Huntington 2025: Supervisor and Council Races Caught in Housing Fight

"The Huntington Republican Committee will face a primary challenge next month to the candidates it selected to run for town board in November, including Supervisor Ed Smyth, amid lingering divisions within the GOP over future development," reported Newsday.

"Brooke Lupinacci, who is not related to former Town Supervisor Chad Lupinacci and is in her first term of office, will face off against Smyth... In addition to Smyth, the committee's candidates are incumbent town board member Dave Bennardo and attorney Gregory Grizopoulos. The latter will run for the seat left open by town board member Sal Ferro (R), who is not seeking reelection."

Why? "There has been discord among the five members of the Republican Town Board over the Melville Town Center Overlay District, which was approved in December. The idea is to use that district to encourage developers to convert to mixed-use buildings to help create a walkable downtown of housing and businesses in an area of Melville. Lupinacci has opposed the idea since it was first officially unveiled to the public last spring. She said more research needed to be done."

LIBOR was a major supporter of the Melville rezoning, a key pro-housing victory for Suffolk County.