Previously Published in The Messenger
By Matt Meduri
The Islip Republican Committee has a new chairman.
Assemblyman Doug Smith (R-Holbrook) was elected chair last month, taking the helm at the committee that has been a powerhouse for the Suffolk Republican Party in recent elections. At 339,000 people, Islip is the third-largest township in the state by population. The current balance at Town Hall is a 4R-1D Town Council, Supervisor inclusive. The GOP also holds the Tax Receiver and Town Clerk offices, as well as three of the six districts in the Suffolk County Legislature that pass through the Town’s borders.
In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump (R-FL) won Islip 57%-43% over Kamala Harris (D-CA). Islip had narrowly backed Joe Biden (D-DE) in 2020. Islip also backed County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) and District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) in 2023 and 2021, respectively.
Assemblyman Smith earned his first elected title in a 2018 special election for the Fifth Assembly District (AD-05). Once solidly blue turf that was home to Democrats with working-class appeal, such as Steve Levy, Ginny Fields, and Bill Lindsay, AD-05 and its overlapping constituencies have raced to the right in recent years.
Smith was the target of a “Flip the Fifth” campaign by Democrats hoping to capitalize on the anti-Trump midterm environment in 2018. Instead, he won the 2018 special with 62% of the vote. He was elected to a full term later that year with 58% of the vote. In the last three elections in which Smith has run, he has never captured less than 60% of the vote.
He now oversees the committee, succeeding long-time Chair Bill Garbarino.
Smith addressed friends and supporters last week at an event in West Sayville, first thanking his wife, Liz, and their daughter, Sophie.
“Thank you for allowing me the time to serve and for being my constant source of strength and inspiration,” Smith told his family.
He also thanked Suffolk County Republican Chairman Jesse Garcia (R-Ridge), Suffolk County Conservative Chairman Mike Torres, and Islip Town Conservative Chairman John Flynn for their “friendship, leadership, and support.”
“I’ve known Doug Smith for a long time. He’s someone that brings energy, skillsets, and campaign skills to the table,” Garcia told The Messenger. “He is an elected official so he knows what an elected official goes through. This committee is a successful committee. He’s going to take it to a new level and he’s going to bring it into the Twenty-First Century with logistics and campaign tools.”
Garcia adds that Smith’s reputation has earned him a “big tent”, calling the packed-house event in West Sayville a “demonstration” of that support.
“He’s a class individual. The sky’s the limit for Assemblyman Doug Smith,” said Garcia.
Garcia was joined by other notable officials, such as Executive Romaine and Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip) to usher in the new era together.
“Unity and bringing everyone together is the biggest part of this,” Smith told The Messenger. “We’re taking over a committee that’s moving well and we want everyone to move in the same direction. Bill Garbarino got the committee to a good position and we’re looking to take it even further.”
Smith acknowledged the work for Chair Emeritus Garbarino.
“Over the last decade, Bill helped guide this Committee through changing times, always with one clear goal: not to build followers, but to create leaders,” said Smith. “During his tenure, he helped pass the torch to a new generation of Republican leaders at the town, county, state, and federal level—and worked to not only nominate, but also elect more Young Republican candidates under the age of 40 per capita than anywhere else in the state. Because of his leadership and tireless work—much of it behind the scenes and without recognition—our committee and the people of this town are much better off today. We are grateful for all he has done to lay the foundation for what comes next.”
Smith calls the transition a “new day by the bay”, in that it’s not just the committee’s theme – it’s their mission.
“We’ve restructured our operations from the ground up and are implementing new tools and technologies to better reach voters, engage our communities, and win elections,” said Smith. “Our goal is to transform Third Avenue into a 365-day-a-year operation—a true headquarters for Republican success in the Town of Islip and across Suffolk County—and a welcoming clubhouse where members can gather, connect, and contribute their talents year-round.”
Suffolk County Legislator Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville), whose district is split between Brookhaven and Islip towns, is “very optimistic” about Smith’s leadership.
“Third Avenue [Islip GOP Headquarters] is going to be alive and buzzing during this election,” Piccirillo told The Messenger. “I think that with Chairman Smith and the rest of the team, this party will be brought into the Twenty-First Century.”
Smith ended his remarks by stressing that doors are “wide open” to all walks of life – people who “believe in safer communities, greater affordability, and expanded opportunity.”
“This is our moment to lead. Together, we’ll defend our town, fight for working families, and ensure that Islip remains a place where people want to live, work, raise a family, start a business, and retire,” said Smith.