Civic association candidates nights provide important service for local voters

To the Editor:

Local civic associations’ candidates nights are an opportunity for voters in the Town of Riverhead to see, hear and get to know the candidates in a structured format. There is also a mutual benefit to each candidate to let their positions be known in this type of public forum, an integral component of the campaigning process. 

Civic organizations are made up of community volunteers who work together to discuss neighborhood and town issues/concerns and to improve the quality of life in our communities.  Civics educate and inform residents.  We represent the interests of our community to local governments and other organizations to lobby for improvements and changes that benefit the area. Civics foster community spirit.

Like other civics in the Town of Riverhead, both Greater Calverton Civic Association and Wading River Civic Association are non-partisan organizations that do not endorse candidates. 

The Greater Calverton Civic Association and the Wading River Civic Association have been hosting joint candidates nights for many years during local election years. We scheduled a joint candidates night this year on Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. at Riley Avenue Elementary School in Calverton. As always, all candidates for town supervisor and town council were invited to attend. At our most recent monthly Calverton Civic meeting, on Sept. 18, civic members voted unanimously to hold our event even if both parties’ candidates for office were not represented. However, both parties have agreed to have their candidates take part in the Oct. 16 forum.

The civic associations of Riverhead have a decades-long history of hosting candidates nights. More similar forums would be better for Riverhead voters, providing more opportunities to meet and ask questions of all the candidates from both parties. 

We encourage all residents to attend these informative events.

Toqui Terchun, president

Greater Calverton Civic Association