Editorial - Smithtown Republicans Call Foul At Convention

“Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” Sir Walter Scott, “Marmion”

Truer words have never been spoken especially when it comes to this year’s Smithtown Republican convention. The convention, held at the Elks Club Tuesday night was plain old ugly. Instead of Edward Wehrheim, the Republican designee for Smithtown supervisor, going to the podium to thank the committee and to celebrate, there was screaming and outward rebellion as Vecchio supporters accused Chairman Bill Ellis of conspiring to defraud Patrick Vecchio his rightful nomination.  Charges which the chairman denied.

In politics it is not unusual for committee members to submit a proxy allowing a chairperson to use their vote to support a candidate. Many, many committee persons did just that. Many of them submitted their proxy with the expectation that the candidates for supervisor would be Patrick Vecchio and John Zollo, the only announced candidate challenging incumbent Patrick Vecchio. John Zollo was considered a long shot to beat out Vecchio. According to Vecchio supporters committee members sent in their proxies well in advance of the convention with the expectation that their vote would go to Patrick Vecchio. What happened next could only be considered a bait and switch scenario where Ed Wehrheim replaced John Zollo as the candidate and all the signed blank proxies submitted to Ellis were cast as votes for Wehrheim.

Bill Ellis notified Patrick Vecchio on Thursday May 25th that the nominating committee would be endorsing Ed Wehrheim for supervisor. In addition, he advised that the committee would not be endorsing Councilman McCarthy nor Councilwoman Nowick, but would be supporting newcomers Robert Doyle and Thomas Lohmann. According to some members of the executive committee they had no indication that this was happening, a charge Ellis denies. 

Several executive committee members have confirmed that they were not aware of Wehrheim replacing Zollo, nor were they aware that Nowick and McCarthy were being replaced even though they had attended all scheduled executive board meetings. 

When the roll call was read with the word proxy, almost every time Ellis said “Wehrheim” indicating the votes would go to the Wehrheim. The room was silent as people realized there were more proxy’s than people in the audience and that the nominee would be Ed Wehrheim. There was nothing they could do but express their frustration. And they did loudly and passionately. 

Ed Wehrheim took to the podium and thanked the committee promising to continue to serve the community with “honor and integrity.” Those words were lost on the Vecchio supporters who emphasized that there was no honor, only dishonor in lying to committee members and swapping out John Zollo for Ed Wehrheim.

Supervisor Vecchio, Councilman McCarthy and Councilwoman Nowick have promised to primary. The primary will take place in September.

Oh what a tangled web we weave.

Pat