S. Huntington School Board Member to Replace Conte on GOP Ticket

The Suffolk County Republican Party has named Chad Lupinacci, a member of the South Huntington School Board, to replace Jim Conte on the 10th Assembly District ticket. 

Lupinacci, 33, a political science professor at Hofstra University and SUNY Farmingdale, will face Democrat Joseph Dujmic Jr. of Huntington Station in the November election.

"He is officially the candidate of both the Republican, Conservative and Independent parties," said Huntington Republican Committee Chairwoman Toni Tepe.

Tepe said the paperwork was signed and submitted to the Suffolk County Board of Elections Thursday. The choice was made by Tepe, Suffolk Republican Chairman John Jay Lavalle and county Vice-Chairman Anthony Pancella III.

Conte, R-Huntington Station,  he will not seek reelection do to illness.

Tepe said Lupinacci was chosen by the Huntington GOP executive committee from a field of five potential candidates. 

"They just felt he was a good fit for the 10th Assembly District since he's a lifelong resident of Huntington Station," said Tepe.

Conte, diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma last spring, learned in May that the cancer had spread. He is currently receiving chemotherapy treatments at Mt. Sinai Hospital, which will continue for the next few weeks. Tepe said Conte had the desire to run, but not the health.

"It was only on Sunday when Jim made the final decision that he felt that he needed to concentrate on his own health issues and family at this time," Tepe said.

Tepe said she is confident that Lupinacci is the right coice to replace Conte, who was first elected in 1988.

"I have the confidence that Chad can do it, he's the right person for it," said Tepe.

Lupinacci was not available for comment Friday.