Jerome (Jerry) Halpin took the oath of office as Riverhead Town’s 65th supervisor Thursday afternoon at Town Hall, where a standing-room-only crowd packed the meeting room to witness the formal swearing-in of the town’s newly elected officials.
Halpin, 53, a political newcomer, scored a stunning upset victory in November, ousting incumbent Supervisor Tim Hubbard by just 37 votes as Hubbard, a 10-year member of the Town Board, sought election to his second term as supervisor.
The pastor of a nondenominational Christian church he founded with his wife Kristen in 2004, Halpin has spent most of his adult life in ministry. In a town where the government has mostly been led by farmers, businessmen, bankers and lawyers, Halpin is only the second minister to be elected to the post, according to the book “Riverhead Town Supervisors,” by Town Historian Georgette Case. The other was Daniel Youngs Jr., the pastor at Old Steeple Church in Aquebogue, who was elected in 1814.
Yesterday, Halpin acknowledged being a “novice” in politics.
“I’m not a political person. I’ve never been… but I’ll tell you what I’m not a novice at. I’m not a novice at being a servant leader or working hard, being a team player, hustling, winning,” Halpin told the crowd, adding, “and obviously talking.”
He held up, as an example of his work ethic, baseball great Pete Rose, known as “Charlie Hustle,” who even as the Cincinnati Reds player-manager at age 42, didn’t hesitate to slide head-first, Halpin said.
“Charlie Hustle loved the game, and he left it all on the field,” he said.
“I love this town, our people, our businesses, our PD, our fire department, our farms, our schools, the diversity, the beauty, the beaches, everything that makes it what it is. We have it all. We live in a little slice of heaven,” Halpin said.
“And I promise you — I’ll look you in the eye and promise you — that I will be a servant leader,” Halpin said. “But I also promise you that I will miss the mark— everyone does — and I will. But I will do my best, when I do, to admit that and fail forward and allow others to do the same, so I and this town can continue to grow together,” he said. Halpin then quoted Christian author Rick Warren’s book, “The Purpose Driven Life”: “It’s not about me. It’s about you. It’s about us. It’s about we,” he said.
Halpin pledged to embark on a “listening tour” around town and to establish office hours when residents can meet with him directly.
He reiterated his campaign pledge to tackle rising property taxes and said he would work with sitting council members, residents and taxpayers, business owners and civic groups “to catch up to this ball of taxes that is rolling down[hill], that’s crushing people” — ”maintaining fiscal responsibility” while at the same time maintaining services, paying town employees a living wage, supporting the police and emergency management services as they are “taking care of our own.”
“The best thing that I know, the thing that I was taught by the people that are sitting in this room today, both those that I was raised with, those that have led this town for years is that sacrifice starts with us,” Halpin said.
He publicly announced what he said in an interview Tuesday: He has elected to cut his own salary by more than $8,000. Halpin told RiverheadLOCAL Tuesday he views the decision as setting an example. ““I think that sacrifice is as contagious as anything else,” he said.
Read more: Pastor Jerry Halpin will be sworn in as town supervisor Thursday. Here’s what’s on his mind.
He said his administration will “get to work tomorrow continuing the legacy of those that came before us to lay the foundation of this amazing town. I invite and challenge you to work with me. I beg of you for the next generation that we work together in this beautiful place.”
Town Justice Lori Hulse administered the oath of office to the new supervisor.
The 1 o’clock ceremony, which was televised on Optimum Channel 22 and livestreamed on the town’s website, also featured the swearing-in of Council Member Bob Kern by Acting State Supreme Court Justice George Harkin and Council Member Ken Rothwell by State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Whelan.
Also sworn in yesterday were Riverhead Town Assessor Laverne Tennenberg, Highway Superintendent Michael Zaleski and Deputy Highway Superintendent Andrew Dick.
The Rev. George Dupree of Living Waters Church in Aquebogue performed the duties of master of ceremonies.
Dupree reminded those present that the day’s “formal” and “very significant” proceedings “reflect respect for our past…[for] commitment to our future and sincerity for a genuine desire to lead and with integrity … while seeking the common good of all those in Riverhead town.”
Riverhead Chief of Police led a moment of silence at the start of the ceremonies, asking those in attendance “to honor our community, to those who have served before us and our shared community commitment” and “to recognize and honor the service and sacrifice of our military members, law enforcement officers, fire and EMS personnel, past and present, who work every day to protect and serve our community.”
The Rev. Cynthia Liggon, senior pastor-elect of the First Baptist Church of Riverhead, gave the invocation, praying for unity and asking that the new administration be guided by “fair and just” decision-making. 
“I pray that we might experience your divine will in every smile, every embrace, every spoken word and all that is done. I ask that through your presence, we might be drawn together in a united effort to work in harmony to support this town supervisor and this administration, as it always works towards achieving the most loving outcome for all the residents of the town of Riverhead,” LIggon said.
“And while this particular supervisor must be mindful of the legal and philosophical principle of the separation of church and state,” Liggon said — alluding to Halpin’s status as a Christian minister —“I pray that he may never be separated from his faith in you, so that in all of his so that in all of his duties and all of his responsibilities, his leadership and his decision making will always be fair and just.”
Assembled for yesterday’s ceremonies were New York State Assembly Member Jodi Giglio, Suffolk County Legislator Greg Doroski and Riverhead council members Denise Merrifield and Joann Waski, as well as the Police Chief Ed Frost, Captain Danielle Willsey, members of local fire departments and emergency services personnel.
Gabrielson’s Country Plant Farm in Jamesport provided the many poinsettias that decorated the front of the meeting room, which Halpin said were provided in memory of Kristina Gabrielsen, the daughter of the farm’s founders, former Riverhead Council Member George Gabrielsen and his wife Janice. Kristina passed away in September at age 49. Halpin said the frail poinsettias remind us of “the frailty of life,” and urged residents to care for one another, “which is what makes Riverhead so special.”
Riverhead High School junior Jarrell Gilliam performed the National Anthem. Bagpiper Jim Flood of Aquebogue performed “God Bless America.”
Riverhead VFW Post 2476, led by Commander Thomas Najdzion, presented the colors.
A reception with pastries from local bakeries followed in the Town Hall lobby.
“I’m excited,” Halpin said afterward. “I can’t wait to get started.”
Correction: This article has been updated to correct Justice George Harkin’s title. He is an Acting State Supreme Court Justice serving in Suffolk County Family Court, not a State Supreme Court Justice.
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Denise Civiletti
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