Legislator Tom Muratore Running for Re-Election

Suffolk County Legis. Tom Muratore is up for re-election this season to what would be his second term for the 4th Legislative District.

Muratore names environmental concerns as one of the most prominent items on both his political and personal agenda. He recently tabled an ongoing issue pertaining to the sale of land in Selden Woods, county-owned property adjacent to the Suffolk Community College Ammerman Campus. Those in opposition to Muratore are working towards turning the land over for the construction of a housing development.

“For me, the concern in my district right now is trying to maintain the amount of open space that we have,” commented Muratore. “We’re trying to preserve the open space that is left and turn it into both passive and active-type parks.”

In addition to environmental commitments, Muratore is firm in his ongoing resolution to find a way to keep the lid on taxes.

“I was the father of the cap on the gasoline tax back in July,” noted Muratore. “I lobbied for it, and I got the other side to vote for it. As a result, my legislation saved the taxpayers of Suffolk County about $12 million dollars a year.”

Muratore is also committed to preserving the small business-driven nature of Suffolk County. Through the accomplishment of this goal, Muratore hopes to benefit the growing population of young adults forced to seek employment elsewhere.

“We have so many empty spaces where people would like to start a business, but the town and the county make this difficult,” said Muratore. “We need to streamline the process of opening and maintaining businesses.”

Even before being elected to his current role as legislator in 2009, Muratore was no stranger to Suffolk County. He grew up in Central Islip and graduated from Central Islip High School, going on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Studies from the New York Institute of Technology in 2002. He has been a resident of Ronkonkoma for 41 years.

Muratore worked for the Suffolk County Police Department for 35 years, starting as a patrol officer in 1972 and continuing on to become a senior instructor at the academy. He served as Vice President of the Suffolk County PBA for 19 years before retiring from the police department in 2007.

The incumbent’s involvement within Suffolk County communities extends to a variety of organizations. Within the Sachem district, he is a member of the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Association and the Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce, and is a Hospitality Minister at St. Joseph’s Church. Muratore is also a board member for the Suffolk County Red Cross and is a Republican Committeeman for the 13th Election District, among other involvements.

The elected legislator for the 4th Legislative Distrct will represent upwards of 80,000 residents in the communities of Selden, Centereach, the Brookhaven Town portion of Ronkonkoma and sections of Farmingville, Holbrook, Lake Ronkonkoma, Lake Grove, Medford, Coram and Port Jefferson Station.