Democrats won open seats on East End ballots despite a nationwide red wave of Republican voters who elected the GOP to take control of Congress and the White House on Election Day.
Democratic Southampton Town Councilman Tommy Schiavoni defeated Republican Shelter Island Town Attorney Stephen Kiely of Mattituck in New York State’s 1st Assembly District race to replace outgoing Assemblyman Fred Thiele (D-Sag Harbor), who is retiring after 30 years. Democrat Arnott Gooding beat two candidates to win a seat on the Shelter Island Town Board. And voters returned incumbents to office up and down the ballots — in addition to approving four propositions.
