Got questions for Riverhead Town candidates? Civic groups announce three forums this month, invite residents to submit questions.

Riverhead voters will have three opportunities this month to question candidates for Riverhead Town supervisor and council member in the upcoming local election.

Four civic associations in Riverhead Town have announced three candidate forums. The scheduled forum dates are:

Thursday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m., Riley Avenue Elementary School, 374 Riley Avenue, Calverton, co-hosted by the Greater Calverton Civic Association and the Wading River Civic Association.

Saturday, Sept. 23, 2 p.m., Riverhead Free Library, 330 Court Street, Riverhead hosted by the Heart of Riverhead Civic Association.

Wednesday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m., Jamesport Meeting House, 1590 Main Road, Jamesport, hosted by the Greater Jamesport Civic Association.

All events will utilize a question-and-answer format and will run two hours, dividing the time between the council member and supervisor candidates, the civics said in a joint press release yesterday.

Questions can be submitted ahead of time via email to each of the civic groups:

Greater Calverton Civic Association to GCCA1992@gmail.com ;

Heart of Riverhead Civic Association to HeartofRiverheadCivic@gmail.com ; and

Greater Jamesport Civic Association to gjamesportcivic@gmail.com .

Questions can also be submitted in person at any of the events.

“While civics tend to focus on our specific communities, we are pleased to team up when we can to serve all of Riverhead Town, Greater Calverton Civic Association President Toqui Terchun said. “And we’re proud to be able to offer more folks the chance to get to know our candidates better.”

There are three open seats on the Town Board up for grabs in this year’s election, and none of the incumbents on the all-Republican board are seeking re-election.

Supervisor Yvette Aguiar decided not to run for a third term of office, Council Member Frank Beyrodt decided against seeking a second term and Council Member Tim Hubbard, chose not to seek election to a third term, and instead is running for supervisor on the Republican ticket.

Joining Hubbard on the GOP’s Town Board slate this year are: Joann Waski of Jamesport, owner of Peconic Abstract in Riverhead and chairperson of the Riverhead Planning Board since November 2021; and Denise Merrifield of Wading River, an attorney and retired former prosecutor in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

Hubbard, a lifelong Aquebogue resident and retired Riverhead Town Police officer who retired from the police department in 2014 after 32 years of service, during which he attained the rank of detective first grade. Hubbard was elected council member in 2015. He was a member of the police department’s street crime unit, an advanced crime prevention officer and commanding officer of the department’s juvenile aid bureau. He also ran the Riverhead Police Athletic League for over 20 years.

Riverhead Town Democrats are offering voters what they call a “fusion ticket” this year that includes a registered Republican seeking a Town Board seat.

The Democrats’ standard-bearer is Angela DeVito of South Jamesport, a 24-year resident of the town, is a past trustee and former president of the Riverhead Board of Education. A civic activist, she is a past president of the Greater Jamesport Civic Association, a past member of the Riverhead Town Anti-Bias Task Force, and a past member of the board of directors of the Riverhead Industrial Development Agency. DeVito was the Democratic nominee for supervisor in 2013, challenging incumbent Sean Walter and falling short by fewer than 800 votes.

Running for council member seats on the Democratic ticket are Andrew Leven of Riverhead, an attorney and a former career federal prosecutor and Rene Suprina of Riverhead, a retired music educator and district music coordinator in the Southold school district. Both are first-time candidates for elective office. Leven is a registered Republican and a newcomer to the Town of Riverhead.

Riverhead Republican Chairperson Tammy Robinkoff said Republican candidates “look forward to answering any questions from the community,” adding, “We are looking forward to an organized and civil forum.”

Laura Jens-Smith, chairperson of the Riverhead Town Democratic Committee, who is also president of the Greater Jamesport Civic Association, thanked the civic groups for hosting the forums. “Our candidates welcome the opportunity to speak with residents to share their goals for the future of a prosperous Riverhead,” she said.

Election Day this year is Tuesday, Nov. 7. Early voting takes place Oct. 28 through Nov. 5.

The deadline to register to vote or submit a change of address to the board of elections is Oct. 28.

Check your voter registration status on the New York State Board of Elections website.

Residents can register to vote online using the New York State Board of Elections voter registration portal.

More voter registration information and downloadable voter registration forms are also available on the State Board of Elections website.

Editor’s note: This article has been amended after its initial publication to correct the email address for questions to the Calverton Civic Association. An incorrect email address was included in the press release announcing the forums.