Government and Politics
Brookhaven government is led by a town Supervisor and a six-member Town Council, which are all two-year term elected positions. Council members are elected by district.
Prior to 2002, the Brookhaven Town Republican Party controlled the majority of the town board for several decades, except for a four year period in the mid-1970s when Democrats held a majority under Supervisor John Randolph. This one-party domination, and a series of scandals, led to a tarnished reputation of local politics accorded the nickname "Crookhaven".
In 2002, a voter proposition was passed to create council districts, replacing the prior system of electing the six town council members at-large. Steve Fiore-Rosenfield became the first Democrat to be elected since the 1970s in 2003. In 2005, Brian X. Foley, a Democratic county legislator won the Town Supervisor race against Republican Councilman Edward Hennessy. In addition to Brian Foley, Constance Kepert and Carol Bissonette were also elected to the town board. As a result, the Democrats gained control of the Brookhaven town board.
Following the election of 2007, the Republican Party regained a majority on the Brookhaven Town Board, and elected Councilman Tim Mazzei as majority leader.
In 2008, Brian Foley was elected to the State Senate; he was replaced as Supervisor by Mark Lesko, a Democrat, in a special election in early 2009. However, the Republicans retained their majority on the Town Council.
On November 14, 2009, Town Councilman Keith Romaine, son of Suffolk County Legislator Ed Romaine, died. A special election was held March 9, 2010 to fill the vacant seat, with Daniel Panico being the victor.
Current Town Board as of March 9, 2010
Supervisor Mark Lesko (D)
Town Clerk Patricia Eddington (former Assemblywoman)Non-Voting Member (D)
1st Council District Councilman Steve Fiore-Rosenfield (D)
2nd Council District Councilwoman Jane Bonner (C)
3rd Council District Councilwoman Kathleen Walsh (R)
4th Council District Councilwoman Constance Kepert (D)
5th Council District Councilman Timothy Mazzei (R)
6th Council District Councilman Daniel Panico (R)
Tax Receiver LOUIS J. MARCOCCIA (R)
Read more about this topic: Brookhaven, New York
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