Controversy rages in Riverhead over contributions from Latino businesses to Republican candidate Ken Rothwell
Although the elections ended on Tuesday in Riverhead with the victory of current supervisor Jerry Halpin, who won reelection by defeating councilman Ken Rothwell with a partial result of 6,779 votes to his opponent's 6,152, the truth is that the "political movement" in this locality remains red hot due to contributions that entered the campaign of Republican Rothwell, coming from Latino businesses.
According to a publication by Transparency USA , a non-profit organization that provides information on campaign finance across the country, the list of contributors to Ken Rothwell's Riverhead supervisor campaign includes the names of several Latino-owned businesses, such as Mexicandy, the popular Mexican ice cream shop located on East Main Street, as well as Ernesto and Sons Masonry and Landscaping, a local construction and landscaping company, and Pinol Services Inc., a property maintenance and gardening services company, among others.
According to the organization's post, Mexicandy contributed $1,000, Ernesto and Sons Masonry & Landscaping $1,200, and Pinol Services $1,200. The news spread like wildfire on social media and quickly angered many members of our community, who were stunned to learn of these contributions.
“Well, folks, I don’t know what you all think, but things are looking pretty bad. I had no idea, but as they say, we can’t tell what’s going on in our hearts,” local influencer and content creator Paola ZTellez, known as “La Comadre,” posted on her social media. “For now, I prefer to make the corn on the cob at home, and the mangonada… well, I’ll learn.”
“No more Mexicandy,” José Rojas commented in his post.
“I don’t think this guy knows anything about the Mexican race, but oh well, maybe he already has papers or was born here and feels superior,” commented Manguin Ramoz.
“That’s nothing, there’s one named Pinol who does gardening, and he’s also wetbacked, he’s in the same boat,” Brand Zepeda commented in that same publication.
In response to the flood of comments, the Mexicandy ice cream shop issued a statement to the public assuring that the contribution was a personal thank you to the candidate and that, in no case, it represents the business's support for the Republican Party.
In an interview with Tu Prensa Local, Chris Aguilar, the ice cream shop owner, said he decided to contribute to Rothwell's campaign because during the pandemic, when he lost his wife, the Republican councilman, who owns a local funeral home, helped him out.
“Unfortunately, she died around Christmas 2020. It was a very difficult time in my life and my lowest point,” Aguilar said. “I had no money; I had just started my business from home with my parents, and Ken Rothwell gave me a huge discount so I could have her funeral the way she deserved. He decided to help me in this way. In my darkest hour, he helped me.”
According to the businessman, this personal contribution does not mean that he, his business, or his family support the Republican Party, nor that they are turning their backs on the Latino community.
“People portray me as racist. How can I be racist if my mom and dad are Mexican, how can I be racist if my current wife is Guatemalan?” he added.
Anita Boyer, a Hampton Bays resident and organizer of several vigils and protests against ICE in East End communities, said on social media that she appreciates Aguilar and Mexicandy's explanation, but that the reason these donations are going viral is because "Ken Rothwell and the Riverhead Board Republicans (ESPECIALLY JOANN WASKI) have shown meeting after meeting that they do NOT care about the immigrant population they serve."
For his part, community leader Yussef Garcia stated, through a statement on social media, that donations to pro-ICE Republican candidates cannot be considered acts of personal gratitude.
“It is a political act with real consequences for the community,” he said.
Several members of the community, who remained anonymous for fear of reprisals, also expressed their discontent with Jerry Halpin, the current supervisor who ran as an Independent but is aligned with the Democratic Party and was re-elected this week, saying that he has not supported the Latino community enough during his term and has not made any outreach efforts.
“I’m glad Jerry [Halpin] won! But I hope he’s ready to SERVE everyone who lives in the borough and stop evading the real need for proper protocols and ICE oversight,” Boyer said, referring to Halpin, who has been at odds all year with bringing the OLA of Eastern Long Island legislation , a public safety bill, to a working session. Many community members support the bill following ICE’s actions in the borough, a sentiment they expressed to him on multiple occasions at various Board meetings this year.
Insults and Threats to Mexicandy
Since this news broke, Mexicandy's email has been flooded with messages containing insults and even threats, Aguilar said, something that has him very worried.
Screenshot of messages sent to Mexicandy owner Christopher Aguilar following a controversial donation to a Republican candidate's campaign in the 2026 elections. Courtesy
Other Latin American companies that also donated speak out
For its part, the company Ernesto and Sons Masonry and Landscaping also issued a statement to the public in which, firstly, it thanks its immigrant employees for having helped consolidate the company and clarifies that it was not a contribution but a discount for work done by this company for someone close to the candidate.
“I want to explain why my company's name appears on the list of contributors. It wasn't Ken Rothwell himself, but someone involved with his campaign, for whom I did a masonry project, and we agreed on a price,” says Ernesto Rojas, the company owner, in his statement. “I submitted my original estimate for a certain amount, and we reviewed the figures, agreeing to a $1,200 discount. If you know anything about business and what an in-kind service means, you know that if I submit my original price, they can register and declare that the $1,200 discount counts as a donation. Even though I did NOT make a contribution or use any of my personal money to give to them, that discounted amount can legally be considered a contribution from the organization.”
Pinol Services, a company that also appears on the list of taxpayers, has not yet commented on the matter.
The truth is that discontent in the community persists and the negative comments about the businesses don't seem to be stopping for now.
“Now that they’ve done the shit, they’re crying that it wasn’t them,” reads one Facebook comment.
“Latinos against Latinos, how awful,” says another.
Mexicandy told Tu Prensa Local that for the moment his business continues to operate normally, that it generates jobs for several immigrant families and that at the moment there is no decrease in his clientele.
