It’s down to the wire for candidates on the November 5th ballot. Everything they have worked for in the campaign over the pass few months is on the line. Have voters heard their message? Do they understand what’s at stake in the election? Is there anything else that can be done? Will they show up to vote? These are some of the questions candidates and their teams may be asking themselves.
John M. Kennedy (R, C, I) is being challenged by Gary Jacobs (D,W) in the 12th LD which includes southern Smithtown, Nesconset, Hauppauge, Village of the Branch, Lake Grove, Commack South, Islandia, and Ronkonkoma. There are 41 Smithtown election districts located in the 12th LD.
John M. KennedyJohn Kennedy a life long resident of Smithtown, has a reputation in his district as someone who listens to his constituents and works to resolve issues. He is proud of the work he has done throughout his tenure as Legislator. A position he has held since 2004. On his campaign handout Kennedy lists 13 items where he has had success benefiting his constituents. He has served as Chairman of the Veterans & Senior Committee, Vice Chair of the Ways & Means committee, Chair of the Consumer Protection Committee, serves on the Public Safety Committee, Ways & Means Committee, Education and information Technology and Government and Operations Committee. He has been active in trying to resolve groundwater flooding issues, has sponsored blood drives collecting over 2,000 pints of blood, helped to establish a 9/11 Responders Remembered Memorial in Nesconset, reduced tax-payer costs by $80,000 a term by relocating his office to County office space. Most recently he has presided over the demolition of the blighted and hazardous Bavarian Inn located in Ronkonkoma, a project that he has worked on for over six years. Called a bulldog by Supervisor Patrick Vecchio, Kennedy wears the label proudly reminding those who don’t know that the history behind the label, a bulldog holds on, doesn’t give up and doesn’t go for the jugular. Kennedy likes what he does and counts on his wife of 38 years Leslie, to provide an efficient office where the concerns of residents are not only listened to but addressed. Asked about the future Kennedy talks about more funding for drug education, continuing his work on sewers and addressing the most recent issue of “warehousing homeless people in the 12th LD.”
Gary JacobsGary Jacobs has lived in Smithtown for twenty years and is a political newcomer. He is an executive with a pet supply company located in New Jersey and President of K-Raq Solutions. He is a judicial reform activist and an animal rights activist. Talk to people who know him and they will tell you that he is focused and never quits. Jacobs promises to focus on the 12th LD which he says Kennedy has not done. Jacobs is challenging Kennedy’s record on fiscal matters, on sewers, an even the Bavarian Inn. According to Jacobs,”Kennedy’s record is one of failure, not accomplishments. He has failed to get sewers in Smithtown, which is in his district, and has instead worked for sewers in the Kings Park area which is not in his district.” According to Jacobs, Kennedy has voted against the interests of his constituents by opposing County Executive Bellone’s sale of the John J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility in Yaphank. “Another issue outside of the 12th LD ” said Jacobs. When it comes to the Bavarian Inn, Jacobs questions how it could take six years to rid the community of the very dangerous and blighted building. “I am a fiscal conservative who works hard for my salary. When John had the opportunity to vote to make non-exempt employees pay part of the costs of their health insurance, he voted against the public’s interest by voting “no”. Jacobs opposes the one-shot revenue generating schemes like the sale of the County Dennison Building, which the County now leases back. He is adamant that Kennedy should have advocated against the sale of the building.