Kristen Slevin For Town Supervisor

Kristen SlevinKristen Slevin is running for Smithtown Town Supervisor to ensure that downtown revitalization benefits residents, helps businesses thrive and does not destroy the small hometown feel that makes Smithtown different from many other towns on Long Island. Kristen may be a newcomer to politics but not activism, during the time she lived in Patchogue she worked with community associations promoting responsible growth and business practices.

She frequently mentions the success that community advocates had ridding downtown Patchogue of its blighted buildings and wants to facilitate that activism in Smithtown. She is quick to point out that she does not want to transform Smithtown into a Patchogue or Huntington. 

Slevin is not one to say what people want to hear; in fact, she is prone to saying I need more information so that I can make an informed decision. I will have to get back to you on that. Although new at politics she has definite opinions on how to improve Smithtown. Her ideas include term limits. She is a fan of Supervisor Vecchio’s fiscal acumen and often reminds people that the long term supervisor was new to town government when elected and has served at the public’s will for forty-six years.She believes that term limits encourages public involvement and allows for new ideas and perspectives.

If elected she plans to maintain control over town taxes keeping within the two per cent tax cap. She is not opposed to bonding or dipping into reserves but only when there are clear benefits for the town’s residents.  

At a meet the candidates forum in St. James, Slevin listened to residents vent about blight and absentee landlords who allow properties to deteriorate to the detriment of their business district. Many espressed the sentiment that the problems didn’t happen overnight and occurred due to lack of oversight, enforcement and a lack of creativity by elected officials. Slevin offered a solution to the problem suggesting a blight tax on properties that were not maintained. The town would set standards and those property owners who don’t adhere to the standards have a blight tax assessed on their property which may be reduced when the property becomes compliant with the town code. A second alternative was to divide the town into councilmatic districts, where one board member elected by the people residing in the district is answerable to the community. Residents would have the benefit of knowing which board member to call about issues of concern and the board member can focus on the needs of the district.

Slevin also stated she would invest in promoting Smithtown’s rich history as a way to bring grant money into the town identifying Long Island’s 50 mile Washington Spy Trail along Route 25A as a model for historic preservation. She supports the hiring of a grant writer for the town. 

A major concern for Kristen Slevin is the lack of participation by younger voters. She is hoping that more people of her generation will vote and some day run for office. 

Comments

[Jan Porinchak]

I give Ms. Slevin much credit for putting herself out there as a candidate. I'm an independent who usually votes conservative. But with Pat Vecchio undermined and out of the race, I'm ready for a fresh outlook and won't be voting for another party hack. Kristen Slevin will get my vote.