<a href="https://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/elections/riverhead-elections-development-calverton-epcal-k7p0hh32" target="_blank">Watch our video</a> on Town of Riverhead election issues 
 ANDREW LEVEN 
 Republican 
 BACKGROUND: 
<ul> 
 <li> Leven, 63, of Riverhead, is making his first bid&nbsp;for office. He is running on a fusion line with the Democratic Party candidates. He is a former prosecutor who specialized in economic and health care fraud cases, and is now a defense lawyer. </li> 
 <li> He earned his law degree&nbsp;from Syracuse University College of Law and has extensive experience in white-collar fraud prosecution with&nbsp;the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey. He earned his bachelor’s in political science at Ithaca College. </li> 
 <li> He grew up in West Islip. </li> 
</ul> 
 ISSUES: 
<ul> 
 <li> Leven said overdevelopment and crime are his top priorities. He opposes the pending EPCAL development. Asking the Industrial Development Agency to approve the mixed-use project is beyond that group’s scope, and there’s been little accounting for the impact of increased traffic, he said. </li> 
 <li> He said he believes in asking those on the front lines of law enforcement their recommendations to solve the problems they’re seeing, then developing a plan for quick and longer-term results. </li> 
 <li> He said he would look for more effective ways to enforce laws so people feel secure. </li> 
</ul>

Watch our video on Town of Riverhead election issues ANDREW LEVEN Republican BACKGROUND: Leven, 63, of Riverhead, is making his first bid for office. He is running on a fusion line with the Democratic Party candidates. He is a former prosecutor who specialized in economic and health care fraud cases, and is now a defense lawyer. He earned his law degree from Syracuse University College of Law and has extensive experience in white-collar fraud prosecution with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey. He earned his bachelor’s in political science at Ithaca College. He grew up in West Islip. ISSUES: Leven said overdevelopment and crime are his top priorities. He opposes the pending EPCAL development. Asking the Industrial Development Agency to approve the mixed-use project is beyond that group’s scope, and there’s been little accounting for the impact of increased traffic, he said. He said he believes in asking those on the front lines of law enforcement their recommendations to solve the problems they’re seeing, then developing a plan for quick and longer-term results. He said he would look for more effective ways to enforce laws so people feel secure.

Long Island

Politics

Elections

VGLEVEN231105

Council Member, Town of Riverhead: Andrew Leven

onecms:0c5d5532-dcbd-4e8b-b567-617e7c618c80

Newsday

slVOTE

Most Popular

Latest videos

Politics video slot

New York Attorney General Letitia James visited Newsday's headquarters, where she spoke about the Cornell University rape investigation that she is leading. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa has more.

'The politics stop at the door'

On Tuesday night, Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican rival Bruce Blakeman squared off in the only campaign debate of the gubernatorial election. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

Hochul, Blakeman clash in only debate

A Newsday analysis finds U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino has taken the third-most trips paid for by special interest organizations of all U.S. House members this year. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa and Newsday Congressional reporter Billy House have the story.

'More than $37,000 spent'

Bruce Blakeman leads Kathy Hochul by 8 points on Long Island, but trails by 9 points statewide in the race for governor, according to recent Newsday/Siena University polls. NewsdayTV's Doug Geed reports.

'Affordability is likely the number one issue'

Sign up for the Politics newsletter

Politics newsletter widget

Long Island Article Bottom Module

Long Island lawmakers on Monday were among the growing number of members of Congress who argued suspending the sanctions only helps Putin continue funding the more than 4-year-old war.

Bipartisan LI backlash over Trump lifting Russia sanctions

The candidates aim to provide voters with options in the clerk race, challenging incumbent Puleo's uncontested run.

Write-in candidates challenge Suffolk County clerk for the sake of choice

The visit to Syracuse could boost Republican energy, though there are risks.

How Trump's NY rally could help, or hurt, Blakeman

Blakeman says he hasn't seen the Democrat-backed bill.

Blakeman criticizes sex industry in Queens, but mum on efforts to address it in Nassau

The poll was conducted Sept. 11-17 among likely Long Island voters.

Newsday/Siena poll: See full results

Rich Schaffer has held the position of chairman of the Suffolk County Democratic Party since 2000.

Schaffer wins re-election for Suffolk Dems' chair, fending off challenge

Politics Video Playlist

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced utility discounts for up to half of all households in the state. Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman called the energy rebate a scam. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

'Half of all households are eligible'

New York State is mailing out energy rebate checks between $100 and $200 to taxpayers who qualitify. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

'A check is always nice. A little more would be nicer.'

Newsday NYS correspondent Keshia Clukey gives insight on what local governments are asking from New York State.

Local governments say they will override 2% tax cap

The law would require businesses to have proper state licensing, prove that their employees are paid and ban staff from living at the spas or sleeping there overnight. Repeat offenders could face penalties up to $25,000. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn has more.

'It's personal to me'

The county executive had not shown his hand as a state law banning cooperation agreements went into effect. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

'This law is completely misguided'

President and CEO of Nassau University Medical Center Thomas Stokes explains the problems caused by the aging infrastructure within the hospital. Newsday Associate Editor Joye Brown reports.

'You could have a catastrophic failure'

Nassau is one of two counties in the state that have refused to come into line with the law. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

'Likely that the issue will wind up in court'

During a tour of the public hospital's campus, CEO Thomas Stokes said upgrades to aging infrastructure would cost "hundreds of millions of dollars." But there aren't yet plans to replace it. Newsday Associate Editor Joye Brown reports.

'It would cost hundreds of millions of dollars'

Homepage Trending

Halloween events on LI

2026 LI Voters Guide

Wallet Watch

Working Moms

Politics videos

Poltics vertical videos

Lawyers for Oscar Belgal say he is in desperate need of surgical attention for the bullet lodged in his neck. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

'Disregard for care'

Gov. Hochul gave Newsday an exclusive interview at the Melville newsroom about the ICE shooting in NYC. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger has more.

'We have to return our streets back to normalcy'

Santos Banegas Reyes, a 42-year-old ICE detainee, died in Nassau County Jail last year after staff provided "inadequate medical care," a federal report found. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

'My reaction to the report is outrage'

Changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, could impact quarter of a million Long Islanders who rely on it. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn has more.

'I would struggle'

In an interview with Newsday, Suozzi said he was talking about creating a permanent legal work authorization for non-citizens who've been living in the country for 10 years. Newsday Washington D.C. reporter Billy House has more.

'Just foolishness'

They cook, build, care for seniors and run businesses. What happens when these workers disappear? NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

'We can expect negative repercussions'

<a href="https://www.newsday.com/video/newsdaytv-top-stories">Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories</a>

Newsday TV

NewsdayTV Top Item

Highest-paid LI nonprofit employees ... South Asians concerned about online hate ... Working Moms: Finding friends ... Out East: Seven Ponds Orchard

Most Popular

Latest videos

Stay logged in.