Town GOP Picks Supervisor Candidate

With the summer yet to officially arrive, Babylon Town Republicans are already casting their eyes to the fall and have nominated an Amityville resident to challenge current Town Supervisor Richard Schaffer.

Newsday (subscription required) reported that Christopher G. Connors will face Schaffer, the incumbent Democrat, this November. Six years ago, Connors ran for a seat on the town council, but was defeated.

Town Republican Chairman Anthony Pancella III told Newsday that Connors’ business background made him a strong candidate. But Pancella also acknowledged the uphill battle facing Republicans as registered Democratic voters in Babylon outnumber Republicans by nearly 15,000.

Schaffer, a North Babylon resident, is in his second stint as town supervisor. He was appointed in January 2012 to fill the vacancy created by Steve Bellone’s election as Suffolk County Executive. Schaffer previously served as town supervisor from 1992 to 2001.