2023 Glen Cove election results: Panzenbeck holds onto her seat

This story was updated Nov. 8.

Pamela Panzenbeck, the affable, optimistic, former city councilwoman, will remain Glen Cove’s mayor, unofficially winning roughly 62 percent of the vote on Tuesday in her race against former Nassau County comptroller George Maragos.  

A retired business and computer education teacher, Panzenbeck is a lifelong Glen Cove resident. Her passion and commitment for improving her hometown is equal to her love of its residents, many of whom know her from her consummate volunteerism before becoming involved in the city's government. 

Maragos, who only captured 37 percent of the vote, blamed his defeat on national issues, pointing out that other towns on Long Island had similar GOP wins. Adding that he has no regrets, he said he supports Panzenbeck and offered his help.

“People are feeling our economy is not working for everybody with the cost of living so high,” Maragos said. “Earlier results indicate that more Democrats came out then Republicans. The Democrats crossed over, as did the blanks.”

Although Panzenbeck’s win is nearly certain, early voting and absentee ballots remain to be counted, which could affect the City Council outcome, where the races are close. For example, the race between Democrat John Zozzoro, currently in sixth place, and incumbent Republican Jack Mancusi, in seventh, is two votes.

“It’s terrible to have these cliffhanger nights,” Panzenbeck said. “We’ll see how it all goes. This is far from finished.”

The Democrat incumbents, Danielle Fugazy Scagliola, who won 10 percent of votes, and Marsha Silverman, who won 9 percent, were soundly reelected.

Glen Cove Democrats celebrated the addition of one additional seat on the City Council — John Zozzaro, former owner of the Downtown Café, although he said he remained cautious until the election is deemed official by the Nassau County Board of Elections. He received 8 percent of the votes.

“I don’t want to be a politician. I want to do the right thing for people,” he said. “It’s not a Democratic or Republican thing.”

Republican incumbents Kevin Maccarone and Grady Farnan also won their bid for reelection, but Jack Mancusi and Barbara Peebles did not. Newcomer Michael Ktistakis came in fifth with 8 percent of the votes. 

“Two years ago when I won, I was in the top three and I was very happy,” said Mancusi, who served the city as a law enforcement officer for 25 years. “Now I’m in the bottom and I’m just hoping for the best when the absentee and early voting results come in. People voted and they’ll get the people they wanted in office. I’m very comfortable with whoever they choose.”

First elected in 2018, Maccarone, 33, is one of the youngest elected officials. His father, John, is the head of the Republican Party. He captured 9 percent of the vote and is currently in third place.

“I really give all the council people so much credit; everyone worked so hard,” he said. “And I was proud to run with the Republican team in Glen  Cove.”

Maccarone had posted disparaging remarks on Facebook about Silverman. When the Herald asked her if it would be difficult to work with him on the City Council, she paused.

“Every campaign I’ve run is on my qualifications and contributions to the City of Glen Cove. I’ve never stooped to the nastiness,” she said. “This has happened to me in the past. I put it behind me then and will do so again to work with anyone who is elected for a better Glen Cove.”

Fugazy Scagliola said this election was “a little dirtier.” She said her focus will be to doing the right thing.

“When you spend time going negative on others it’s a waste of your time,” she added.

Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, a Glen Cove Democrat, enjoyed her re-election victory in the Legislature’s District 11 race for a seventh term. She beat her opponent John Stalzer, a Sea Cliff resident, by a wide margin garnering roughly 64 percent of the vote. 

“I really, truly enjoy my job,” she said. “And I love working with the people in that district.”

DeRiggi-Whitton, who served on the Glen Cove City Council before becoming a legislator, has spent much of her time spearheading many environmental projects on the North Shore. She’s known for working effectively across the aisle, which she said is due to being a moderate and coming from a family of both card-carrying Democrats and Republicans. She’s looking forward to continuing her efforts at the Legislature.