Voters Guide 2013: Suffolk Legislature to Shift, Change Next Year

Suffolk County Legislature could see a shift of power this Tuesday, as all 18 district seats are up for re-election and the district lines will change. 

As we head into Election Day, Patch is here to bring you the information you need to know before heading out to cast your vote. Residents will have a chance to vote for their next Suffolk legislator on Tuesday, but it may be a bit different than previous years.

Based on the results of the 2010 U.S. Census, the Suffolk County legislature underwent a redistricting that will bring several changes to the legislature coverage zones. 

Residents voting in Tuesday's elections will be selecting a representative to speak for them on Suffolk County laws and issues starting on Jan. 1, 2014 and, based on redistricting, may not have the option of re-electing their current legislator.

Here's s rundown of the candidates whose names will be on the ballots for the new 4th, 8th, 10th, 12th and 13th Suffolk legislative districts, their parties and what areas will be covered by those districts in 2014. 

Suffolk's 4th Legislative District

Area Covered: The fourth district includes areas of Farmingville, Selden, Centereach, Lake Ronkonkoma and Holbrook.

Click here to see the former 4th district map, and see if your home falls under the 4th district starting on Jan. 1, 2014. 

Candidates:

• • Thomas Muratore (Republican)- Muratore, the incumbent candidate from Ronkonkoma, has represented the 4th Legislative District since 2009, according to Newsday. According to the report, Muratore is proud of legislation he sponsored implementing county bus fare reductions for veterans and capping gas sales tax above $3 per gallon. He is in the process of acquiring property for park land and ballfields, and he secured federal and state funding to reconstruct County Road 83 in Farmingville.

  • Nancy Lombardi (Democrat)- Lombardi, the challenging candidate from Centereach, has worked at the Suffolk County Office of the Aging for the past five years and previously served on the Middle Country Central School District board of education. According to Newsday, Lombardi is concerned with the well-being of the area’s senior citizens and their financial struggles living on a fixed income with increasing taxes and expenses. She is also concerned with the area’s lack of affordable housing and the younger generation’s difficulty finding jobs.

• William J. Lindsay (Democrat)- Lindsay, son of the recently passed Bill Lindsay who was the previous legislator at the time of his death, is a Bohemia resident originally from Holbrook. Lindsay is against the Serota Islip Pines proposal, wants greater transparency in the legislature’s budget process, and is running with the intention of continuing his father’s efforts. According to Newsday, Lindsay would like to address storm preparedness if elected.

• Anthony Musumeci (Republican)- Musumeci, a Bohemia resident, has served as a member of the Town of Islip Planning Board since 2012. Musumeci has voiced concerns about developments such as Serota Islip Pines proposal, but is not able to comment due to his planning board role. He wants to open up the budget decision process beyond a handpicked eight-member panel of legislators, and work on preserving communities from having younger residents and empty nesters leave the area due to increasing taxes.

• Tom Cilmi (Republican) of Bay Shore is running unopposed in his re-election bid for the 10th Legislative district, according to LI Politics.

• Gary Jacobs (Democrat) - Jacobs, a Smithtown resident, is a political newcomer seeking to challenge Kennedy for the 12th legislative district. He works from home as an executive for a pet supply company based in New Jersey. 
  
  Jacobs says he is running for office as he believes in a government that represents the people. He was inspired to run for political office due to the state of Smithtown Main Street, wishing to see a revitalization of the town's downtown business areas. 
  
  To read more about Jacobs in Patch's one-on-one interview with the candidate, click here. 
  
  
• John Kennedy Jr. (Republican)  - Kennedy is the incumbent for Suffolk County Legislature's 12th district. He was first elected to the office in 2004. He is the Minority Leader in the legislature and serves as chairman of the Veterans & Seniors Committee and vice-chairman of the Ways & Means Committee.  
  
  Kennedy has served as the official examiner of title for the Suffolk County Clerk’s Office, overseeing day-to-day operations of the county clerk's office for eight years.
  
  His recent issues involve the seeking to protect local groundwater by appealing for grants and state aid to bring sewers to Smithtown's Main Street and the demolition of the Bavarian Inn in Ronkonkoma to create future open space. 

• Rob Trotta (Republican) - Trotta, a Fort Salonga resident and Commack native, is a political newcomer who has staked out offices on Kings Park's Main Street. He beat out two others to win the Republican nomination in the Sept. 10 primary. 
  
  Trotta is a detective for the Suffolk County police department with 25 years experience. He is an advisory board member of the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation, a member of Kings Park Civic Association and Kings Park Neighbors Association. 
  
  Trotta said one of his key issues is improving residents quality of life and turning Kings Park Main Street, Smithtown Main Street and other similar areas of town into destinations to help increase sales and tax revenue.  Read more about Trotta on his campaign website. 
  
  
• Elaine Turley (Democrat) - Turley, a Fort Salonga resident of 16 years, is running for the Suffolk Legislature seat vacated by Lynne Nowick. She is an attorney with a law practice specializing in the areas of elder law, trusts and estates, estate administration and real estate transactions.
  
  If elected, Turley has promised to be a full-time legislator who pledged promises to make Suffolk County attractive for young people by attracting quality jobs and increasing housing for young professionals,  reducing drug use among our residents.