Village Tattler Endorses Council Districts: “Huntington’s Vote is Not for Sale”

Every time I pass one of those ”Keep Huntington Whole” lawn signs I shake my head. That slogan has got to go down in history as one of the great hypocrisies of Huntington.  At the Women’s League of Voters debate in Greenlawn a few weeks back, the thing I heard form the Keep Huntington Whole team more than a few times was that they were afraid. Mostly they seem to be afraid of sharing a council member with a neighboring village. People in Dix Hills are terrified that they will share a representative with South Greenlawn.  Others in Huntington Bay are put off by the possibility of sharing a rep with Huntington Station.  Given their druthers, it’s a fair bet that many in Cold Spring and Lloyd Harbor would entirely secede from Huntington.  The more I read and hear, the more I understand that these people are terrified of Huntington being put together as one whole entity.  Yet that is not what is going to happen.  Everything remains the same, villages, school districts, fire districts, zoning, and all the other red herring trotted out by the Keep Huntington Whole gang are not affected by the districting proposal.  The one and only thing that changes is that with districting, Huntington residents will have one official keeping an eye specifically on the one-fourth of the town where they live.  The new system will hold an individual government representative accountable to her constituents and this individual will be elected on values and work ethic rather then how much campaign money they have behind them.

I found it intriguing when I checked websites for both sides and learned that the Keep Huntington Whole group has not a single current elected official from anywhere on Long Island endorsing them.  On the Concerned Citizens of Huntington ‘s website there is a fair-size list of current elected officials from Huntington and elsewhere on the Island that are in support:

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy

Huntington Highway Superintendent William Naughton 

Suffolk County Legislator and Majority Leader Jon Cooper

NY State Assemblyman James Conte

Brookhaven Councilman Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld

North Hempstead Councilwoman Maria-Christina Poons

Hempstead Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby

So far the only elected officials opposing council districts are the four town board members currently in office.  What do you think they are afraid of?  Accountability can be a frightening prospect for those who have the luxury of defining performance with their own press releases.  The new guy, Mark Mayoka, who will begin serving his term next year, is in full support of districting.

The venomous reaction aroused by this simple motion to allow voters to decide if we need a better way of representing our town seems out of proportion to the limited scope of the proposal. What is it that opponents have at stake?  Are they protecting something more than a system that could stand improvement?

When issues become this emotional, it is usually interesting to have a look at the finances involved.  Checking the New York State website dedicated to tracking the finances of candidates and issues in the state I found that just since November 9th districting opponents have raised $26,782.  You’d think this group would be proud of their organizational prowess and would submit this successful fundraising effort to the community as evidence of their broad support.  But instead they have tried to conceal their finances.  Rather than filing their financial info as Keep Huntington Whole, the brand they use for themselves in meetings, on lawn signs and in the press, they have taken a far less transparent route filing as The Residents for Representative Town Government.  They didn’t even use the word Huntington in their name when filing.  What the heck?  Why be so obscure?  If you’re a Ronnie Reagan “trust but verify” sort of person, you’ll see what I’m talking about here:

http://www.elections.state.ny.us/recipientstext.html

Want to find the details on who has donated to each side and how much?  Enter “Huntington” into the search box on the site and Concerned Citizens of Huntington is one of the options returned by the search.  To find the finances for the other camp, copy and paste their obscure official name “Residents for Representative Town Government” into the search box.

Now that you have the finance data on your screen, you’ll likely wonder just who each group is representing. Districting opponents who claim to want to Keep Huntington Whole have raised 62% of their money from out-of-town contributors or businesses.  20 of the 107 donations itemized on their page came from addresses outside Huntington Township.  Contributions of $500 or more account for 41% of their total contributions and 86% of those large contributions have come from out of town or businesses. Why are out-of-towners and businesses so interested in the election process for the Huntington Town board?

