Election 2011: Incumbents Win Smithtown Primaries

Two Smithtown town councilmen have won the public's approval to run for re-election this November.

In Tuesday's primaries, incumbents Robert Creighton received 1,810 votes and Edward Wehrheim 1,695 votes  to beat out challenger Lawrence Gray for the Republican nominations. Gray received only 331 votes, 8.6 percent, with 87 out of 92 districts reporting, according to the Suffolk County Board of Elections.

"I am a long time Republican. I voted for Ed Wehrheim and Robert Creighton. They do a good job," said voter Doug Lederman, who previously worked for the Town.

Challenger Daniel Donnelly faired slightly better in his bid for the Conservative line. Donnelly received 113 votes, or 15.3 percent, compared to Creighton, 326 votes, and Wehrheim, 298 votes.

Turnout for the primary elections was low despite sunny skies, as both the Republican and Conservative party struggled to draw more than 10 percent of voters.

"We didn't expect much of a turnout, especially since it is only two parties," said polling coordinator Dan Rutigliano, who oversaw the booths at Kings Park High School since opening at 6 a.m. 

Board of Election officials said as of 5 p.m., only 1,442 Republican voter cast a ballot, or 5.25 percent, and 221 Conservative voters, or 9.5 percent of registered party members. These numbers rose as more districts reported, but remained low in the non-presidential year. 

Creighton and Wehrheim will campaign against Democratic candidates Howard Knispel and Teresa Haft for a four-year term on the town council.

Wehrheim, will be seeking his third term, first elected to the council in 2003 after working for the town parks department. He is a Vietnam veteran and serves as a Trustee of the Kings Park Education Foundation.

Creighton joined the Smithtown Town Council in 2008, after serving as police commissioner for the Suffolk County Police Department. He is active in organizations such as The Cleary School for the Deaf, Knights of Columbus, COPS Foundation, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Ascent School for Children with Autism, Suffolk County Police Emerald Society and St. Joseph’s Church.