James P. O'Connor, Councilman, 2nd Town District, Town of Islip

JAMES P. O’CONNOR

Republican

BACKGROUND:

• O’Connor, 58, of Great River, is a lawyer and owner of a small insurance-based law firm in Manhattan. O’Connor, who is seeking reelection for a second term, is also running on the Conversative Party line.

• He promotes autism awareness and seeks opportunities for individuals with autism.

• O’Connor earned a bachelor’s degree from Boston College and a law degree from Hofstra University Maurice A. Deane School of Law in 1988.

ISSUES:

• O’Connor pledges to work to maintain Islip Town’s "strong" fiscal health by avoiding deficit spending and keeping expenses within the state-mandated tax cap.

• He will work with the chambers of commerce to support small businesses. To attract and keep larger employers, he says tax breaks are available from the town’s Industrial Development Agency.

• O’Connor supports the shellfishing revival efforts in the Great South Bay and proposes the expansion of Islip’s bay bottom licensing program, which leases publicly owned underwater land to shellfish farmers. He says the program also helps clean the water because shellfish naturally filter impurities.