Concerned Citizens of Huntington fundraising effort sure hasn’t set the world on fire.  Since March they’ve raised a measly $5,683.  Three of the 65 donations itemized on their page came from an address outside Huntington.  To me these contributions are more meaningful since they are almost entirely made up of small donations from local individuals with only three coming from a resident of a different town.

I confess that I don’t know why the opposition is so rabid about protecting their territory but they are using misinformation and scare tactics to manipulate the citizens of Huntington. I have always believed that a person can do anything in this great country and people most often rise to the top based on merit. Electing an official to be accountable to one district is what we currently do at all levels of government in America and Huntington deserves the same. The Keep Huntington Whole Group is very politically sophisticated.  They are projecting their own deceptiveness and cunning as the traits of their opponents.  I am deeply offended that the Keep Huntington Whole supporters think that they can scare and buy their way into our town government.  Look and listen to current legislators who support this change as well as those officials from districts that have already undergone the change to districting. Some of these officials such as John Jay Lavalle who was the town supervisor for Brookhaven were originally against switching to districting but having seen the results now whole-heartedly endorse it.

I’m not the only one who is offended.  This is what our Superintendent of Highways, Bill Naughton thinks of the opposition and their tactics:

As a longtime Democratic committeeman and a former party zone leader, I am deeply saddened by the way in which some other Democratic elected officials in the town I love so well have resorted to spreading misinformation and employing deceptive scare tactics in an effort to crush a broad-based, multi-partisan town-wide movement for change and preserve the status quo that is bankrupting our town.  They didn’t even want to afford our residents and taxpayers the right to decide on their own form of government. And yet some of these very same people went into Brookhaven a few years ago to campaign for the creation of councilmanic districts there — where it’s been a huge success.

North Hempstead Councilwoman Maria-Christina Poons says, “No doubt about it, Council Districts work better.” She was appointed in April 2007 and elected in November 2007, and observes that with Councilmanic Districts, constituents have told her that they find their respective Town Board representatives are far more responsive. As a result, she says, “Taxpayers have much better access to the government.”

Keep Huntington Whole says a ward system would increase government cost and raise taxes.  Where they got this information, I don’t know.  Of the towns on Long Island that have switched to council districts none have seen a tax increase because of council districts.

Brookhaven councilman Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld specifically refutes many of the opposition claims.  “Council Districts have not raised government costs. We have absolutely not raised taxes because of Council Districts. Anyone making that claim is spreading misinformation.  Our only “no tax” collection years on our general fund line (where we funded our general operating expenses via our surplus…) occurred under council districts in Brookhaven.

Keep Huntington Whole claims districting will cause taxation without representation because you would only vote for the councilperson that is representing your area.  This is untrue and the exact opposite of what is being proposed with council districts. If we elect someone who is looking out for a smaller group’s best interest, we have the power to vote that person out if the job is not getting done.  This is how the U.S senate operates, one hundred senators and two point people for New York. 

Hempstead Council Woman, Dorothy Goosby cites the very core of the American political system supporting Council Districts. “Isn’t that what it’s about: government by the people and for the people?” Ms. Goosby further says, “Costs have not risen because of Council Districts. If anything, Council Districts have held down costs because we need to report back to our districts on spending.

Keep Huntington Whole says “The process of drawing ward boundary lines would split communities, school districts and other geographically-based groups.”  Suffolk County legislator Jon Cooper said, “I believe the introduction of Council Districts will bring government closer to the people and will make it easier for residents to know their representatives.”

Jim Conte, Member of the Assembly 10th District said “Districts are how we ensure proper representation in America, and council districts are key to strengthening town government and making it more accountable to the people it servers, it is the American way of governing.”

And when asked about pitting board members against each other he responded, “I was the lone Democrat for two years, yet the Town Council never dumped on my district…don’t believe this scare tactic…all members of the town board need to work collectively and will need each other member’s vote for some reason into the future for their own district’s community needs.”

