Smithtown Democratic Committee Recongnizes

On Wednesday, May 12th between the hours of 6:30 and 9:30pm at the
Watermill in Smithtown, the Smithtown Democratic Committee is set to
recognize the efforts and contributions of two of their strongest
supporters, Martin Aponte and Elaine Turley. Both Marty and Elaine have
given so much of their time and energy, unselfishly, in support of
Democratic principles. Marty has long been considered the "go to guy" of the
committee and Elaine has long been considered " the force" that kept the
Smithtown Dem. Committee moving forward.  Incoming chairperson, Edward Maher,
has a challenge ahead of him, however, he has the skills and vision to lead
the committee into the next decade.  The path ahead may be difficult but
Marty and Elaine have demonstrated that anything and everything is possible.

Mr. Marty Aponte

Smithtown Democratic Committee’s

2010 Community Service Recipient

 Mr. Martin (Marty) Aponte is the Hauppauge Zone Leader of the Smithtown Democratic Committee and a life-long Democrat. Marty is the Committee’s “He Can Do It” person. Whenever a task is needed to be expertly completed, Marty gets it done.

 Marty's parents Michael and Maria Aponte moved into SmithtownPines in 1953, where they raised four children. Marty met his lovely wife Jeanine in High School and have been happily married for the last 23 years.  Together they are raising three wonderful sons; Christopher 21, Nicholas 19 and Brandon 16.

 Marty Aponte and family have worked tirelessly and seemingly effortlessly on our many  Democratic Campaigns, starting in 1996. He was first selected to the position of Zone Leader in 2002.

 Marty attended Hauppauge High School and graduated in 1980. He attended Suffolk Community College and 1983 earned a degree in Business. He received his Real Estate license in 1989.

 Mr. Aponte began his working experiences as a bartender in Whispers Lounge (this lounge was named after Smithtown's legendry Bull, "Whisper") at Suffolk County's first hotel, The Sheraton of Smithtown.  Soon after, he was promoted to the hotel’s Food and Beverage Manager.  In 1984, he found employment in Smithtown’s Highway Department as a Heavy Equipment Operator.  Martin Aponte was also a Correction Officer for the Suffolk County Sheriff Office.

 The experience and training from these jobs, has taught Marty the invaluable lessons of trust, honor, loyalty, leadership and commitment. He shares his guidance and expertise with the Smithtown Democratic Committee on a daily basis.

 Marty has given many years of volunteer community service.  As a coach  for the Hauppauge Youth Organizations (HYO) Basketball and Little League Baseball teams he enabled participants to excel in these sports activities. Additionally, he was a guide for the Fire Island Light House and presently, he volunteers at The Smithtown Historical Society.

 We honor Mr. Martin Aponte’s commitment and leadership to the Smithtown Democratic Committee and sincerely appreciate all the hard work and efforts that he continues to exhibit to the Committee. It is with a great sense of pride and admiration that, “We Can Do It” for you and your family.

When Elaine Turley left her career as a title closer to spend more time with her two children in 1993 she immediately recognized the opportunity to advocate for the social and political policies she held dear.  Contacting the Islip Town Democratic Committee to become involved in the political process was the obvious choice to promote a greater sense of community among her fellow citizens, advocate for gender equality and fairness, and to assure that her fellow citizenshad the supports available to reach their potential. When Elaine moved to Fort Salonga in 1997 she became a member of the Smithtown Democratic Committee and in 2005 was elected Chair.  Elaine recently resigned the Chairmanship to devote more time to developing her law practice and to her family and personal life.

 Elaine was a candidate for public office in 1998, 1999 and 2001.  Elaine won 49.97% of the vote in her 1999 campaign for County Legislator against an eighteen year incumbent, losing by 126 votes.  When she opposed a new candidate for the seat in 2001 she was defeated handily and decided to attend law school, a long unfulfilled goal.  In 2005, while attending law school, Elaine became committee Chair and led two candidates to victory, the first for the committee in nearly a decade.

 The values and political views that inform Elaine’s actions are borne in her experience of being raised by her mother, who was a victim of domestic violence and was forced to live in poverty when Elaine’s father left her with no work experience and three young children.  Her mother, Audrey Anderson, worked as a school bus driver to feed her children and to keep the small house she and her husband bought in West Islip nine months before he left the family.  Since Mrs. Anderson was not a member of a union and her company offered no health benefits, she and her children were not able to visit doctors or dentists for most of Elaine’s childhood.

 When Elaine announced to her mother that she wanted to attend college, the first in her family to do so, the family was not able to offer assistance.  Thanks to government assistance for disadvantaged students, Elaine graduated Suffolk Community College in 1979 but left SUNY Albany after one year for a job in New York City.  When Elaine received her Bachelor’s Degree from Queens College in 1996 and her Juris Doctorfrom St. John’s School of Law in 2007, her husband, Bill Turley, and children, Brendan and Erica, were there to share the celebration.  Elaine’s experience has reinforced her belief that college tuition assistance is a viable investment of taxpayer dollars that yields a high economic and immeasurable personal return to our society.

 From 1994 through 2000, Elaine spent much of her time advocating for children and adults with special needs and was co-founder of the Nassau/Suffolk Parent Coalition, an organization which provided advocacy and information for parents of children with special needs.  She was  member of the Local Early Intervention Coordinating Council, the parent member of the West Islip School District Committee for Preschool Special Education, and a director of Community Enterprises, a supported employment organization for adults with special needs.

Elaine and Bill Turley have been married for nearly twenty years and have two children.  Brendan who is completing his second year of college and Erica who will begin college in August.  Elaine’s mother, Audrey, is enjoying a comfortable retirement in North Carolina, and her two sisters, Donna and Lynn, are her best friends.

 Elaine’s law practice, the Law Office of Elaine A. Turley, represents clients in guardianship proceedings, Medicaid planning and Medicaid applications, estate planning and administration and real estate transactions.  Elaine serves as guardian pro bono for a number of indigent persons in need of  guardians.  Many of Elaine’s clients are children and adults with special needs.