When she was growing up in the Village of Lindenhurst, Lynda Distler would spend Saturday mornings with her dad shopping along Wellwood Avenue. They’d stop at the dry cleaners, the bakery and the other stores in what she recalls as almost a tradition. Recalling those outings, she said she also remembered her dad telling her that one day she would be Mayor of the Village, the first woman to serve in that post.

Last week, the voters in Lindenhurst made that dream a reality. Distler, a Republican, was elected Mayor, along with her running mate Tom Brennan. Winning the second slot for Trustee was Ray Doran, a Democrat, the first Democrat to serve on the board in more than a decade.

"I know it sounds hard to believe now, but the story is true," said Distler, moments after the results on Tuesday, March 21 showed that she had won the seat. "And, I know that my father is in heaven smiling down on me, and that he helped me out during this campaign."

The mood at the Chateau La Mer where the Republicans met to wait out the results of the election was both jubilant and down. Republican supporters who worked hard in one of the strongest challenges in the Village in history, rejoiced in their victory of holding on to the majority in the Village, but were sorry that Republican Michael Lavorata was edged out by Doran by about 100 votes.

Lavorata took the defeat in stride, saying he enjoyed the race very much and that he learned a lot and made a lot of friends over the past four months. "I’m not going anywhere, he told supporters, as he held his young daughter in his arms. "What I will do now is take a few days to rest and then watch the Yankees win another World Series."

Democrats, meanwhile, shared the joy of partial victory. They had run a vigorous campaign, spending more than $50,000 on the race and falling short of recapturing the Village majority, which they had enjoyed during the 70s and 80s.

The results showed that Distler won with 2322 votes to Dean’s 2133; Brennan won with 2358 voted and Doran with 2230 votes to Lavorata’s 2144 and Reynold’s 2178, though final tallies have not been confirmed by the Suffolk County Board of Elections.

The minor party lines drew a larger than usual number of voters, with the Independence line, which went to the Democrats pulling in 130 votes. The interest in those lines, said one local political analyst is probably due to the fact that many Republicans wanted to vote for the Democrat candidates but felt uncomfortable casting their vote for them on the major party line. The independence line made the significant difference for Doran, bolstering the value of those lines in future elections.

Jeff Casale, the Town’s Democratic leader said the victory was a good one because it will allow another voice to be heard in Village government, something that has not been heard for a long time.

"I’m excited about my win but saddened that it was not the whole team," said Doran in commenting on his victory.

Doran said he believes his extensive door-to-door campaign made the difference for him. "I was born and raised here and I did a lot of walking and talking to people," he said, adding that he hopes his presence on the board will be "a light bulb in a darkened room."

In addition to the extensive door- to-door canvassing, and glitzy mailings, the campaign also included "a pack of lies and innuendoes" that brought the political fight into the gutter, according to the Republicans.

"All they did was knock the good government the Republicans have brought to this Village for 12 years," said the GOP area leader, Henry Wrieth, in referring to the Democrats campaign. "They ran a sleazy campaign and we will begin taking care of Mr. Bishop and Mr. Schaffer tomorrow."

Wrieth said both Bishop and Schaffer had a vested interest in seeing the Republicans unseated—an interest that went beyond concern for the Village.

"They didn’t want to see Lynda elected because as a sitting Mayor she represents a potential political challenge to both of them," said one Republican source.

"If she wants to pursue higher office, we welcome the challenge," said one Democrat in talking about the race.

Political feuds aside, Distler said she was delighted to have been given the opportunity to work with the other members of the board to continue to move the Village forward.

"We fought the biggest battle ever fought here in Lindenhurst," Distler told supporters when her victory was announced. "And I am very proud to step in the shoes of Roy Mathison and Fred Kienle. I appreciate the help each and every one of you gave to us and the only way I can pay you back is to continue to give the people of Lindenhurst the best government possible."

Calling it a new day, Brennan said the board will "get on with good government," and with planning for the Village’s future.

Doran agreed. "I am looking forward to working with the current board and while this campaign was both interesting and personal, I think it’s time we put all that aside and begin to work together for the people of the Village.