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Park district results: Close races decided in Mattituck, Orient

(Credit: Barbaraellen Koch, file)
(Credit: Barbaraellen Koch, file)

The recount results are in for the Mattituck Park District’s commissioner election, and the outcome is the same as it was originally, with longtime incumbent commissioner Gerard Goehringer defeating challenger Nick Deegan by a 215 to 214 vote margin. 

The original Nov. 20 vote was challenged by Mr. Deegan, who asked for a recount that was previously scheduled for Nov. 25 but moved to Dec. 2.

District clerk Lydia Tortora said the 429 ballots were recounted twice on Tuesday night, and that both times they came up with the same numbers as those the night of the election.

As a result of his one-vote victory, Mr. Goehringer will add another three years to the 33 he’s already spent on the Park District’s commission.

Mr. Goehringer said in a Nov. 20 letter to The Suffolk Tomes that he’s “proud of what [the board] has accomplished” in his most recent term.

The vote was nearly as close in Orient-East Marion, where challenger Don Rose defeated incumbent Jay McKasty by six votes. Ms. McKasty had served on the board since 2010. A total of 83 residents cast votes — including three write-ins — with Mr. Rose winning the three-year term 43-37-3.

Mr. Rose, who previously served on the board at Island’s End Golf and Country Club, said he’s most looking forward to working to protect Truman’s Beach.

“It’s a glorious place,” he said. “I want to be involved in making it as accessible as can be.”

The Cutchogue New-Suffolk Park District election will be held this Tuesday, Dec. 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Cutchogue East Elementary School.

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