Huntington Republicans Step Up Their Game

By Pam Robinson

Huntington Republicans  issued a "two-minute warning," Sunday, borrowing a football term to show that the game is almost over. In this case, they are referring to Tuesday's primary which will determine who gets onto the ballot in November.

Chairwoman Toni Tepe emailed a request Sunday for volunteers  Monday and Tuesday to help get the vote out.  

"Keeping with the sports analogy, our opponents pretend to be on the Republican team but when they step off the field and are out of public view, they're really Democrats," Tepe said.

In particular, the town committee backs Town Councilman Gene Cook, seeking the nomination for town supervisor, Mark Mayoka for re-election to the Town Board and Josh Price for the board. 

Tepe's email, and a tweet from Cook to, cite a party newsletter that criticizes two candidates running on the Republican line and challenges their commitment to the GOP. The newsletter raps Robert  Lifson, who is running against Cook, as a "RINO," or Republican in Name Only, and Mark "the Player" Capodanno, who is running for Town Board.

"If this Primary season was a football game, we'd be approaching the two-minute warning," Tepe's email and newsletter read. "And with the clock ticking down until Tuesday, we need your help to defend our Republican Party against the Democrats who are trying to raid it."

Patch will have more later Monday on the candidates, voting places and hours.