Kent: Why I’m running for town supervisor

As a lifelong resident of Riverhead, longtime teacher and four-year council member, I know our town and its issues. I’m running for Riverhead Town supervisor because I care deeply about our community. We are at a critical juncture: Either we speak up and protect our quality of life or step aside for a new landscape dominated by high rise apartments and office buildings. These structures are replacing our wooded acreage and open space. They pose a threat to the things that we hold dear and that make Riverhead our home.

My goal is and has been giving citizens the respect they deserve. Residents must be allowed to take part in decisions that affect them. Their opinions must be heard, valued and used in decision-making. It is our obligation to give the public every opportunity to attend meetings either in person or via Zoom, rather than making unilateral decisions that serve to reduce participation.

I am running because there is more that we could do as a town government. Projects are often fast-tracked with insufficient information and lax oversight. There must be no room for excuses or grabbing at straws to defend the indefensible. There is too much influence from outside interests and not enough from local residents. It is vital that we proactively steer development in a way that directly benefits our community.

We need to get a grip on long unresolved issues like EPCAL. Wrapped in controversy since day one, EPCAL’s current buyer, CAT, has yet to show any development plan or the solvency to fund such a plan.

The Town Board must ensure a careful development plan. One that doesn’t outpace infrastructure improvements of our schools, roads, water and sewer. There must be a push for the reuse of buildings and empty lots rather than building new.

From the Peconic Bay, our farms, and to the Long Island Sound, Riverhead is a stunningly beautiful town composed of a close-knit community of hard-working people. As your next Town Supervisor, I pledge to be diligent and bring good governance back to the people of our great town.