Tinari

Tepe

Kay

2010
Huntington Town Conservative
leader Frank Tinari and
Huntington Republican leader
Toni Tepe agree to give a District
Court slot that had been vacated by
a Republican to Conservative John
Andrew Kay. Tepe said she did so
with the understanding that the
judgeship would return to
Republicans in 2014 when Kay
would have to retire at age 70.

Hackeling

Collins

Early 2014

Jan. 2014
Tinari approaches Tepe and proposes
cross-endorsing Republican Steve
Hackeling, Conservative Paul Hensley and
Democrat James Matthews (who is Tinaris
former law partner) for District Court. Tepe
reminds Tinari of her understanding of their
deal on the Kay seat. Tinari denies ever
making such a deal. Their talks break down.

Tinari approaches Huntington

Democratic chairwoman Mary Collins
about a deal for judgeships. He agrees
to back two Democrats in exchange for
the Democrats agreeing to back one
Conservative in 2014 and another
Conservative judgeship in 2015, Collins
said.

By Collins account, this created an opening

for a Conservative to get cross-endorsed by
the Democrats in 2015.

Hensley

Matthews

Flynn

June-July, 2014
During petition time, Tepe says that Tinari tells her that the District
Court candidates will be Hensley, Matthews and Patricia Grant Flynn.

With these cross-endorsements, the Conservatives agree to back

two Democrats, instead of an incumbent Republican
who is philosophically closer to Conservatives.

Spelman

Marian Tinari

Dec. 2014
District Court Judge G. Ann Spelman files
for retirement. Newsday reports that Frank
Tinaris wife, Marian Tinari, is likely to
succeed her.

Bellone

Feb. 3, 2015
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, a
Democrat, files a resolution to name Marian
Tinari, a Conservative, as a $156,200-a-year
District Court judge.

Getting appointed to the bench is a significant advantage

for anyone planning to run for a judgeship because
it confers the benefit of incumbency.

Tinari

March 3, 2015
The Suffolk County Legislature
unanimously approves Marian Tinaris
appointment to District Court.

Cook

June 2015
Mirian Tinari is formally nominated to run
for the judgeship. Republicans agree to back
her. Conservatives endorse town Councilman
Gene Cook, an Independence Party member
who is close to town Republicans.

This deal leaves the Conservatives with one line

left for one candidate running for Town Board.

Helfer

Thompson

Jennifer Thompson, a conservative

Republican, hopes to get Conservative
backing, which she views as critical in the
Democratic-leaning town. Meanwhile, the
Independence Party endorses Marian Tinari,
as does the tiny Reform Party. Conservatives
choose to run attorney Michael Helfer as their
candidate for Town Board.

By running Helfer on the Conservative line, the

party effectively siphons votes away from
the Republican candidate, Jennifer Thompson.

Tinari

Berland

Nov. 2015
Marian Tinari wins her judgeship with five
party lines and no opposition. She has the
Conservative, Republican, Democratic,
Independence and Reform lines.
Helfer gets 2,827 votes in the Huntington
Town Board race. Republican Jennifer
Thompson gets a total of 11,941 votes. Had
she gotten the Conservative line, she would
have defeated Democrat Susan Berland, who
gets a total of 13,153 votes.