Suffolk Dems fight over town chair races

Daily Point

Moderate-progressive disputes brew after Schaffer-KCQ showdown

At least three Suffolk County Democratic town chair positions are being contested this month as infighting in the party continues to fester just weeks before voters head to the polls in the general election.

Suffolk political insiders say it's part of a continued struggle between moderates and progressives that boiled to a head last month when Rich Schaffer fended off a challenge to his 26-year tenure as county party chair from Southold Town Democratic chair Kathryn Casey Quigley.

Now, some Democrats say Schaffer is trying to get a new and loyal leader in Islip, while party uprisers seek change in Huntington. And in Brookhaven, where the current leader is stepping down, at least two candidates have emerged to take over.

In a Facebook post, Elizabeth Mercado announced her run for Islip Town Democratic Committee chair, a position held by Leigh-Ann Barde. Barde drew criticism from establishment Democrats when she publicly switched allegiances from Schaffer to Casey Quigley.

Mercado praised rank-and-file Islip Democrats but said: "What we need is leadership that brings it all together" to create "an organization that reflects the people we represent and the values we stand for."

Mercado is listed as a member of the Suffolk County Water Authority Board, a spot usually blessed by the party chair.

Barde told The Point Mercado's challenge is payback.

"Our committee members have a choice," Barde said. "Progress and moving forward or business as usual in a time when Iowa is showing more progress than Suffolk County."

Bryan Sokolowski, political director for the county Democrats, said the goal is to unite Democrats through the Democratic process of electing new leaders.

"Just like the county meeting, the people will decide and the only thing this should be a proxy for is who are the best people to unite and organize our town parties and win important elections," Sokolowski texted The Point.

The date of the Islip organizational meeting, when committee members will vote for the next chair, is not yet set. There was some confusion earlier this week about when town committees could legally hold organizational meetings according to the bylaws of the county organization. Internal Suffolk Democratic Party emails state that town committees must hold their organizational meetings between Oct. 12 and Oct. 22.

In Brookhaven — where chair Anthony Portesy moved to Melville at some point during his candidacy for county clerk and nomination by the Conservative Party for a state Supreme Court judgeship — two candidates are running to fill his spot. Diane Costello is listed on the state Democratic Committee's website as a vice chair. She is being challenged by Jen Greene.

In Huntington, chair Jill Kaufman, an ally of Schaffer, is being challenged by Liz Best.

Sokolowski said having three contested town chair races is a sign of the party's resurgence.

"Competition for leadership positions — at both the county and town level — reflects the energy and engagement of Democrats across Suffolk County," Sokolowski said. "We welcome that enthusiasm and believe a strong Democratic Party is one in which committee members are engaged, participate in the process and have their voices heard."

About the intraparty feuding weeks before the general election, Sokolowski said the county organization is helping town committees with "logical support so our activists can focus their time and attention on Democratic wins ... and not reinventing the wheel on setting up nominating conventions."

— Mark Nolan mark.nolan@newsday.com

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