Spin Cycle

Nearly 400 from both major and minor parties showed up last week for a record-breaking Independence Party fundraiser that brought in a record $78,000.

The event, held at Venetian Shores catering complex in Babylon, exceeded the $60,000 raised by the minor party last year. Chairman Frank MacKay credited for the overflow turnout both new party vice chairmen -- Anthony Manetta and former Smithtown Conservative chairman Jimmy Tsunis, who's also finance director of the Independence Party of America.

Rick Brand

Below is ABC's Diana Williams interviewing MacKay last year:

Babylon Democrats are leaving the $79,000-a-year town clerk post, vacated by Janice Tinsley Colbert, open for at least the next few weeks.

Robert Stricoff, town Democratic chairman, said he expects to conduct a screening in the next three weeks and that the town board will make an appointment around May 1. The appointed clerk will have to run for election in a special election in November.

Democratic town board member Carol Quirk has expressed interest in the job, said Stricoff, but if the board were to name her, it would create the prospect for two special elections in November. In the meantime, Ronnise Miller, who had been chief deputy clerk, is doing the job in the interim. Stricoff said Miller, who recently became a lawyer, has not put her name in for the post.

Rick Brand