Romaine Throws Hat into Ring for Open Brookhaven Supe Seat

Less than a week after Brookhaven , North Fork County Legislator Ed Romaine has thrown his hat in the ring as one Republican seeking the GOP nomination.

Romaine, R-Center Moriches, who is serving his fourth consecutive term in the Legislature, previously served 16 years as Suffolk County Clerk.

While leaving his position on the North Fork would be a "very, very difficult choice," Romaine said a few reasons caught him as compelling.

"First, Brookhaven has huge fiscal problems and would be a challenge. Second, my son - he was a councilman, and cared deeply about the town," Romaine said, referring to his son Keith, who died at the age of 36 during his tenure as a Brookhaven councilman.

Romaine also noted the minimal risk involved in running - a position similarly held by several other potential candidates such as Assemblymen Dan Losquadro, R-Shoreham, and Dean Murray, R-East Patchogue, as well as Romaine's counterpart in the Legislature, Tom Muratore, R-Ronkonkoma.

All were elected last year, and would not lose their seat should they lose a race for Brookhaven supervisor.

Romaine said he'll also be seeking the Independence and Conservative lines, which he's held during every run for Legislature since 2005.

After speaking with GOP party officials before the weekend, Romaine was urged to run - a decision town party leader Jesse Garcia said he was happy to see.

"Certainly Ed Romaine is one of those class A candidates, part of the crop that can take back town hall," Garcia told Patch Monday evening. 

Romaine unveiled his slogan for his bid: "Reinvent Brookhaven."

“We will ‘Reinvent Brookhaven’ by streaming government, by making it more responsive to its residents, by working to resolve quality of life issues, by making our town a better place to create jobs, and by preserving our environment,” he said via press release.

Brookhaven party leaders will hold a nomination, likely shortly after Lesko's official resignation, to determine who will face off against a Democratic candidate - who still remains unknown as well.

On Wednesday, Suffolk Democratic party chairman Richard Schaffer told Patch that possible candidates in November's election could include Brian Beedenbender, Lesko’s current chief of staff and a former county legislator; ; and current Town Clerk Patricia Eddington.

Republican Kathleen Walsh, the current deputy town supervisor, will serve as interim supervisor following Lesko's official departure on Sept. 14.