Coverage of the Corruption Scandal Inspiring the
Abigail Field Write In Campaign
TBR News Media·
County Clerk Race Sees Democratic Write-In Campaign Following Previous Candidate's Withdrawal
TBR News Media covers Abigail Field's write-in campaign for Suffolk County Clerk, following Anthony Portesy's withdrawal amid allegations that Republican Party chair Jesse Garcia threatened the jobs of Democrats at OTB and the Board of Elections. Field was selected by a subgroup of Suffolk County Democratic Committee members and will run against incumbent clerk Vincent Puleo.
Suffolk County Democratic Committee members are challenging longtime chairman Rich Schaffer ahead of the party's September convention, citing a culture of patronage and corruption — including allegations that he pressured the Democratic candidate for county clerk to withdraw from the race, leaving the Republican incumbent Vincent Puleo unopposed.
Long Island Dems Locked in Civil War as Members Accuse Chairman of Backroom Deals With GOP
Long Island Democrats are embroiled in an internal civil war, with party members accusing Suffolk County Democratic chairman Rich Schaffer of cutting backroom deals with Republicans — including pressuring the Democratic candidate for county clerk to drop out of the race.
How Democrats' Bids for Suffolk County Seats Highlight Tensions Within Party
Suffolk County Clerk candidate Anthony Portesy abandoned his campaign after facing pressure from Democratic Party chair Rich Schaffer, leaving Republican incumbent Vincent Puleo — who owns a spa alleged to have allowed illicit sex acts — running unopposed. The controversy has intensified a leadership battle within the Suffolk Democratic Party.
Democratic comptroller candidate Jon Estreich refused to withdraw from his race despite pressure from party leadership — while county clerk candidate Anthony Portesy accepted a judgeship nomination to exit the ballot, leaving Republican incumbent Vincent Puleo unopposed. The episode exposed backroom deals within the Suffolk Democratic Party.
Suffolk County Democratic clerk candidate Anthony Portesy accepted a Conservative Party judgeship nomination to exit the ballot, leaving Republican incumbent Vincent Puleo unopposed — while comptroller candidate Jon Estreich refused to withdraw despite pressure. Republican Party chair Jesse Garcia threatened to purge Democrats from patronage jobs at OTB and the Board of Elections, exposing the backroom deals propping up the Suffolk Democratic Party establishment.
Suffolk County Clerk Race: Portesy, Puleo, Kuhn, and Kopp
A Newsday opinion piece examining the Suffolk County Clerk race and the candidates involved — Anthony Portesy, Vincent Puleo, DawnMarie Kuhn, and Patricia Kopp.
