When voters go to the polls on November 5th they, hopefully, already know that there are three candidates on the ballot for town supervisor. Incumbent Patrick Vecchio is running on the Republican line, Steve Snair on the Democrat, Independence and Working Families line, and Robert Creighton on the Conservative line. By the time voters get to the polls they will have had ample time to understand the significant issues facing the Town and the positions taken by the candidates.
The three candidates offer the electorate real choice, hopefully voters will see beyond the political rhetoric and cast their vote for the candidate that presents a sound vision for Smithtown’s future.
Patrick VecchioIncumbent Patrick Vecchio, 83, has served as town supervisor for thirty-six years. When asked why he chooses to run year after year his answer is simply - “because I love what I do.” His message to voters in this year’s election is to think about the quality of life you enjoy as a resident of Smithtown. Vecchio is proud of his record of fiscal conservatism which he proclaims has allowed the town to survive the recent recession unscathed. When he talks about the future he speaks of “wrongheaded development” as a significant threat to the quality of life currently enjoyed by Smithtown residents. The Creighton campaign has attacked him for prematurely taking positions against the proposed Uplands project in Kings Park and Whisper Vineyard in St. James. Vecchio’s response, “I don’t care. Yes I supported the vineyard on Edgewood and I still do. What I do not support is a catering facility with its obnoxious noise and traffic right next door to homes.”
Vecchio is very critical of the proposed Upland development at St. Johnland in Kings Park. He freely offers his position that the proposal is not so much about providing housing to seniors as it is about profit. The Creighton campaign predicts an expensive lawsuit ahead of the town as a result of Veccho’s very public opposition to the project before the process plays out. If this is true Vecchio does not seem concerned, “The public has the right to know my position.”
Vecchio bristles when he hears complaints about Smithtown’s downtown areas. “Do we have vacant storefronts in the town? Yes we do, and DeRubeis (Director of Planning) has provided information that indicates that the number of empty stores has been fairly consistent over the years. Is there something the town can do about it? I don’t think the town should be in the business of filling empty stores.” When asked about the traffic problems on Main Street in Smithtown, Vecchio acknowledges that the situation is not perfect. He points to the fact that Main Street is a state road and that other than advocate the Town has little say in what NYS DOT does. Regarding the new traffic pattern, which includes a merge of traffic heading west on Rte. 25, Vecchio admits it is not perfect. He suggests that “you have to break eggs to make an omelet” and while it may not be perfect it is safer than the previous road configuration. A widening of the roadway would help with the flow of traffic but would also decimate the businesses along Main Street and he is opposes that.
What is he most proud of? The quality of life residents enjoy. He is quick to point to Smithtown’s parks and beaches free to residents and parking at train stations also free to residents. “We were the first town in Suffolk County to approve apartments over stores. We were the first town to require carters to use natural gas vehicles. We have a Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan and a Master Plan that is updated every time we approve a zone change.” What about the future? Vecchio’s response is that he will continue with the policies that have worked over the past 36 years which include maintaining tight controls over the budget and fighting wrongheaded development.
Steve SnairDemocrat Steve Snair, 32, is a native of Smithtown having grown up in Kings Park and graduated from Kings Park High School. He currently resides in Nesconset, and he is a practicing attorney who specializes in tenant and foreclosure issues. His office is located on Main Street in Smithtown. Snair is unique among the candidates in many ways. He has never served as a police officer, doesn’t have a tax-payer funded pension or tax payer funded health insurance, and he was born well after the Beatles broke up.
Snair’s campaign is very much about the future and how to ensure Smithtown’s viability and fiscal stability into the future. He is one of the many who have benefitted from the investment in education provided by the tax-payers in Kings Park, he has many happy memories of growing up here and he has chosen to live and work in the town. But the lack of work-force housing for young people makes it difficult. He is vocal about incorporating the smart- growth principal of providing housing over commercial buildings in our downtown areas to accommodate seniors and young adults.
Those who have had the opportunity to speak with Steve are impressed with his humor and his no-nonsense approach to the issues facing the town. Paramount to him is maintaining the quality of life Smithtown residents enjoy. It is Steve’s belief that without planning, our quality of life will diminish and we will continue to deal with controversial building projects. “Fill in the vacancies in our downtown areas, and leave open space alone.” he said at the League of Women Voters debate. When asked about the Uplands and a possible “swap” of NRSP property for property owned by St. Johnland he suggested that as Supervisor he would work to help facilitate a resolution.
Snair favors the town having an outreach program for businesses that are looking to move or expand. “With business come customers which he equates to revenue and a stable tax base”. Along with planning and smart growth, Snair promises a review of all of the town’s departments with the goal of streamlining and finding efficiencies. He opposes the proposed catering facility on Edgewood Ave in St. James stating that it would have a negative impact on traffic and the quality of life for those living near the site.
He shares the public’s concern about substance abuse and has been certified in the use of Narcan, a drug used to counteract an opiate overdose. Is Steve Snair too young to be Supervisor of Smithtown? Rich Schaeffer became Town Supervisor at the age of 29 and Steve Bellone at age 30. According to Steve his age should not be seen as a negative. He is full of energy which he plans to use every day as Supervisor.
Robert CreightonConservative candidate Robert J. Creighton, 76, has served as councilman for the past six years. He is running on the Conservative line even though he changed his party registration to Republican a year ago in preparation for a run for supervisor. Serving on the Town Council Creighton has been frustrated by what he perceives as the deliberate stalling of projects that would benefit tax payers in the town.
Creighton points to the Nassau-Suffolk Lumber Yard across from Town Hall as a perfect example of what is wrong in the town. “For six years the owners of the property have been putting forth plans for the redevelopment of the property and they have been rejected. The last set of plans were created by our Planning Department and even those were rejected. That’s not right.” says Creighton.
He has been associated with some of the more controversial land use applications; in Kings Park, the Uplands and the Carlson proposal, in St. James a catering facility on the Whisper Vineyard property on Edgewood, and in Smithtown, Whisper Nursing facility on 25A in Smithtown. Creighton says that it is not true that he has made up his mind in support of these applications. What he does say is that he will not offer his position on the applications until the process plays out. He warns of legal action being taken against the town due to the rash statements made by Vecchio and Councilman McCarthy. “Every application accepted by the town should be given its proper hearing. In the case of the Uplands, “we allowed them to move forward with an expensive EIS (environmantal impact study) they deserve to be heard. I may or may not support the proposal but I will wait until all the information is available before I make my decision.”
Creighton is a proponent of bonding for road repairs, working with NYS DOT to improve the traffic flow on Main Street in Smithtown. He favors sewers and voted to set $1 million aside to support a Kings Park sewer project. He expresses concern with the use of surplus funds to balance the budget. “The surplus is at a point where using more of it will result in a lower bond rating for the town.”
Why does he want to be town supervisor? “As a council person I have been able to do some good, as Supervisor I can do a lot of good.” What does he hope to accomplish as Supervisor? Resolving some of the land use issues and finding ways to increase revenue for the town. Opponents say he is too close to developers. He bristles at this and talks about his love of the town and how he doesn’t want to turn Smithtown into Queens. A family man he hopes his grandchildren will be able to stay here and enjoy the wonderful quality of life that his children enjoyed.