Wooten Says He's Still Seeking to Screen for GOP Supervisor Nomination. And Just in Case, Council Also

In the early goings in the time of the year commonly known as "silly season" to the political junkies out there, Councilman Jim Wooten's run for public office took another turn Thursday afternoon when a spokesman announced that Wooten will, indeed, be screening for the Republican supervisor post. And councilman.

The announcement came hours after Riverhead Republican Committee Chairman John Galla made calls to media relaying a "cordial conversation" he had with Wooten, during which Galla said Wooten would screen for his expiring town council seat before the full Riverhead Republic Committee tonight as its members consider their candidates for the November election.

Wooten's statement appeared at odds with what Galla told reporters this morning – namely, that Wooten would only be screening for his expiring council slot, having apparently abandoned the for the supervisor’s nomination.

According to Jim Teese, a political consultant from Smithtown who is Wooten’s campaign manager, Wooten plans to screen for council tonight and during the same speech ask for the committee’s support for his run for supervisor.

"He obviously can't run for both offices in November, but he should be allowed to screen for both positions," Teese said.

“Jim’s only chance to speak is during the council screen because Galla said you can’t screen for both.” Teese said. “[Wooten] believes he’s the best person to lead the ticket, but of course, that’s the committee’s decision. But in any case he expects to be on the ballot in November.”

Galla told a reporter Thursday morning that Wooten "can't screen for both" positions, and later said he would first have to ask for a ruling from his executive board and perhaps his full committee to double check the committee's bylaws before any screening could begin tonight.

Thursday afternoon, Galla said it was "being researched as we speak."

Galla said it is obvious what Wooten is trying to do – namely, cover himself by being in a position to run for re-election as councilman should the committee deny him the supervisor’s nomination.

Wooten’s prepared statement was upfront in admitting that this, indeed, is his objective. 

“I hope to receive the endorsement of my fellow Republicans for supervisor,” he wrote. “If not, I humbly believe that my service will be recognized and respected by the committee and I will receive their endorsement for re-election [as councilman].”

To futher cover his bets, Wooten confirmed Thursday morning that he had already submitted his resume to Riverhead’s Democratic Committee, requesting an opportunity to screen for the Democratic nomination for supervisor.

Wooten said that Vinny Villella, the democratic chairman, had reached out to him, but Villella tells a different story, saying that Wooten had called him Tuesday night to ask for the opportunity to screen.

“Anybody who wants to screen tonight, I welcome them, but do it under the title of the office you would like to seek,” Galla said. “We welcome Jim’s screening for whatever office, but now that he’s made this announcement, do we have him screen as a council candidate or a candidate for  supervisor?” 

Galla added, “People have talked to me and said they would like to run for that council seat should Jim Wooten decide to run for supervisor. So out of fairness to those people, we’re calling them and saying, ‘be prepared to screen for council tonight.'”