Scannell bounced from Conservative line?

Republican Chris Browne appears to have scored a stunning victory in the Conservative Party primary yesterday, knocking Nassau County Legislator Joe Scannell (D-Baldwin) off the line after receiving 102 write-in votes, in unofficial results Wednesday.

"It feels gratifying to have won, obviously, because we worked extremely hard," Browne told the Herald. "I think we had an effective message. I always believed that I more appropriately represented the interests of the Conservative Party."

Nassau County Conservative Party Chairman Roger Bogsted said that he telephoned Browne on Tuesday night to concede and to congratulate him after seeing that Browne had a substantial lead over Scannell. And though the party had endorsed Scannell last May, Bogsted said that he has no problem with Browne representing them. "I think [Browne and Scannell] are both good candidates," he said. "I think Baldwin, Rockville Centre, Freeport... are fortunate to have such quality candidates running, but we decided to stay with the proven legislator. But he lost the primary, so we have to move on.

"I'll work with whoever the nominee turns out to be," he added, acknowledging that results are not yet official. "Whoever carries the banner, that's who we'll support."

Scannell, whose name appeared on the ballot in Tuesday's primary because he had received the party's endorsement, received 60 votes, according to the Board of Elections' Web site. The lawmaker was challenged in the primary after some 5th District Conservatives petitioned to enable Browne to challenge Scannell on the line.

Scannell did not immediately return a call.

Scannell also faced a challenger on the Independent Party line from Baldwin resident Mechielle Chapman. Unofficial results posted by the county Board of Elections showed Scannell was leading Chapman by only two votes.

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