Brookhaven councilwoman Jane Bonner’s experience as a local representative demonstrates how Council Districts reduce the influence of money in Town politics. In her first run for office, her opponent raised well over $150,000, over five times what she raised, but Ms. Bonner won because she walked the district, attended community meetings and demonstrated her connection and ability to deliver for her district. “In two campaigns, I have knocked on over 20,000 doors.” She won re-election with even less money because she represented her district well. “With Council Districts, your election does not depend on how much money you raise, but on the job you do for your district. It makes elected officials accountable to their districts, not large donors.”

“The decision to support council districts should not be based on one’s party registration,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, a Democrat. “Democrats shouldn’t speak in favor of council districts when they are out of power and then turn around and oppose the concept once they have gained power. The same holds true for Republicans.”

Please make an informed vote on December 22nd it is important for Huntington’s future.

Newsday Endorses Council Districts

Vote ‘YES’ for Huntington council districts

Look around at towns that have scrapped the at-large system of electing their boards and created council districts. There’s no evidence of sharply increased costs or higher taxes in towns such as Brookhaven or North Hempstead. Still, now that the issue is coming to a vote in Huntington tomorrow, opponents are putting on a full-court press.

One argument against districts in Huntington is that they’ll stand in the way of regional thinking and increase NIMBYism. If there was regional thinking going on by past boards, not much of it translated into regional action – just look at the still-unrealized promise of redeveloping Route 110. One of the real obstacles to regional economic development is competing town industrial development agencies, not council districts within towns. As for NIMBY thinking, some of its leading centers are towns without council districts, such as Oyster Bay and Smithtown.

Incumbents tend to oppose council districts, because at-large voting makes challenging them more difficult; newcomers must run expensive townwide races. With districts, challengers run in a smaller area. That means more opportunity for new thinking and new blood, and more access to power by ethnic and political minorities, not the alarmist claims that different sections of the town will be pitted against one another.

With council districts you know who represents your community and you can hold him or her accountable. Opponents say the at-large system gives you a choice of several council members to ask for help. But it also gives all of them the chance to dodge your request, leaving no one with the direct responsibility to advocate to the county or state for solutions to problems such as crime or drainage. With districts, every part of town has a fair seat at the table of power. It will have no impact on schools, fire department or other services.

Sure, it would be better if this vote were taking place at a general election, when more citizens could have a say. The town board had several chances to put it on the ballot in a general election before, but didn’t. So it bears more blame than proponents for the special-election timing. A yes vote tomorrow is the start to a more responsive town government.

William Naughton, Huntington’s Superintendent of Highways Endorses Council Districts for Huntington

William Naughton, Huntington’s longtime superintendent of highways, joins Concerned Citizens of Huntington in urging Huntington voters to cast their ballots for the creation of councilmanic districts during a special referendum vote set for Tuesday, Dec. 22.

In a prepared statement, Naughton said:

“As Huntington’s superintendent of highways for the past 22 years, I have traveled extensively throughout our town and have become familiar with its many diverse neighborhoods and communities.  Over the years, and through different town administrations, communities within our town have been ignored or, worse yet, dumped upon. Traffic congestion and overcrowding have become serious issues in some neighborhoods. With councilmanic districts in place all communities within our town will have representation – and will be less likely to be neglected.

As a longtime Democratic committeeman and a former party zone leader, I am deeply saddened by the way in which some other Democratic elected officials in the town I love so well have resorted to spreading misinformation and employing deceptive scare tactics in an effort to crush a broad-based, multi-partisan town-wide movement for change and preserve the status quo that is bankrupting our town.  They didn’t even want to afford our residents and taxpayers the right to decide on their own form of government. And yet some of these very same people went into Brookhaven a few years ago to campaign for the creation of councilmanic districts there — where it’s been a huge success. I hope that Huntington voters will join me on December 22 in casting ballots for a more representative form of government in our town – councilmanic districts for a better Huntington.”

 The Concerned Citizens of Huntington, a non-partisan group, has formed to promote Council Districts in Huntington. To learn more, you can check their web site (http://concernedcitizensofhuntington.com) or their blog (http://huntingtoncouncildistricts.wordpress.com/).

