Huntington Town Officials Celebrate Swearing-In

HUNTINGTON, NY — Four officials from the Town of Huntington were sworn into office Monday night in Huntington.

Town Councilman Eugene Cook and Councilwoman Joan Cergol were re-elected in November. Cook will start his third term, while Cergol is starting her first full term, Huntington Now reported.

Jillian Guthman, who ran as the incumbent receiver of taxes, was re-elected for her first full term, while Andrew Raia won the town clerk seat held by his mother, J0-Ann Raia, who retired after holding the position for 38 years. Both elected officials took their oaths of office.

State Senator John Flanagan served as the Master of Ceremonies. He called the ceremony bittersweet in a Facebook post, as he noted the passing of the town clerk torch from mother to son.

"[The ceremony] marked the official end of the tenure of Jo-Ann Raia who served the Town of Huntington for 38 years," he wrote. "She has left an indelible mark on the Town and her dedication to our residents will not soon be forgotten. We thank her for her service. Best wishes to her son Andrew, our former assemblyman, who was sworn in to serve as the Town Clerk. He has some big shoes to fill."

Flanagan also wished Cook, Cergol and Guthman well in their service to Huntingtonians.