The Town of Huntington officially inaugurated four officials Saturday who were elected to office in November.
With flags borne by veterans, families, supporters, town employees, speeches and prayer, the re-elected Tax Receiver Jillian Guthman and Town Clerk Andrew Raia, and newly chosen Councilwomen Brooke Lupinacci and Theresa Mari were sworn in by relatives, a pastor, a retired judge and in one case, a judge-fiancé.
Josh Price, the director/chief administrative law judge of the town’s bureau of adjudication, swore in Mari and announced they planned to marry soon. Retired Judge and Zoning Board of Appeals chairman Jerry Asher swore in Lupinacci, while Pastor Timothy Flythe of Faith Missionary Baptist Church, swore in Guthman; Raia was sworn in by his mother, retired town clerk Jo Ann Raia.
Supervisor Ed Smyth was presented with the the ceremonial chain of office, which consists of several coins reflecting town history and a length of wampum, made of shells.
The Rev. Lawrence Jennings, pastor of Bethel AME Church in Huntington, led the invocation, while Dr. Hafiz Ur Rehman of Masjid Dural Quran of Bay Shore, offered a prayer, and the Rev. Cody Bobick of St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church provided the benediction.
Among those also on hand for the ceremony were Suffolk Legislator Stephanie Bontempi, town councilmen Sal Ferro and Dr. Dave Bennardo and highway superintendent Andre Sorrentino.