Interview with Huntington Democratic Supervisor, the Honorable Frank Petrone.
ON COUNCIL MEMBERS BUDD & BERLAND
People see that Marlene
is a very solid Councilperson. She doesn’t grandstand and is carefully
selective on her projects. Susan Berland has been in only two years and
has been innovative in turning around the Zoning Board. She and Marlene
instituted projects dealing with code violations and have successfully
worked together on housing problems.
LIPA
Public power was our dream. Unfortunately it hasn’t blossomed as
expected. The LIPA Board should be elected to serve the interests of the
people and it should be independent. This is the biggest downfall.
Chairman Kessel could move forward
more effectively with an elected board.
BACKGROUND
Age 58; married with two children. Supervisor since 1993 and formerly
Suffolk Legislature Chief of Staff (92-93),
Huntington Environmental Director (90-92) and FEMA Regional Director
(82-95). Masters in Higher Education
(University of Denver), a Masters in Public Administration (Long Island
University) and an undergraduate degree from SUNY at Albany. Originally
from Brooklyn. Hobbies including European cooking and culture in
addition to breeding Balinise and Siamese cats.
MAJOR
ACCOMPLISHMENTS & GOALS (as Supervisor)
Number one would be
cleaning up the fiscal mess as there is a $20 million surplus; putting
in reserve monies to fund health insurance increases, and establishing
more dollars for repaving/rebuilding roads. Improvements have been made
in regard to solid waste collection,
recycling and channeling land development toward the right places. Goals
include developing the 110 Corridor (Jericho Turnpike to Republic) in
the right way, developing the Waterfront Harbor in Huntington Harbor,
ensuring housing development on Ruland Road and the revitalization of
Huntington Station.
MINOR PARTIES
(SUFFOLK, HUNTINGTON)
Minor parties are now
significant. The County Executive Race proved otherwise for several
parties but Steve Levy’s “Stop Corruption” line certainly was key.
That line was an independent line that got Steve’s message across.
Indy Chairman Frank MacKay is full of energy
and is a successful leader and has built a very powerful movement.
OTHER COMMENTS/THOUGHTS
ON LEADERSHIP
(in general) - We should never feed people’s fears and create havoc in
order to create fear as well. As
government officials, we should welcome the exposure of our problems.
GOVERNOR PATAKI
- He has always been a friend and he is someone I can call on to help
Huntington.
SUFFOLK CONSERVATIVE
CHAIRMAN, PAT CURCIO - He has been a mentor since day one. He’s a
genius and also very mysterious.
SWITCHING PARTIES
FROM R to D - Republicans have been overly critical of my
administration and the R’s wanted
decisions made by party lines. In 1993 I forged a coalition with then
Councilman, Steve Israel, to bring
bi-partisan government to Huntington, which
has helped us out of bankruptcy.
GETTING INVOLVED IN
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS - Please contribute and be constructive
and not be negative all the time. It’s easy to react and difficult to
put an action plan together.
TONY MASTROIANNI-
HUNTINGTON REPUBLICAN LEADER - I supported you years ago for leader. I
only wish that you would have then
and now made the decisions as leader and not delegated the
decision making to someone else.
2004 PRESIDENCY
- I am a Wesley Clark delegate. He has decision-making ability. We live
in a time that is terrorist oriented
and he has the ability and knowledge to deal with it.
THE ENVIRONMENT -
The new $30 million Bond Act passed and we want to parlay it into $100
million of land. The new wave of the
“environment” is quality of life concerns and this Board will
put it at the top of our list.
TO LEVY &
SCHAFFER - Your words during the
campaign should be the words that we are still talking in January
2004-only louder. We need to come together and work together for the
improvement of Suffolk.
PERSONAL/GOVERNMENTAL GOALS
Spending
time with the family, and beginning a process to complete Huntington’s
Master Plan. I also plan to pursue hosting cooking segments on a cooking
show.
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