VIDEO: Legislator-elect Al Krupski addresses supporters after his victory at the polls in the First Legislative District special election, at the Dark Horse Restaurant in Riverhead, where the Krupski campaign set up headquarters for watching the returns come in.| read more ››

With 67 percent of the vote, Southold Town Councilman and North Fork Farmer Al Krupski defeated Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter during a special election Tuesday night for a seat on the Suffolk County Legislature.

And supporters from across the county, student political observers — even Sean Walter at one point after his defeat — showed up to a banquet room at the Dark Horse Restaurant in downtown Riverhead to congratulate Krupski.

“You stomped me bad,” Walter told Krupski, coming from Cody's BBQ and Grill, a few doors down – to shake the victor's hand. “I intend to stay in Riverhead, apparently — I appreciate the message. I wish you the best of luck, my friend, God bless.”

Watch a...| read more ››

While vote counting is still hours away, the Suffolk Board of Elections has already received 802 absentee ballots in the special election to fill the vacancy of former GOP Legis. Edward Romaine in the first district.

Today’s contest pits Republican Sean Walter, the Riverhead supervisor, against Democrat Alfred Krupski, a Southold town board member, to succeed Republican Romaine, who was elected Brookhaven supervisor in November.

Although election officials cannot say for whom absentees cast ballots, 323 were from Democrats, 291 were from Republicans and 157 who are not aligned with any party. There were also 14 Conservative and 17 Independence Party members, who cast absentee ballots, Walter has the Conservative and Independence Party lines.

Originally, about 1,300 applied for absentee...| read more ››