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T eSuffolkTimes.

BY BETH YOUNG |  STAFF WRITER 

In their advertisements, the candidates vying forthe 1st District seat in the Suffolk County Legisla-ture are portrayed as very different men. RepublicanRiverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter’s ads showhim taking a sledgehammer to downtown River-head and vowing to shake up the Legislature. Adsfrom his Democratic opponent present Al Krupskias a farmer and small businessman with a tireless work ethic.

In front of a packed house at Martha Clara Vine- yards, Mr. Walter again vowed change during aMonday night debate sponsored by Times/Review

Newsgroup, while Mr. Krupski touted his ability tocollaborate effectively with other elected officials.

The Jan. 15 special election is being held to fillthe nine months left in the term of for-mer county legislator Ed Romaine, whovacated his post in November after beingelected Brookhaven Town supervisor. The1st District runs west from Southold Townand Shelter Island to Riverhead Town and parts ofeastern Brookhaven.

If Mr. Krupski were to be elected, county Demo-crats would have a veto-proof majority in the Legis-lature, which Mr. Walter said would be an unhealthyoutcome. Mr. Krupski pointed out that, as the only

Democrat on the Southold Town Board, he has along history of bipartisan cooperation.

“Once you get elected, you don’t worry about par-ty. You worry about people,” Mr. Krupskisaid. “I don’t buy into Democrat versusRepublican, east versus west. You’re nevergoing to go anywhere in government if you toe the party line.”

Mr. Walter said politics at higher levels of govern-ment don’t work that way.

“I’d love to believe that’s true, but it’s not,” he said,adding that county Democrats have “strings at-tached” to the $50,000 they’ve invested in Mr. Krup-

KRUPSKI & WALTER DEBATE |  PAGE 3

 Krupski & Walter have at itTimes/Review-sponsored debate comes in advance of Tuesday’s election

AN ENTERPRISINGYOUNG FELLOWRecalling life aboardWWII warship PAGE 2

WHO’S HE?Town GOPnames a newchairman PAGE 3

KEEPING AN EYE ON THE KIDSSubstitute steps forward toprovide school security, but atno charge to the district PAGE 16

KATHARINE SCHROEDER PHOTO

Sunset on the rocksThe last glacier departed thousands of years ago, but the boulders it carried still stand along the Sound shore in Cutchogue. This week’s

unseasonably warm temperatures gave little reminder of the ancient ice sheets that created the North Fork.

Endorsement,page 8