‘Solidly non-partisan, entirely pro-Riverhead’

As president of the Heart of Riverhead Civic Association, I need to address the misrepresentations regarding the upcoming Town Board Candidate events. 

After our informative events in 2023, Riverhead’s civics again scheduled varying times and locations so more of the public can hear from Town Board candidates. To correct an assumption made by Mr. Hubbard, Laura Jens-Smith and I did not and will not be moderators. Jamesport Civic’s VP Steve Green will return to moderate on Tuesday night. Former Suffolk County Legislator, Family Court Judge, Commissioner of DSS and lifelong Republican, the Honorable Greg Blass, will moderate for the Heart of Riverhead.

As civic leaders, we are committed to — and perfectly capable of — separating personal political beliefs from our service to our members and our town. We work to encourage increased civic engagement, to create a greater sense of community based on what we have in common, and we hold to the standard of being solidly non-partisan while entirely pro-Riverhead. 

Our members and guests benefit from having conversations, sharing lots of ideas and hearing different perspectives. We like to believe that our input is welcomed when we bring it to the Town Board, regardless of anyone’s personal beliefs. Instead, we are seeing our different opinions used in an attempt to separate ‘us’ and ‘them’. That is the polar opposite of our continual efforts to collaborate for Riverhead’s greater good. 

We hope that everyone interested in Riverhead’s future will come to meet our Town Board candidates: Tuesday September 30 at 7 p.m. Jamesport Meeting House; on Saturday, October 4 at 10:30 a.m. at Riverhead Library; or/and Thursday, October 16 at 7 p.m. at Riley Avenue School. 

Questions for the Heart of Riverhead’s Oct. 4 event can be submitted to heartofriverheadcivic@gmail.com 

Cindy Clifford, president

Heart of Riverhead Civic Association