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Cuthbcrtson (38mm) and Mark Capodanno (R-Centerport) are seeking re- election, facing a challenge from Democractic newcomer Stuart Besen of East Northport and former Republican sown supervisor Toni Rettaliata-Tepe of Dix Hills. Stuart Besen Besen is an attormey who launched the Garden (Mybased law firn, Besen & Trop LLP, in 1993, He co-founded the East Northpon Chamber of Commerce, which since its inception over: 10years ago has revitalized Larkfield Road. Through the chamber, Besen launched Manual East Northport Festival and a program by which businessowners look- mgmumpmvcflu storefronts can apply famfinmgfmndsfrmnmwnmdmmy \Vacancies are significantly down,\ Besen said. \By fixing the sidewalks and getting grant money to continue working and foot patrols. He also is interested in Further representing senior and children's Esmses and supports a special program giv- mgfirst-nmhomcmym a property tax break. Regarding the former Master Plan, he said, \We've just about accomplished every1hmg that plan had in store for us. Now it's time to revisit that plan and update it to see where we are now and see where we're going to develop into the future. People are concerned about responsible developing of whatever prop- erty we have left. With proper planning and proper code changes, we can accom- plish a lot of this without raising the capi- tal budget.\ Capodanno said he's happy with the board's fiscal management. \One of the things I think we've done very well is maintain fiscal stability and maintain an excellent bond rating,\ he said. Now that the town has done its part to stabilize on beautification. this makes people say *You know what? I want to open a busi- ness in East Northport.\ The candidate said-his- experience would be an asset in revitalizing Huntington Station. Besen said he also aims to streamline town business through the Internet, imple- ment fiscal checks and balances, televise town board meetings and preserve impor- tant historic and environmental parcels like the Lewis Ofiver Farm in Northport, should its owners wish to sell. He recently led the fight against the South Huntington School District's pro- posal to purchase 11 acres of Molenhoff roperty, which is considered a ground- WWW Due to Besen's and the community's efforts, the district mmmwmm Besen sits on the - WasfimMMAmh ate of New York Law School, he and his _ wife Margaret have two children who - mmmmmsmm ino wants to took at cutting taxes, pcdmps by reconsidering services that are _ redundant withother taxing authorities. In the effort to stop gang viotence, Capodanno said he favors more informa- ton sharing between police and the FBI, as well as the piloting of surveillance cam- in downtown areas. With regard to affordable housing 0960115, Capodanho has suggested provid- ing incentives to builders. He also sup- ports levying stiffer fines against those who violate zoning and housing codes. and \using that matey for low-interest down payments.\ Code enforcement offi- cers could. also work to 'help residents legghw, csson Miami endorsement in a pmnwy this sud, “My palm l$ to keep talk. M MPG/Em Other mic miterwcfiwllfimtsbmmm I *Beware of the person who's con- . Angers at others,\\ ~ HcaM‘lM mum Mark Cuthbertson ple that seem to make sense. And the last thing they want to hear is people com- plainng about other candidates. They work really hard, they want people to work hard in their government and that's what I plan to deliver.\ Capodanno also co-founded the Last Nosthport Chamber of Commerce He is an adjunct professor at City University af New York, a former member of the town planning board and serves on the national military review board. He and his wife. Karen, have two children, Michael, 8, and Catherine, 2. Mark Cuthbertson Cuthbertson was first elected to office mn 1998. He grew up in Huntington Station and graduated from Walt Whitman High School. Cuthbertson was a leader in the fight to block the proposed MTA maintenance facility in Greenlawn and worked with community members to block efforts to locate a power generation facility in East Northport. He also belped pass the town s Open Space Bond Act. Since then, 100 acres of open space have been preserved. Cuthbertson urged the town to adopt a Tom Rettaiiata- Tepe working with buth the development com munity and non profit agencies to provide incentives for aftordable rentals. homes and senior citizen housing To stop illegal housing. Cuthbertson said, \We have been very aggresive with code enforcement, in creating a zoning violations bureau, which is being chal tenged by the judiciary,\ he said. \The don't like the idea at all of us having an administrative court to handle housing violations ~ In district court, in order to prove a housing violation, you need to have the same level of proof as a murder convic- tion, beyond reasonable doubt. he sard Standards in an administrative court are more lenient. The town also has Spanish speaking code enforcement officers to deal with a segment of the population. Cuthbertson would like to look at code amendments that would enable the town to crack down more aon illegal housing. \I'd like to contmue to keep a hard eye un the bottom line and make sure to keep out finances in good order We have the highest bond ratung on Long Island which waterfront WWWMMWMW Huntungton Harbor and expanded boating m>discharge zones The town board recently passed _ Cuthbertson's | legislation to prohibit development on environmentally precan ous steep slopes. He. too, would be inter: ested in saving the Lewis Oliver Farm in \We need a willing seller in all these cases,\ Cuthbertson said, who added that own board is awaiting the open space rommittee's recommendation on the parcel. _- Cuthbertson credited the town's deci- sion to amplify its reserve accounts for helping to improve the town's bond rating and to stabilize taxes. When asked which decision of the board he most disagreed with over the past year, Cuthbertson said. ''There's not one particular one that stands out. We really have tried to reach consen- sus on most issues.\ However, he has suggestions for irnprovement. \'We can do more to run ~wwwn government: him ~a 'business,\ he said. ''More of our services and operations should be on the Internet, and we-can do money and is also a measurement of its fiscal strength and stability ~ __ With regard to Broadwater. he said. \There has not been an adequate showing of the impact it's going to have on the waterways. of how they're going to miti- gate those impacts,\ Cuthbertson said. \It would be a scar an the waterway of Long Island.\ When asked if he would support the ward system if it made it to the ballot. he said, \I'm trying to stay neutral at this point because the town board has to judge and put the petition on the ballot People should look at pros and cons carefully ~ Cuthbertson is a coach in the Elwood soccer league and a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Sons of Italy. He holds a B.S. from Villanova and a J.D. from Albany School of Law. He and his wife, Michelle, have three children: Hunter, Elizabeth and Aiden. Toni Rettaliata-Tepe Rettaliata-Tepe, a former state assem- blywoman, also served as town supervisor between 1988 and 1989 but lost her bid for re-election. + & Continued on page A12
