Shake-Up At Suffolk County Board Of Elections

Without notice. In a move that surprised almost everyone, Smithtown Republican Committee Chairman William Ellis, deputy commissioner of elections at the Suffolk County Board of Elections and Suffolk Conservative Party Secretary Michael A. Torres, a senior assistant commissioner at the Suffolk County Board of Elections, were fired from their positions Friday morning.  No one seems to know why they were fired but almost everyone has an opinion. 

There seems to be a consensus among political people that Michael A. Torres was fired as an answer to the Conservative Party’s endorsement of Democrats for judgeships in November.  People seem less certain as to why Bill Ellis was fired. The speculation is that Suffolk County Republican Chairman John J. LaValle was not happy with recent primary results. It is well known that Supervisor Vecchio and Mr. LaValle do not get along. Mr. LaValle supported Robert Creighton over Supervisor Vecchio in the 2013 Republican primary for Town Supervisor. A primary that Vecchio won. The recent September Town Council primary pitted Creighton and Vecchio supported candidate Lisa Inzerillo against each other.  Robert Creighton, supported by Bill Ellis and John LaValle, was ousted from the Republican line by Inzerillo.

Suffolk County Republican Chairman John J. LaValle, in a phone conversation with Smithtown Matters was not forthcoming with an answer to the question why Torres and Ellis were fired. LaValle said that it was his policy not to discuss personnel issues. When asked if the firings were a response to the Conservative Party’s endorsement of Democratic Judge candidates, LaValle was unequivocal with his answer “NO”.  LaValle did not give a direct answer to the question why Ellis was fired but he implied that the party was moving in a different direction. LaValle said he was not prepared at this time to name replacements for the two men.

In a phone conversation Smithtown Town Supervisor Vecchio said he believed “there was an inherent conflict” in Bill Ellis being an appointee at the BOE and Republican Town Leader. Holding both positions said Vecchio, “is wrong because it divides his loyalty between the committee and his position.” Supervisor Vecchio pointed to the 2013 primary, a very contentious primary,  Councilman Creighton changed his party enrollment from Conservative to Republican so he could primary Vecchio. SC Chairman LaValle was very active in his support for Creighton and Ellis was caught between supporting LaValle’s candidate Robert Creighton or Patrick Vecchio, the committee’s chosen candidate. According to Supervisor Vecchio holding the two positions has caused the Smithtown Republicans “irreparable harm.”

Comments

[TrueStory]

The inherent conflict comment is BS. Almost all Republican Party leaders have appointed positions through Republican Chairman LaValle: Brookhaven leader Republican Party leader Jesse Garcia, B.O.E. (where Bill Ellis was working); Anthony Pancella III, Babylon Leader, OTB - both making over $100K. Riverhead leader, B.O.E., Mark Gallo, Babylon, B.O.E. Why are leaders of parties working in the Board of Elections even on the Democratic side? That's a HUGE conflict of interest. Why are party leaders being handed high paying jobs. Shouldn't leaders be capable of handling their own instead of being handed high paid tax payer funded jobs? I'm sure there are more and that needs to be investigated.