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Orlando withdraws from Republican ticket

TIM KELLY PHOTO | Councilman Vinny Orlando addressing the Southold GOP committee Monday night.

Monday night’s Southold Republican convention wasn’t so cut and dried after all.

Incumbent Councilman Vincent Orlando, who four years ago ran on the team that restored the GOP’s Town Board supremacy, surprised party members by announcing that he will not seek a second term.

“I came to a crossroad,” Mr. Orlando, a Southold resident, told party members during a brief address at the American Legion hall in Southold. “It’s a family decision and it didn’t come easy.”
Mr. Orlando and his wife, Tracy, have two daughters.

Town GOP leader Denis Noncarrow said he learned of Mr. Orlando’s decision on Saturday. He said he was surprised, but not shocked.

“He has a family and that covers it,” Mr. Noncarrow said. “When he first campaigned he said he’d probably only go for four years. We figured he might do more after he got in.”

Town Trustee Bob Ghosio made his first run for public office on the ticket with Mr. Orlando in 2007.

“It saddens me, it really does,” he said. “Vinny has been a great public servant for the town.”

Mr. Noncarrow said several potential candidates have expressed an interest in running in Mr. Orlando’s place and the party will reconvene next month to fill the slot.

As expected, the party renominated the other seven Republican incumbents on this year’s ballot, including Supervisor Scott Russell and Councilman Bill Ruland.