For the first time in Riverhead Town’s 225-year history, an all-women slate is seeking election to the Town Board.
Michele Lynch of Riverhead has joined previously announced supervisor candidate Laura Jens-Smith of Laurel and council candidate Catherine Kent of Baiting Hollow on the Democratic ticket.
Lynch, 66, is a longtime Riverhead resident who recently retired as a political director of the United Healthcare Workers on Long Island. A Mercy High School graduate, she worked for 20 years as a unit secretary at Peconic Bay Medical Center before taking a job with 1199SEIU.
“I’m a good listener,” Lynch said in an interview yesterday. “I’m good at bringing coalitions together. We need more of that — elected officials willing to listen, able to listen, able to bring people together.”
She said she is especially concerned about housing for the next generation looking to stay here and raise their families as well as for seniors looking to downsize.
Lynch’s husband of 35 years is a retired Riverhead Police sergeant. They have one son — a NYPD sergeant — and two grandchildren.
Jens-Smith, who ran for a council seat in 2015 and now looks to unseat Republican incumbent Supervisor Sean Walter, said she is “delighted” with the Democratic ticket this year. Her running mates’ “energy, dedication and knowledge will be a wonderful asset to our town board,” Jens-Smith said.
In addition to the supervisor spot, the terms of council members John Dunleavy and Jodi Giglio are up this year. Giglio is seeking a third four-year term as councilwoman. Dunleavy, currently the longest-tenured board member, was first elected councilman in 2005. He is precluded from seeking a fourth term by a local law adopted by the town board last year limiting service on the town board to 12 years.
The Riverhead Republican committee is expected to nominate Giglio for re-election at its convention this week, GOP chairman Remy Bell said. There are several other people looking to be Giglio’s running mate. See prior story. Walter is the only declared candidate for town supervisor.
Riverhead Democrats will hold their nominating convention the following week at the Polish Town Civic Association headquarters, party chairman Marjorie Acevedo said.
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