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Editorial - Kudos To The Challengers!
Thursday, October 31, 2013 at 11:14PM Kudos to the challengers!
This year’s Democratic challengers for Town positions are an eclectic group with diverse backgrounds and agendas. They don’t have access to the “political machine” that Republican candidates have because Smithtown is a Republican town. The candidates get little guidance from incumbents, no one taking them under their wing and clearing a path for them. So the question is why do it? Why put yourself out in front of the public day in and day out during the campaign season when the chance of success is slim. Again the answers vary.
Running for Town Supervisor Steve Snair, now 32 years of age, grew up in Smithtown went off to college, then to law school and returned to his hometown remembering the fond memories of his youth. Naturally he sees things differently from when he was a child. Somehow, the lack of housing wasn’t so much of an issue when he was younger, somehow the traffic wasn’t so horrible, the buildings weren’t so dilapidated. Still anxious to live in his hometown, he looks for a place to live and to open an office. It’s difficult, really difficult for him to find a place to live but he does. He travels a minuscule distance between his home and his office and deals with a major traffic snafu that everyone agrees needs fixing, but no one has an answer. Snair’s running for office because he sees answers not just problems, he sees possibilities. He is the future and the future is knocking at the door asking to be allowed in.
Eddie Haeffer running for Town Clerk and Thomas McCarthy running for Highway Superintendent very different stories and different backgrounds. Eddie, a real estate agent and former Golden Glove Boxer,is a father with two young children and a wife, very recently diagnosed with breast cancer. What makes him put himself out there and ask people for their consideration? The impetus? An incident when he was involved in a motor vehicle accident on Main Street in Smithtown with a driver talking on a cell phone. His frustration is palpable as he describes his anxiety over a situation that changed his life. Grateful that no one was seriously injured, Ed feels that government can and should do more to protect citizens and enforce its laws. Eddie isn’t a Democrat, he’s a person wanting to make a difference.
To Thomas McCarthy it’s all about storm response. McCarthy, acknowledges the Herculean efforts of Glenn Jorgensen during the recent storm events, but feels residents were let down by the Highway Department’s response during the record snow storm earlier this year. McCarthy is extremely articulate in his message that there is a better way to run the Highway Department. A man on a mission, he hopes to turn the department around by implementing a more professional style of management and incorporating analytic programs for road construction and repair.
Adam Halpern and Richard Macellaro are the two candidates running on the Democratic line for Town Council. They could not be more different. Their backgrounds, style and approach is so different it is difficult to believe they are both running on the same line. What makes them run? Richard is the man who shows up for every meeting and can be found at almost every community event. He is the guy next door who smiles at everyone, gets along with everyone. Richard feels that the fighting and bickering on the Town Board is detrimental to taxpayers. Compromise, work together, and think out of the box are lines he uses to explain his views.
Adam Halpern, an attorney and former judge, is cautious and methodical. He is the quiet candidate who looks people in the eye and tells them he will never lie or mislead them. You walk away believing him. Quiet and studious, Halpern’s passion seems to be restoring trust in government by enforcing laws and codes currently on the books.
It is the policy of Smithtown Matters to not endorse candidates. This editorial should in no way be taken as an endorsement of any candidate, but rather it is a thank you. Thank you for your time, your passion and for sharing your vision.
It is now up to the voters. Remember to vote on Election Day - Tuesday, November 5th.
Pat
Reader Comments (2)
The Best “Not an Endorsement” A Candidate Can Receive!
Your “Not an Endorsement” editorial was insightful, thought provoking and honest. Insightful because around election time, those men and women, seeking public office, present their views on how they will govern if fortunate enough to be elected. Yes, it is sometimes difficult to stand up in front of an audience, knock on a neighbor’s door, attend countless community meetings or meet and greet commuters, (early in the morning) at a train stop. The candidate must listen to what the voter has to say then shape their message to address those concerns. But, this is what a candidate must to do to present their views and ideas to the people that they hope to represent. Fundraising is also an integral part of the election cycle.
Candidates must raise funds from family members, friends, like-minded individuals, issue oriented groups, often times using their own finances to get their message to the voter. That is a difficult task in and of itself!
Like your editorial, a candidate must clearly present their platforms or mission in a thoughtful and concise manner (sometime in 30 seconds or less) trying to convince the voter that they are the best person to represent their interest and concerns.
Voters want straightforward and trustworthy public officials. Candidates and public office holders, at every instance, must be candid, frank and honest when interacting with the voter. Your editorial was an honest and truthful examination of what a candidate must do when attempting to stand for public office.
The task of a news media editor is sometimes a thankless job. However, when done in an objective, thoughtful, fair and balanced manner, it is most appreciated and necessary. So, all I will say is a heartfelt thank you and a good job, well done.
Richard S. Macellaro, Candidate for Town Council.
Municipal elections serve a number of purposes.
Obviously they fill area seats in the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of local government.
But these elections also serve as barometers for upcoming State and Federal races.
Often candidates for seats in our Statehouses, as well as Congress, tailor their campaigns based on trends they've observed evolving in their regional precincts.
Such elections, after all, represent the definitive political voice of the people in the very places where they live, work, and play.
Though a community's party earmarks are not always representative of the ones that dominate our State and National halls of government (Smithtown is a prime example), voting trends are invariably indicative of those likely to motivate the Electorate in forthcoming broader-based elections.
Jeb Ladouceur
Election Day, 2013