Palumbo Wins By Wide Margin In Primary Race

NORTH FORK, NY — Incumbent New York State Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo was the winner by a wide margin in a high profile GOP primary race in the second Assembly district, besting challenger Mike Yacubich of Shoreham.

According to unofficial results by the Suffolk County Board of Elections, with 88 districts reported and one still to come, Palumbo had 2,735 votes, or 80.42 percent, while Yacubich had 641, or 18.85 percent. There were 25 write in votes.

After the votes were cast, Palumbo spoke to Patch: "We're very pleased with the results of tonight's primary and we look forward to the general election," he said. "I've been campaigning hard all summer and will continue through November's election."

When asked what he'd like to say to constituents after the primary, Palumbo said, to voters, "Thank you."

The road to Primary Day was marked by some upset: After filing a lawsuit, Yacubich was back on the ballot as of August, after the state's Appellate Division tossed a ruling by a lower court and the Suffolk Board of Elections; some filed objections saying that his nominating petitions were not valid due to the fact that they stated his name as Mike Yacubich and not his full name Michael B. Yacubich, similar to that of his son, who is also living at his same address, according to Newsday.

Palumbo will now run in November on the GOP, Conservative and Independence lines. Rona Smith, a Democrat challenger from Greenport, will also be on the ballot in November.

Palumbo's Assembly page said his "leadership, determination and compassion have been apparent" during his years in office, with efforts including sponsorship of a tax-cut bill that would save the average Suffolk County resident more than $2,500 annually; passing legislation to save money for first-time homebuyers; leading an effort to reform the Common Core educational curriculum; working to make public corruption laws tougher; and working on quality of life issues — and on making Suffolk County affordable again, he said.

Before serving as assemblyman Palumbo served as an assistant district attorney for the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office and served as vice president of the Cutchogue-New Suffolk Library Board of Trustees.

Patch courtesy photo.