Wooten Announces Intent to Seek Republican Nomination for Supervisor

Town Councilman Jim Wooten announced this weekend that he will try to earn the Republican nomination for this fall's supervisor election, taking his chances with the town's Republican Committee against incumbent first-term Supervisor Sean Walter. 

"It's time for the party to have a different appearance in town hall," Wooten said. "We need someone who can come together and get the job done, not looking over their shoulders. Sean is paranoid about everybody, and it's important we have someone in there who can pull people together. Not someone who is fighting and competing with others."

Walter, reached on Sunday, said he thought Wooten's decision "makes zero sense," though invited the first term councilman and former town detective to "jump in - the water's warm."

Wooten was unsure that he would wage a primary campaign for supervisor if he fails to earn the committee's nod to run for supervisor - "that's a hard decision for any party, much less a local community party." He, along with fellow board member Jodi Giglio, vied for the supervisor nomination in 2009, though the party chose Walter to lead the ticket.

Walter said he's running for supervisor again no matter what.

"There is no doubt that I will be on the ballot," he said. "I'm fairly certain that I will earn the Conservative nomination, I think I can get the Independence Party. And in the unlikely event that I lose a Republican primary, which I don't think I will, I will be launching a new Riverhead party come this August."

Walter, a former chair of the town's Conservative Party until he enrolled as a Republican for his 2009 supervisor run, defeated three-term Democrat Phil Cardinale with 51.4 percent of the vote. Running on the Conservative and Republican lines, he won by fewer than 250 votes.

Republican Committee Chairman John Galla did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.

When asked whether he thought a run from both he and Wooten would open the door for a Democrat to take the supervisor seat, Walter said, "I think someone should be asking Jim Wooten that question right now. He's primarying me by seeking the Republican nomination. He's challenging the guy who took out a six year incumbent."

Asked what qualifies him for the position, Wooten pointed to his interpersonal skills and familiarity with the constituents of Riverhead. 

"I've been involved with the community all of my life, I've been on the board for four years, and I think I understand the needs of the people," he said. "I'm definitely a better communicator, facilitator and manager of people than Sean is.

"You don't have to be a lawyer to be town supervisor," he said, referring to the past three supervisors (Walter, Cardinale, and current Town Attorney Bob Kozakiewicz). "You create a tax base, watch spending, and do well with people. It's not rocket science."

Walter said he would welcome running on his record as an elected official with Wooten's. 

"Councilman Wooten has been in office for four years," he said. "Ask him what his accomplishments are ... In my 15 months we've seen five new businesses opened with the help of the town supervisor's office. If we do five in 2011, and five more in 2012, pretty soon downtown will be full.

"We've got the Business Improvement District going - look at the Thursday night car shows," he said. "Business owners are telling me they're as busy on Thursday nights as they are on weekends. We've increased capacity at the Water District. As far as getting along with people goes, we have four board members with very strong personalities. And I'm usually the swing vote, so for him to say I don't get along with people is kind of silly."

Democrat Committee Chair Vinny Villella said Wooten's announcement didn't surprise him. 

"Half of the Republican party is happy with Sean, half aren't," he said. "I think it's going to be an interesting year."

Villella added that Wooten has asked to screen with Democrats in hopes of being cross-endorsed.