Councilman says he'd run town like a business if elected supervisor
By Kyle Reitan
MEDFORD--About 200 supporters of town supervisor candidate Tim Mazzei gathered Saturday at the opening of Mazzei campaign headquarters in Medford to help jump-start the candidates' campaign.
"He is really a renaissance man," said Sen. Ken LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) of Mr. Mazzei, who will appear opposite Democratic candidate Mark Lesko on the March 31 special election ballot. "He will be a great supervisor."
The election was set last week after Mr. Foley resigned from the post to replace longtime Sen. Caesar Trunzo in the state's 3rd Senate District. Mr. Foley's former chief of staff Lori Baldassare is serving as acting supervisor until the election.
Mr. Mazzei and his supporters said Saturday that concerns over the economy and lowering Brookhaven's taxes will be central to the councilman's campaign. Mr. Mazzei said that as supervisor he would look to bring new businesses to Brookhaven in an effort to stimulate the local economy.
"I'm going to run the Town of Brookhaven like a business," he noted. "I'm going to encourage businesses to come to the Town of Brookhaven so that we can increase our commercial tax base to relieve the residential tax base."
Town Conservative Party chairman Richard Johannesen said a lot can be done to enhance economic development in Brookhaven. He said he hopes to see rezoning in downtown districts, including Rocky Point, that will limit the number of school children coming into the community and maximize the amount of tax rateables.
The word economy slipped off the tongues of nearly everyone in attendance at Saturday's rally. Everitt Dewitt of Lake Ronkonkoma deemed Mr. Mazzei an honest candidate who will budget government spending. "Economy is number one with everybody, and I know Tim's working very strongly in improving the area," Mr. Dewitt said.
Ted DiSalvo, president of the Holtsville Civic Association, said he believes Mr. Mazzei, who was appointed Councilman in 2002 and has since been re-elected three times, has done a good job for the 5th Council District. Mr. Mazzei's district stretches west along the South Shore from East Patchogue to the Islip town line.
Joining in the Mazzei campaign effort here on the North Shore are Councilwoman Jane Bonner, who served alongside Mr. Mazzei on the Town Board majority this year, and County Legislator Dan Losquaro (R-Shoreham). Mr. Losquadro said Mr. Mazzei's past experience as a former prosecutor and head of the homicide bureau in Suffolk County "shows the type of integrity and steadfastness that we need in the Town of Brookhaven."
In an effort to win the election, the Mazzei campaign said it plans to utilize every strategy available -- from making phone calls to going door-to-door -- to increase Mr. Mazzei's name recognition, particularly on the North Shore, and to spread his message. Mr. Mazzei said that message includes a pledge to lower taxes and to improve the quality of life in Brookhaven.
"It is a very short time, but his name is very well known and people like him," said Arlene Stevens, a volunteer from Coram.
"He is really a renaissance man," said Sen. Ken LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) of Mr. Mazzei, who will appear opposite Democratic candidate Mark Lesko on the March 31 special election ballot. "He will be a great supervisor."
The election was set last week after Mr. Foley resigned from the post to replace longtime Sen. Caesar Trunzo in the state's 3rd Senate District. Mr. Foley's former chief of staff Lori Baldassare is serving as acting supervisor until the election.
Mr. Mazzei and his supporters said Saturday that concerns over the economy and lowering Brookhaven's taxes will be central to the councilman's campaign. Mr. Mazzei said that as supervisor he would look to bring new businesses to Brookhaven in an effort to stimulate the local economy.
"I'm going to run the Town of Brookhaven like a business," he noted. "I'm going to encourage businesses to come to the Town of Brookhaven so that we can increase our commercial tax base to relieve the residential tax base."
Town Conservative Party chairman Richard Johannesen said a lot can be done to enhance economic development in Brookhaven. He said he hopes to see rezoning in downtown districts, including Rocky Point, that will limit the number of school children coming into the community and maximize the amount of tax rateables.
The word economy slipped off the tongues of nearly everyone in attendance at Saturday's rally. Everitt Dewitt of Lake Ronkonkoma deemed Mr. Mazzei an honest candidate who will budget government spending. "Economy is number one with everybody, and I know Tim's working very strongly in improving the area," Mr. Dewitt said.
Ted DiSalvo, president of the Holtsville Civic Association, said he believes Mr. Mazzei, who was appointed Councilman in 2002 and has since been re-elected three times, has done a good job for the 5th Council District. Mr. Mazzei's district stretches west along the South Shore from East Patchogue to the Islip town line.
Joining in the Mazzei campaign effort here on the North Shore are Councilwoman Jane Bonner, who served alongside Mr. Mazzei on the Town Board majority this year, and County Legislator Dan Losquaro (R-Shoreham). Mr. Losquadro said Mr. Mazzei's past experience as a former prosecutor and head of the homicide bureau in Suffolk County "shows the type of integrity and steadfastness that we need in the Town of Brookhaven."
In an effort to win the election, the Mazzei campaign said it plans to utilize every strategy available -- from making phone calls to going door-to-door -- to increase Mr. Mazzei's name recognition, particularly on the North Shore, and to spread his message. Mr. Mazzei said that message includes a pledge to lower taxes and to improve the quality of life in Brookhaven.
"It is a very short time, but his name is very well known and people like him," said Arlene Stevens, a volunteer from Coram.
As reported in The North Shore Sun
