Recap: North Fork budgets pass by wide margins

All five school districts on the North Fork saw their proposed budgets pass by Tuesday night by wide margins.

In the school board race for three open seats at Oysterponds, two candidates — Dorothy-Dean Thomas and Betsy Dzenkowski — tied for third place with 157 votes each. The district is expected to hold a run-off election within 45 days, Superintendent Richard Malone said.

Oysterponds challengers Tom Stevenson received 193 votes and Alison Lyne received 160 votes. Both were elected to the school board Tuesday night.

Charles Squire, who withdrew from tonight’s election because state law requires candidates to live within a district for at least a year, received 61 votes as he still appeared on the ballot.

Over in Mattituck, incumbent William Gatz won tonight’s election. He ran unopposed. Former school board member Jeff Smith won the second seat left vacant by Janique Nine with 79 write-in votes. The district did not announce other write-in results.

The Southold Free Library spending plan was also approved.

Here’s a summary of tonight’s results:

Greenport

While most polls closed at 9 p.m., the Greenport School District ended early at 8 p.m.

Greenport’s proposed budget was passed in a landslide, with 262 people voting yes and 58 voting against the 2013-14 spending plan.

Current Greenport school board president Heather Wolf and board member Tina Volinski ran unopposed. Ms. Volinksi was the top vote-getter with 278 to Ms. Wolf’s 256.

Mattituck

Mattituck-Cutchogue’s $38.85 million budget passed in a 600 to 362 vote. Incumbent William Gatz, who ran unopposed, won tonight’s election with 639 votes. Former school board member Jeff Smith won the second open seat with 79 votes. The district did not announce other write-in results.

New Suffolk

New Suffolk’s $965,324 budget passed with a 57 to 4 vote. Incumbent Joe Polashock ran unopposed and was elected to another term with 58 votes and 3 absentee votes.

Oysterponds

Oysterponds $5.35 million budget passed with a 160 to 116 vote. The referendum to establish a reserve fund to pay for capital improvements failed by a 129 to 136 vote. Absentee ballots were factored into those totals, 17 yes and 6 no for both the budget and capital reverse referendum.

School board candidates Dorothy-Dean Thomas and Betsy Dzenkowski tied at 157 votes. A run-off election is to be scheduled within 45 days, the superintendent said.

Candidates Tom Stevenson and Alison Lyne won seats on the school board. Mr. Stevenson received 193 votes and Ms. Lyne received 160.

Charles Squire, who withdrew from tonight’s election because state law requires candidates to live within a district for at least a year, received 61 votes as he still appeared on the ballot.

Current school board member Thomas Gray, who decided not to run for re-election this year, received seven write-in votes.

As for absentee ballots for school board candidates, Ms. Thomas received 17 votes; Mr. Stevenson received 21 votes; Mr. Squire received 17 votes; Ms. Lyne received 6 votes; and Ms. Dzenkowski received 7 votes.

Southold

Southold’s $28 million budget passed with a 718 to 315 vote. School board vice president Judi Fouchet was re-elected with 753 votes. She ran unopposed.

Southold Free Library

Southold Free Library’s six-month $406,000 budget passed with a 743 to 285 vote.