L-R Vincent Puleo, nominee Thomas Lohmann, nominee Robert Doyle and Edward WehrheimThe Smithtown Republican convention Tuesday evening resulted in Councilman Edward Wehrheim garnering more votes than long time supervisor Patrick R. Vecchio becoming the 2017 Republican candidate for Smithtown Town supervisor.
Councilman Wehrheim, employed by the town for 45 years, spoke briefly promising to continue serving the community with “honor and integrity.” Wehrheim’s comments were interrupted by very angry Vecchio supporters who accused Bill Ellis of betraying the committee. Committee members supporting Vecchio allege that Ellis accepted proxies from absent committee people without informing them that John Zollo, the only announced candidate running for the office other than Patrick Vecchio, was being replaced by Ed Wehrheim. Ellis denied these charges. The anger was palatable.
Also being side lined by the proxy votes were Councilman Tom McCarthy and Councilwoman Lynne Nowick. Both candidates screened before the nominating committee and were not informed by Bill Ellis that they were being dropped by the ticket. The Republicans, by proxy, replaced the incumbent councilmembers with two political newcomers Robert Doyle a retired detective sergeant, and Thomas Lohmann a retiree of the NYPD currently a Suffolk County district attorney.
Town clerk Vincent Puleo, Conservative, is the only incumbent to be endorsed for re-election. Current superintendent of highways Robert Murphy was appointed two years ago replacing Glenn Jorgensen. Murphy received the Republican nomination to run for his first full term.
Supervisor Vecchio, Councilman McCarthy, Councilwoman Nowick have promised a September primary. Conrad Chase, current planning board chairperson, is planning a primary against Town Clerk Vincent Puleo.