. instead of just "Town of Brookhaven Highway Department"
lara buscatelli March 7, 2013 at 11:32 pm
Geoff,
Union membership is at its lowest in 70 years. Here's the link "dr": http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/22/business/22union.html?_r=0 and the Bureau of Labor Statistics
lara buscatelli March 7, 2013 at 11:35 pm
and you were absolutely right. Out of almost 300,000 voters, only about 24,000 voted. How sad.
HERE FOR THE SAME REASON March 8, 2013 at 06:25 pm
EG,,,,,that's a great point! Write or call his office and suggest it. I will caal myself and also suggest it. This is how things get done. We speak to our employees and let gthem know what pleases us and what does not. If they displease us we fire them. Keeps them on their toes.
HERE FOR THE SAME REASON March 8, 2013 at 06:26 pm
Set expectations from the beginning.
Patchogue Snoop March 8, 2013 at 07:05 pm
I see many references to Patronage. Well I can tell you "you aint seen nothin" until you come to Patchogue.
Village Clerk-A former Trustee who quit to avoid ??? No interviews for the position...immediate appointment by the mayor. Husband does a lot of gigs for the Village and nip joints on the River. Conflict?? Public Works Chief-Former Village Hack 100K/yr appointment and he cant find the potholes so he needs help form the residents of our tiny village of 2.2 miles. PP relatives galore!!! Everywhere. Consultant buddies of PP to do silly studies that are never read by the Admin. On and on. Where is the State ATTNY GENERAL on this???? No interviews and all appointments. No wonder the audit was scathing.....why is the Clerk still employed.....so many mistakes made, so much money unaccounted for.....not to mention many many many gallons of gasoline used, reciepts submitted, cars sold to the village. You roll through a right on red.....pay up or go to jail....what is going on in our society when blatent crooks run things for their own gain completely fearless of any prosecution???? Why the investigators are also crooks so the beat goes on and the poor hardworking taxpayer pays again and again and again.
Patchogue Snoop March 8, 2013 at 07:12 pm
Yes, expectations.....save yourself the grief. Ask our new hackmaster what is the difference between asphalt and concrete is a what are the main diffference is. When you get your answer you will know to set you expectaions back on the Crookhaven dial. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaay Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack. One day selling whole life policies, the next in charge of the Highway Department of a town larger than Nassau County. Creds.....none. But he will reward the Repubic Party with oh so many patronage jobs....goodies for the corrupt.
Patchogue Snoop March 8, 2013 at 07:14 pm
But none for you.
HERE FOR THE SAME REASON March 9, 2013 at 01:09 am
Okokokok. The world is a corupt unforgiving place for the citizen and taxpayer. The pawns (front line employees for the town) only vote there paycheck. This forum is great only if it nets results. Organization and clear funneled actions will keep us in charge. My thoughts are many but this has to be the foundation. Those who are serious keep this string going and ill get back to all of you with my ideas and please get back to all of us with yours. The threat of losing ones job always keeps one working hard, let that be our thought guidance.
HERE FOR THE SAME REASON March 9, 2013 at 02:12 pm
2nd amendment, another one of those checks and balances our fathers of this country thought of. Slowly or as the left wing puts it "progressively" our country shifts to the values of failing countries. "If its not broke don't fix it" there is a reason why our country is where it is after 237 years. Our country was built with hard work ethics. Now its about coming to this country and see what you can get for free. We have absolutley healthy people fighting with every ounce of their spirit to not have to work. This country gets what it deserves and what its asking for. Because once we are truly broke they will starve to death when no one has it to give them.
Patchogue Snoop March 11, 2013 at 08:28 pm
Here....
I hope your read Liberty and Tyranny! Check out the latest news on immigration. Our Fed rep Bishop says it is good for America! Look at the attendee list. All will benefit from slave labor......someones union job making a fair wage is in jeopardy. If you are a union worker just look at the apartment project in Patchogue. See who stole those construction jobs from unemployed americans??? Swing by a homebuilding site and see who is doing all the skilled labor work for 8 bucks an hour. And we hear this all the time from the DEMS, who aim to addict all newcomers to this country with handouts(taxpayer money),so they can get their votes. All those promises(lies) from these folks of a utopian life......yeah right.....nothing like a good Brooklyn Housing Project to see how that destroyed the human spirit of the vulnerable....just so these so called progressive pols can ride their high horses and be a member of the elite. Where else in the world can you drive a business into bankruptcy, run for office and became the worlds smartest person....right here in Southhampton and the good ole USA!

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justme June 18, 2013 at 04:34 pm
Yep. But taxpayers need to get out and vote on school budgets. Target marketing works - holdingRead More art shows on voting day, calling parents to come to vote spreading word through the kids. All registered voters need to get out and vote. The system will continue to be the same unless voters show up and vote no.
Tc June 18, 2013 at 04:59 pm
Justme.. Even if everyone voted no the raises were locked. By voting no programs would have beenRead More decimated more and more teachers given pink slips. The problem here is the BOE giving the union these contracts. It's time to STOP THE MADNESS!!
JJ Smith June 18, 2013 at 07:04 pm
And the candidate for the BOE ran unopposed. We have no to blame but ourselves.