Jerome Halpin

Not enrolled in a political party

BACKGROUND

• Halpin, 54, of Riverhead, is not enrolled in a political party and is running on the Democratic and Taxpayers First party lines in the general election. He is seeking his second term as town supervisor.
• Halpin has a bachelor’s degree from Excelsior University in Albany, where he studied communications and religious studies. He said he retired as senior minister of the North Shore Christian Church, which he founded in 2005, in December, and continues to volunteer there.
• Halpin served on the East End Disability Associates board and as chaplain for the Flanders and East Quogue fire departments.

ISSUES

• Halpin said that if reelected he would focus on fiscal responsibility and relief for taxpayers, along with providing quality pay for town staff. He said he would seek more ways to generate revenue, pointing to this year’s voluntary retirement incentive that 10 employees accepted, saving the town about $819,000 in salary and retirement contributions.
• Halpin said he would look for ways to “bring solid development” to the former Grumman property known as Enterprise Park at Calverton (EPCAL). He said he is speaking with Empire State Development and state and federal officials to seek grants to offset taxes and spur development to create jobs and tax revenue. Halpin also said he would work with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to bring more rail cars to EPCAL using existing tracks.
• Halpin said he would work to continue the town’s land preservation efforts, focusing on “getting the 4-H Camp across the line and preserving the rural corridor.”