Jane Bonner (C)
Incumbent from Rocky Point, seeking second term
Previous occupation: Legislative aide, Suffolk County
Why is she seeking re-election?
Ms. Bonner said she hopes to continue to make government run more efficiently and be more accountable to the residents, touting her support of the initiative to install GPS systems in town vehicles and her policy that ended the use of take-home cars for town employees as examples of her previous efforts. She has vowed to continue to make the preservation of open space a priority, if re-elected, and "to continue to stabilize taxes." She said she wants to look at more public/private partnerships within the town to increase revenues during the economic downturn. She also said she hopes to continue studying the impacts of proposed development along Route 25A, protecting the future of the North Shore.
Her two cents: "I have a bottom-up approach to problem solving, bringing all the stakeholders together to solve whatever problems we have in our communities."
Twenty questions:
1. If elected, will you cut taxes next year?
No! I certainly won't vote to raise them!
2. How would you grade the current Brookhaven Town Board?
B.
3. Which hamlet in your district currently needs the most attention?
Coram and Rocky Point, equally.
4. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the safest), how safe is downtown Rocky Point?
Eight.
5. Does downtown Rocky Point need sewers?
The Suffolk County sewer study will let us know. Environmentally, sewers are better.
6. Have the Caithness funds been spent wisely?
No.
7. Could the town's sex offender residency restriction laws be more stringent?
Only if the proposed changes don't negate laws currently on the books.
8. Do you think the hiring of park rangers was money well spent?
Yes.
9. Does the town need its own Justice Court to prosecute code violations and other quality-of-life issues?
Yes.
10. Should the public information office and economic development department be returned to the supervisor's office?
No.
11. Does the town need a Community Preservation Fund?
Yes, especially if we don't continue to fund through bonds.
12. Should the Mott House be replaced with a community center?
Only if there is no cost to the taxpayers.
13. Does Kathy Walsh do a good job in the role of deputy supervisor?
No, she can't have two masters. It is obviously a conflict.
14. Do you believe Town Board meetings run more smoothly since Mark Lesko took office in April?
Sometimes.
15. If elected, would you hold more than one job?
No.
16. Are Town Board members compensated fairly?
Yes.
17. If you could eliminate one particular job title from town government, what would it be?
Deputy supervisor.
18. Have the GPS and vehicle control policies been good for the town thus far?
Yes.
19. Is Sandy Hills a good project?
No, it is harmful to the Carmans River.
20. Tell us one good thing about your opponent.
He is funny and quick-witted.
Show us the money
Bonner's Top 5 corporate campaign contributors in 2009:
1. Go Green Environmental LLC, Shoreham
$2,000
2. Seafood Basin Inc., Rocky Point
$2,000
3. Staller Associates, Hauppauge
$1,000
4. In Town Shopping Centers Co., Hauppauge
$750
5. POL Associates Inc., Moriches
$625
John Leonard (D)
Mount Sinai resident and deputy town supervisor seeking first elected office
Occupation: Attorney
Why is he running?
Mr. Leonard is focused largely on the economy and he is running on a four-point plan to fix our communities. Included in his plan are designs to help redevelop the former Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant site and turning it into a cutting-edge research and manufacturing hub for alternative energy. He also said he hopes to implement a tax abatement program for new businesses interested in moving to the area. He also vowed to look into a tax stabilization plan for seniors and to help area youth by "fighting to combat the exploding heroin and prescription drug epidemic" on the North Shore.
His two cents: "For me it all comes down to the future of this area, the economic stability of this area, and the belief that if we don't do something now there is no economic future here."
Twenty questions:
1. If elected, will you cut taxes next year?
No.
2. How would you grade the current Brookhaven Town Board?
B.
3. Which hamlet in your district currently needs the most attention?
Rocky Point.
4. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the safest), how safe is downtown Rocky Point?
Seven.
5. Does downtown Rocky Point need sewers?
No.
6. Have the Caithness funds been spent wisely?
Yes.
7. Could the town's sex offender residency restriction laws be more stringent?
Yes.
8. Do you think the hiring of park rangers was money well spent?
Undecided, still need to see returns.
9. Does the town need its own Justice Court to prosecute code violations and other quality-of-life issues?
Court system's community court will suffice.
10. Should the public information office and economic development department be returned to the supervisor's office?
Yes.
11. Does the town need a Community Preservation Fund?
Yes.
12. Should the Mott House be replaced with a community center?
Yes.
13. Does Kathy Walsh do a good job in the role of deputy supervisor?
Yes.
14. Do you believe Town Board meetings run more smoothly since Mark Lesko took office in April?
Yes.
15. If elected, would you hold more than one job?
Yes.
16. Are Town Board members compensated fairly?
Yes.
17. If you could eliminate one particular job title from town government, what would it be?
Chief legislative aide.
18. Have the GPS and vehicle control policies been good for the town thus far?
Mostly, needs some adjustments.
19. Is Sandy Hills a good project?
Yes.
20. Tell us one good thing about your opponent.
She cares deeply about her community.
Show us the money
Leonard's Top 5 corporate campaign contributors in 2009:
1. Servpro of Medford Inc., Medford
$1,000
1. Staller Associates Inc., Hauppauge
$1,000
1. Miller Realty Associates, Glen Cove
$1,000
4. Total Collections Services Inc., Port Jefferson Station
$850
5. Baja Provisions Inc., Smithtown
$450