By Hank Russell
After the results for the Riverhead town supervisor’s race were made official, the incumbent announced that he has accepted the results and has conceded the race to his opponent.
Supervisor Timothy Hubbard, a Republican, conceded the race to Democrat Jerry Halpin on November 25. It was a very tight race, with Halpin winning the election by a mere 37 votes. The Riverhead News-Review reported that Halpin garnered 3,958 votes to Hubbard’s 3,921. Because the race was very close, the Suffolk County Board of Elections called for a recount of all ballots.
Hubbard, who was elected in 2023, served on the town board for eight years and with the town’s police department for 32 years, according to his biography. Among his accomplishments, he established a School Resource Officer Program with the Riverhead Central School District, oversaw the Town Square project in downtown Riverhead, kept a $6 million surplus in the town budget and maintained an AA2 bond rating with Moody’s.
Hubbard said he will work with Halpin to ensure a smooth transition. He thanked the residents for their “unwavering support” and encouraged them to work with the new incoming supervisor “as we work together to move Riverhead forward.”
“It has truly been an honor and a privilege to serve as an elected official for the Town of Riverhead over the past 10 years,” Hubbard said. “Throughout my time in office as Councilman then Supervisor, I had the pleasure of working alongside residents, business owners, charitable organizations, community partners, 300-plus employees and countless government officials towards the common goal of making Riverhead an incredible place to live, work and play. I truly love the Town of Riverhead and have always believed in the immense potential this town holds. It has so much to offer, and I remain optimistic about its future.”
He also thanked his supporters and those who voted for him. “You gave me the opportunity to serve in a way that very few get to experience and I will carry those experiences with me, forever.”