Assemblyman James Conte Endorses Council Districts for Huntington

Huntington Assemblyman James Conte Supports Council Districts for Huntington

I strongly believe that council districts will improve representation for our residents and will strengthen the community.  As a 20-year elected official, I have seen time and again, how the town, no matter who is in charge, neglects pressing problems. 

In fact, a majority of the phone calls to my office are residents who are complaining about problems that are not addressed by town hall.  They look to me to advocate on their behalf.  They need and deserve representation from a town council member, someone who knows the neighborhood and cares about the people they represent.

Council districts will add to the accountability of elected officials and will strengthen the local democratic process because unlike the current system, council members will be responsible for representing a specific community and for answering questions and helping solve problems in that area. With council districts, residents will know who to hold accountable at town hall.

I have firsthand experience with representing a district and understand the accountability it creates.  No opponent of council districts would propose doing away with districts in the New York State Assembly or other levels of government.  Districts are how we ensure proper representation in America, and council districts are key to strengthening town government and making it more accountable to the people it servers, it is the American way of governing.

The Concerned Citizens of Huntington, a non-partisan group, has formed to promote Council Districts in Huntington. To learn more, you can check their web site (http://concernedcitizensofhuntington.com) or their blog (http://huntingtoncouncildistricts.wordpress.com/).

News12 Long Island Endorses Council Districts for Huntington (12/11/09)

Huntington Wards: December 11, 2009

Should Huntington town council members be elected by district, or at large? This is how the question will be put to Huntington voters:

“Shall a ward system be established for the election of councilmen/councilwomen in the Town of Huntington?” Voters will give their answer on Tuesday, Dec. 22, if they can break away from last minute holiday shopping to do so.

If they answer affirmatively in this oddly scheduled election, the town will draw lines for four council districts. The town supervisor would continue to be elected at large.

A group known as Concerned Citizens of Huntington successfully petitioned for the referendum. Opposing the change is a group of former elected officials, including two ex-supervisors. They argue that creation of districts will raise costs, and increase horse-trading.

Despite the awkward timing, voters need to turn out to decide this important issue. Similar reforms in Hempstead, North Hempstead and Brookhaven demonstrate that the establishment of council districts brings representation closer to the people, and greater attention to their neighborhoods.

We hope Huntington voters will turn out to approve the use of council districts or wards, giving themselves a gift of better representation.

You can see the editorial at the News12 web site here: http://www.cablevisioneditorials.com/content/LI/2009/LI_2009-12-11.html

Suffolk County Legislator Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor) Endorses Council Districts for Huntington

Suffolk County Legislator and Majority Leader Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor) has endorsed Council Districts for Huntington. “There are valid arguments on both sides of this issue, but in the end, I think the people and the town would be better served by electing our Town Council through Council Districts,” he said.  Mr. Cooper represents a large portion of the Town of Huntington in the County Legislature.  “I represent a district and we use districts at every other level of government.  My experience shows it is important that people know who represents them.  Residents need to know who to call if they have a problem or a question.”  Mr. Cooper went on to say, “I believe the use of districts increases accountability for elected officials.”  Mr. Cooper joins Democratic County Executive Steve Levy in supporting Council Districts for Huntington.

Mr. Cooper will shortly begin his sixth two-year term in the Suffolk County Legislature.  He served as the Long Island Chair of the Barack Obama Campaign in 2008.  Reflecting on his tenure in the County Legislature, Mr. Cooper stated, “The use of districts ensures that all communities have their local interests represented.  In the end, legislators vote on what they think is best for the entire county, but to do so, we must make sure that we understand the needs and interests of all our communities.”

Mr. Cooper stressed that his support for changing from at-large voting to the district system is not a negative reflection on the current members of the Town Council. “The vote on December 22 will not be a referendum on our current elected officials.  To be sure, I think that Supervisor Petrone and the current Council members have done a great job in leading Huntington.  It is more about creating a government structure that best meets the needs of Huntington.”  Mr. Cooper said, “Huntington has grown significantly from when we had fewer than 30,000 residents and the state introduced the at-large voting system.  With over 200,000 residents, we need a system that ensures representation from all parts of our town and gives all our communities a voice at Town Hall.”

