Frank Petrone is stepping down Friday from the leadership of the Huntington Democratic Party.
Petrone, former Huntington town supervisor, returned to Huntington last year to lead the party, often conducting party business through Zoom.
He cited his health problems and those of his wife, Pat, Monday in saying he needed to return to Florida where the rest of his family lives, and says he notified Suffolk County Democratic Chairman Rich Schaffer before last week’s election of his decision.
He was first elected town supervisor in 1993,serving until the end of 2017, when Republican Chad Lupinacci took over.
In last week’s election, Republicans in Huntington as well as across Long Island swept into office, winning both Town Board vacancies, the town supervisor’s race and the highway superintendent job.
“I look forward to having a coalition government and we have things to do and need toput aside the politics,” Petrone said.
In a letter to party members, Petrone wrote, “I regrettably must step down as your chair and make way for someone else to lead and pave the way in the future.”
He was first elected town supervisor as a Republican but switched his affiliation to Democratic in 2002.
There was no immediate information on who might succeed him.