Edward WehrheimEd Wehrheim has worked for the Town of Smithtown for over forty-five years. He began his career in the Smithtown Parks Department eventually becoming the director. In 2003 he retired from Parks and was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Town Board. He has served as a council person on the Town Board ever since. In May of this year Wehrheim declared his intention to run for supervisor and replaced John Zollo as the candidate who would primary the incumbent supervisor Patrick R.Vecchio. Ed won the primary by 87 votes. His platform includes reaching out to community organizations, residents and businesses to develop a consensus on development in the town.
He sees himself as a consensus builder and has pledged to work with all board members promising transparency and equal access to information. He sees his primary victory as a sign that the public wants change.
If elected supervisor he will embrace the change that the public voted for. He denied the rumors that if elected he would bring back John Zollo, Robert Creighton and Kevin Malloy. Asked if statements he made at debates about providing oversight and exerting control over town departments was a reference to appointing commissioners, he acknowledged that it is something he is considering but not immediately, “After I have settled in, we have two union contracts to be negotiated, after that is done I will look at the feasibility of commissioners.”
Appointments for commissioner positions, according to Ed, will most likely be filled by qualified Smithtown residents. He added that his votes for appointments BZA, Planning Board, etc. have been based on the applicants resume and qualification. Appointing Smithtown residents ensures that appointees are connected to the town.
Ed plans to be a full-time supervisor and will encourage town board members to do the same. “If we are going to embark on true downtown business revitalization and sewering and affordable housing for our young people its going to take a full time commitment by that town board that communicates during the week basically on a full time basis. We have to come to a consensus a lot of money at stake. We need to have a constant dialogue. Can’t force them to do it as a leader I would encourage.”
Regarding the animal shelter he thinks a public/private operation may improve the operation of the shelter which has seen a great deal of controversy. His plan includes staffing the shelter with current union employees but opeated by a private entity.
During the League of Women Voters (LWV) debate an opponent questioned the town’s poor record of adhearing to property covenants and although he could remember only one time a covenant was discarded (a property in Commack which prohibited markets from being located on the site it was determined the covenant was meant to prevent strip malls) he supports covenant adherence.
He supports a public/private operation for the Smithtown Animal Shelter. The relationship would be staffed by Smithtown’s union employees and operated by an entity with experience in shelter operations.
On the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center property now the Nissequogue River State Park (NRSP), Wehrheim proposes using some property to build a tech hub. “I’ve been told, there is conflicting information, that there is a 90 acre hub in the center of the 355 acres that is developable.” The rest is to remain open space. “I believe there could be some decent tax ratables, more than the state is paying now to the school district but am I set on doing that? It’s up for discussion.”
On the budget Wehrheim commends Supervisor Vecchio for the town’s Triple A bond saying he has done a good job. He would use reserves and bonding to pay for roads and recreational facilities but would not bond without limits.
He is most passionate about town parks which he acknowledges need remediation as well as a reuse plan. Times have changed there has been a diminshed use of tennis courts and softball fields and an increased need for soccer and lacrosse fields. Wehrheim’s points to his work in the Smithtown Parks Department as evidence of his qualification to improve the parks.
“I do believe, as I have said, that I have the experience dedication and energy to, if succesful to take the seat, work with whatever board I have. I think I have the leadership skills to make the board work together in an open atmosphere where everyone in town government knows what’s going on. We have Kings Park, Smithtown and Saint James in the planning stages of revitalizing working with the board I think I will be able to get things done.”