Brookhaven Holds Vote For Highway Superintendent Month After Blizzard

FARMINGVILLE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Voters in Long Island's largest town are picking a new highway superintendent.

Tuesday's election comes a month after residents in the town of Brookhaven complained about unplowed streets for days after a February blizzard dumped as much as 30 inches of snow.

The acting highway superintendent, Michael Murphy, resigned in the wake of the complaints. He was filling in for incumbent John Rouse, who was elected to a judgeship in November.

Tuesday's race pits town Councilwoman Kathy Walsh against state Assemblyman Dan Losquadro.

Walsh is an independent running as a Democrat. Losquadro is a Republican.

The highway superintendent in Brookhaven oversees a $70 million budget and has responsibility for more than 2,100 miles of town roads.

Voting hours are from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Murphy resigned last month in the aftermath of mounting criticism.

Brookhaven Deputy Town Supervisor Daniel Panico said Murphy missed four days of work because of a toothache.

"It's 100 percent inexcusable to call in sick," Panico said last month prior to Murphy's announcement. "This is your only job as highway superintendent."

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