Citing the success of Council Districts in Hempstead, North Hempstead and Brookhaven, Mr. Cooper said, “The move to Council Districts has established a positive track record on Long Island. The experience in the other towns shows that residents and elected officials find that Council Districts work better than the at-large system.  Huntington will benefit from this change.”

Asked about claims that Council Districts would divide the town, Mr. Cooper said, “That has not happened at the county level or in the other towns that have introduced Council Districts.  Of course, any system depends on the people we elect to represent us, but I believe the introduction of Council Districts will bring government closer to the people and will make it easier for residents to know their representatives.”

The Concerned Citizens of Huntington, a non-partisan group, has formed to promote Council Districts in Huntington. To learn more, you can check their web site (http://concernedcitizensofhuntington.com) or their blog (http://huntingtoncouncildistricts.wordpress.com/).

You can contact Legislator Jon Cooper at (631) 854-4500 or via email at jon.cooper@suffolkcountyny.gov.

County Executive Steve Levy Issues Statement Supporting Council Districts for Huntington

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy Lends Support to Huntington’s Councilmanic District Quest

Four Councilmanic Districts Would Lead to Better Representation of Entire Town

Hauppauge, NY – Advocates for councilmanic districts in the town of Huntington have found an ally in County Executive Steve Levy.

Advocates submitted petitions to the town clerk yesterday seeking to place a proposition on the ballot through referendum that would establish four councilmanic districts town-wide. Council members would be elected from those individuals residing only in the councilmanic districts as opposed to town-wide. Proponents of this measure believe that the process will lead to more competitive elections.

Levy, a Democrat, is supporting the creation of the councilmanic districts in the democratically dominated town despite the fact that many pundits believe that the party in power usually opposes the creation of councilmanic districts for fear it would give the opposition a greater opportunity to win seats. 

“The decision as to whether to support councilmanic districts should not be based on one’s party registration,” Levy said. “Democrats shouldn’t speak in favor of councilmanic districts when they are out of power and then turn around and oppose the concept once they have gained power.  The same holds true for Republicans. Though I am a registered Democrat, I support councilmanic districts in all towns, even if they are presently controlled by Democrats. The need to ensure the integrity of the democratic process is far more important than keeping any particular party in power.”

Levy added, “Councilmanic districts not only provide greater representation for a particular community but also allow lesser financed candidates to have a fighting chance. When one has to campaign town wide it is just too large an area to cover, either through door to door campaigning, or through having an effective advertising campaign for an underfinanced candidate to have a fighting chance. A councilmanic district is more along the lines of a legislative district in which a candidate can conceivably knock on a majority of doors in that district to become known. Additionally, the cost to send out mailings to the voting public is one-fourth the cost of what it would be in a town-wide race. Town wide elections lead to one party dominating and that is not healthy, whether it is the monopoly in the hands of Democrats or Republicans.”

Times of Huntington and Times of Northport Endorse Council Districts

Editorial: Wards benefit large towns

The drives for ward districts across Suffolk County — from Huntington to Brookhaven — tell us that our concept of townships is changing as their populations grow. People’s apparent dissatisfaction with the at-large election process suggests that elected town officials are overlooking and neglecting the differing needs and visions of its communities.

We once reserved districting for county, state and federal governments, whose areas of representation were larger, more remote and presumably more difficult to participate in. Well, Town Hall isn’t so remote but Huntington is a far cry from the small town of its first trustee meetings in the 17th century.

In fact, it wasn’t until the 1980s or so that demand for councilmatic districts got loud.

