Huntington Town officials are facing criticism after 11 white men were appointed to top town government positions.

Democratic Councilman Mark Cuthbertson says the new Republican-controlled Huntington Town Board failed to cast a wide net when it voted to appoint them to their new town positions on Tuesday.

"We need to try and hire people that reflect the diverse population that we have in the Town of Huntington," says Cuthbertson. 

Among the new appointees are former Republican highway superintendent candidate John Clark, who was appointed as the director of environmental waste – and Dom Spada, a former GOP candidate for the county Legislature who will now serve as deputy director of the Department of Maritime Services.

Newly elected Huntington Town Supervisor Chad Lupinacci says the criticism is unwarranted because the town has hired candidates from diverse backgrounds at other board meetings this year.

"The deputy supervisor, the person that's coming in to head the community development agency, our acting purchasing director, our acting budget director – all come from various backgrounds, and such," says Lupinacci. "I don't think it's fair to cast one light on one personnel resolution, but to look at the total amount of appointments in the past and that are forthcoming." 

Councilman Gene Cook, an Independence Party member who votes with Republicans, told News 12 that Cuthbertson is grandstanding. Earlier this year, the board majority voted to appoint Leah Jefferson to lead the town's Community Development Agency. Cook says she is the first African-American woman to lead the department, and says Cuthbertson voted against her appointment.