Glen Cove Democrats win big

Victory in mayoral, council and legislative races

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Glen Cove Democratic headquarters cheered in a frenzy on Tuesday night as Glen Cove City Mayor Timothy Tenke won his bid for re-election. According to the Nassau County Board of Elections, Tenke beat challenger and former Mayor Reggie Spinello 3,401-2,749.

In the last election, in 2017, Tenke won by only three votes, so to win by nearly 900 this time, he said, solidified the city’s confidence in him. He added that while negative fliers about him circulated through the city, refusing to use such tactics himself helped propel him to victory.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Tenke said as he spoke to his supporters, who packed the Meritage Wine Bar on School Street. “Thank you for standing by me in a campaign that got really ugly. This shows that what people really care about is what you’re going to do for them to improve their quality of life.”

And it was a clean sweep for the Democrats running for Glen Cove City Council. The six candidates, which included incumbent Councilwoman Marsha Silverman, have taken over the formerly Republican-led council. The new members include Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews, John Perrone, Danielle Fugazy Scagliola, Rocco Totino and Dr. Eve Lupenko Ferrante.

“I’m thrilled that the city can move forward in the right direction now,” said Silverman, currently the lone Democrat on the council. “I truly believe all seven of us will do what is right for the public.”

“It’s a clean sweep,” echoed Perrone as he held a broom over his head.

With about 95 percent of the votes counted, according to the Board of Elections, Fugazy Scagliola led, with 2,939 votes; followed by Silverman, with 2,924; Totino, with 2,845; Perrone, with 2,755; Stevenson-Mathews, with 2,708; and Lupenko Ferrante, with 2,599. Councilwoman Pamela Panzenbeck, who has served two terms, had the most votes among the Republican incumbents, 2,171.

“We all worked hard on our campaigns throughout the year because we care about the city,” Totino said. “We look forward to doing good things in the next year.”

Two-term Councilman Joseph Capobianco, who garnered only 1,831 votes, congratulated his opponents and added that he hoped Glen Cove could continue to move forward under the new council come 2020. He and his fellow Republicans incumbents joined the Democrats at the Maritage to concede and congratulate the winners. Although Fugazy Scagliola said she felt bad for the current council members, Republican Councilman Kevin Maccarone told her that the race wasn’t about beating one another, but about setting the best path forward for the city.

County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, a Democrat, also enjoyed her re-election victory in the Legislature’s District 11 race. She beat her opponent and fellow Glen Cove resident, James Greenberg, by a wide margin, 10,447 to 3,971. DeRigg-Whitton said she looked forward to working in the district’s best interest for another two years.

“I’m incredibly humbled by the support and trust the district has put in me,” she said. “I also look forward to working together with Tim and the rest of the new City Council, and I’m eager to see how they move their agenda forward in 2020.”