In 1810, Huntington’s populace was 4,424. In 1853, according to town reports, the size of the town was kept in check by splintering a southern chunk to the Town of Babylon. But as of the 2000 census, Huntington Town had 195,289 inhabitants, which is roughly what the entire Suffolk County population was in 1940. Indeed, the coexistence of so many people in one town has resulted in a perception and reality of our leaders not being as accessible or available as they might be. Case in point, the Town Board’s demolition of the Crab Meadow Beach Pavilion in Northport without the required 30-day public notice. Residents said they felt there was no one on the Board directly invested enough to inform them and no one to hold accountable Election Day.

The time has come for elected officials to get closer to their constituents. The cry has already been answered in the county’s largest township: Brookhaven Town’s population was more than 400,000 in 2002 when it passed a ward system referendum whose drive was 30 years in the making. It’s no surprise to see rallying for districts well underway in towns where populations exceed 150,000. Many in Islip Town, where the most recent census numbers were 296,926, are angling for one as people here in Huntington have been since at least 2003.

The decision is your hands Dec. 22. We urge you to vote yes.

You can read the editorial here: http://www.northshoreoflongisland.com/Articles-i-2009-12-10-82378.112114-sub18239.112114_Editorial_Wards_benefit_large_towns.html

County Executive Steve Levy Endorses Council Districts for Huntington

From Newsday on October 23, 2009

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy on Friday threw his support behind advocates who want to bring council districts to the Town of Huntington – the same day a Northport resident filed an objection to the proposal.

Earlier this week, Concerned Citizens of Huntington submitted a 788-page petition to the town clerk seeking to replace the at-large system with one that would elect town board members by four designated districts.

Levy said council districts not only provide greater representation for a particular community but also allow lesser financed candidates to have a fighting chance.

“The decision to support council districts should not be based on one’s party registration,” said Levy, a Democrat. “Democrats shouldn’t speak in favor of council districts when they are out of power and then turn around and oppose the concept once they have gained power. The same holds true for Republicans.”

Newsday Endorsements of Council Districts In Huntington

Newsday has issued two enorsements in 2009 endorsing Council Districts for Huntington:

Let voters decide on Huntington council districts

October 20, 2009  

Here we go again: A group of citizens is asking the Town of Huntington to let the voters decide whether to set up a system of equal-population council districts for electing the town council. This time, the issue really ought to be left to voters, not lawyers.

In every town where the issue arises, the party in power – in this case, the Democrats – resists scrapping the at-large system of electing the council. They make airy arguments for the status quo, but the real reason is that incumbents like the idea that running townwide races is tough for challengers. That, of course, is exactly why districts make sense: more chance for new blood – plus more accountability.

In Huntington, there are four council members and the supervisor. Previous reform advocates also wanted to expand it to six council members. That clouded the issue. This time, advocates are pushing only for four council districts. They submitted their signatures yesterday to Jo-Ann Raia, the town clerk, who must decide on their overall validity.

Raia, a Republican in a Democratic town, found the 2005 petitions valid. But they got overturned in court. We hope these petitions pass muster, and that the town council will let Raia make that decision – with the help of a lawyer of her own choosing, if opponents make line-by-line objections.

Huntington is a modern, cosmopolitan town in many ways. It’s time its form of government reflected that.

Yea vote for town council districts in Huntington

April 6, 2009  

The last time civic activists in Huntington tried to change the system to elect the town council, they got petitions signed but the initiative never made it to the ballot. Now an ad hoc group, Concerned Citizens of Huntington, is trying again. The issue is simple: Should voters keep electing the four council members at large, or should the town set up an equal-population system of four districts? This page consistently supports the district system; incumbents reflexively oppose it. No surprise. In an at-large system, challengers have to run expensive townwide races, with little chance of unseating incumbents. In council districts, challengers can win without a lot of money, if they work hard. Districts also help fix responsibility: If you have a specific council member representing your area, you have a better chance of knowing where to turn for help and holding that official accountable. If proponents get enough signatures – they need just over 3,000 valid ones – we urge the town to put it on the November ballot and voters to give it a thumbs-up.