Patricia A. Shirley, Council Member, Town of Smithtown

REPUBLICAN

Shirley, 43, is running on the Libertarian line and is seeking her first term. She is chief executive of Shirley Academy, a school that trains people to get certification in medical coding.

ISSUES:

• Government needs to be more receptive to small business owners and entrepreneurs, Shirley said. “I’ve seen business after business close down.”
• She would expand the town’s school-age child care program, adding pre-K and bridge programs to give “real world experience” to high school students.
• She would expand preventive screenings and other public health initiatives that she said are especially important for communities like Smithtown with a high population of senior citizens.

By Nicholas Spangler

nicholas.spangler@newsday.comspanglernewsday

Nicholas Spangler is a general assignment reporter and has worked at Newsday since 2010.