Slate of Candidates for County Offices Representing the Town of Huntington
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(* incumbent)
County Executive
Critical issues facing the next County Executive:
County property taxes have increased by about $80 Million since 2013.
Suffolk was rated as the most financially stressed county in New York by NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.
Bond Rating has sustained downgrades in the last 8 years and is now rated by Moody’s at Baa1 – adequate capacity to meet its obligations but adverse economic conditions could possibly lead to a weakened capacity.
Candidates - Elect 1
Steven C. Bellone*
Democratic, Protect the Taxpayer
First elected County Executive in 2012, he has worked to reduce the deficit. According to County Executive’s Bellone’s campaign website, he “has focused on protecting Suffolk taxpayers, reforming County government, restoring water quality, and fighting crime to keep our residents safe.” Bellone is the former Babylon Town Supervisor. Prior, he earned his BA from Queens College, served in the U.S Army, earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Webster University, and earned his Juris Doctorate from Fordham University.
John M. Kennedy Jr.
Republican, Conservative, Independence
Currently County Comptroller, Kennedy was previously Suffolk County Legislature for the 12th Legislative District. According to Comptroller Kennedy’s campaign website, “as a life-long resident and grandfather, he sees first-hand how high taxes and fees drive people off Long Island, especially seniors and the young people who we pay so dearly to educate, only to see them leave because they can’t find jobs.” Kennedy holds an MBA in Finance and Capital Budgeting as well as a Juris Doctorate from St. John’s University.
Gregory John Fischer
Libertarian
Fischer is a consultant to businesses, not-for-profits, and government. He works to improve all business tasks including accounting, manufacturing, marketing, customer service, logistics, product design, safety, quality, computer software, goal setting and planning as well as productivity. Fischer has three business degrees including General Management (CUNY), Finance (SUNY at New Paltz), and Operations Management (SUNY at Albany).
County Legislator, 16th Legislative District - Elect 1
Susan A. Berland*
Democratic, Working Families,Independence
Berland is the Chair of the Veterans Committee, Vice Chair of the Economic Development Committee and a Member of the Budget and Finance; Government Operations, Personnel, IT and Housing; Parks and Recreation; Public Safety; Public Works, Transportation and Energy and Ways and Means Committees. Legislation she championed includes Veteran’s appreciation, affordable housing, safety and environmental issues. Prior to being elected in 2017, Berland served with distinction on the Huntington Town Board. The Legislator is a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany, and Hofstra University School of Law where she currently serves as an Adjunct Law Professor. Prior service also includes as a New York State Assistant Attorney General in the Prisoners Litigation Division where she prosecuted parole violators.
Hector P. Gavilla
Republican, Conservative, Libertarian
Gavilla is a real estate professional who is best known for his fight against red light cameras in Suffolk County. According to his campaign website, the main issues facing the county are “illegal red light cameras, backdoor taxes, urbanization, deficit spending.” Gavilla graduated from St. John’s University with a B.S. in Criminal Justice.
County Legislator, 17th Legislative District - Elect 1
Thomas P. Donnelly*
Democratic, Conservative, Working Families, Independence
Donnelly was a 27-year member and decorated Lieutenant with the New York City Fire Department. He was a member of the elite Urban Search, Rescue Search and Rescue Task Force with deployments to the World Trade Center attacks on 9/11/2001, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Haiti earthquake in 2010 and other regional deployments to assist in search and rescue of communities impacted by severe weather events. Donnelly is also a 33-year decorated member of the Deer Park Fire Department, serving as Captain of Engine Company 2, as well as a Fire Commissioner for 10 years. He is also a former Town of Babylon planning board member and councilman. As the incumbent for the 17th District, Donnelly serves as the chair of the Public Safety committee, vice chair of the Senior and Consumer Protection committee and is a member of the Education and Human Services committee, Public Works, Transportation and Energy committee, and the Veterans committee. He has been active with resolutions covering public safety, veterans, quality of life issues as well as the environment. Donnelly earned an Associate’s Degree from Suffolk County Community College and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Saint Joseph’s College (Brooklyn).
Rebecca L. Lonardo
Republican
Republican Lonardo received her undergraduate degree and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Wisconsin, where she grew up, before moving to Huntington Station over 20 years ago. In her biography on the Huntington GOP website, Lonardo states, “We are facing a fiscal crisis of historic proportions due to Steve Bellone’s inept management; we cannot solve these problems with the same tired, old policies; only bold leadership can save Suffolk County from fiscal ruin.”
Michael S. Mc Dermott
Libertarian
Key issues for McDermott are keeping government open and accessible for all. He is against special interest groups yielding power though donations, and against the government intervening in personal life issues. In the past McDermott has served on the Hauppauge School Board where he says he helped reduce taxes when he served as president of that board.
County Legislator, 18th Legislative District - Elect 1
William R. Spencer*
Democratic, Working Families,Independence
Spencer serves as the Chair of the Health Committee, Vice Chair of the Ways and Means Committee and is a member of the Public Safety Committee. Spencer has sponsored resolutions prohibiting the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies, requiring propeller guard on instructional vessels (“Ryan’s Law), as well as resolutions to protect the environment and public safety among many issues.The legislator graduated for Wesleyan University, and the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. he did his internship and residency in Surgery at St.Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center in New York City. Spencer completed his residency in Otolaryngology at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, and his fellowship in Pediatric Otolaryngology at the University of Miami. He is currently the Chief of Otolaryngology at Huntington Hospital, an Associate Clinical Professor at Stony Brook University Hospital, and the Past President ofthe Suffolk County Medical Society. He was licensed as a Minister in 1986 and ordained in Ministry in 1993 by the Connecticut Missionary Baptist Association. Spencer is also a licensed pilot.
Garrett A. Chelius
Republican, Libertarian
According to the GOP Candidates website, “With his 20-year background in the financial and staffing industries, and as a boater, fisherman and advocate for environmental causes, Garrett knows the keys to keeping Suffolk County affordable and safe for families, seniors and our youth: stopping the county’s practice of bonding, borrowing—especially from our water quality fund–and imposing illegal fees to pay for wasteful spending, and ending costly payto-play corruption.” Chelius has a BA in English from Old Dominion University.
Daniel West
Conservative
West is running with three major concerns: lowering taxes, affordable health care and defending the Second Amendment, according to the party’s website..
