Edward R. Wehrheim, Supervisor, Town of Smithtown

EDWARD R. WEHRHEIM

Republican

BACKGROUND:

• Wehrheim, 73, of Kings Park, is running for his second term as supervisor.
• He served 12 years on the Town Board and worked in the town’s Parks, Building and Grounds Department from 1971 to 2003, leading the department from 1989 to 2003.
• He served two tours of duty in the Navy in Vietnam and worked briefly as a contractor before starting at the town. He graduated from Kings Park High School.

ISSUES

• Under Wehrheim’s leadership, the town has spent about $25 million on refurbishing municipal parks and beaches, with major rebuilds at Flynn Memorial Park and Smithtown Landing Country Club.
• He said he would pursue restoration of the downtown St. James business district along with sewering downtown Kings Park and Smithtown. That work — to be funded by $40 million in New York State aid — will spark development of businesses but also open the way for rental apartments.
• He touted his stewardship of town finances, pointing to a AAA municipal bond rating and what he said would be a minimal town property tax increase this year, with decreases in Highway and St. James Water District tax levies. Initiatives like early retirement for high-earning town employees and a lease program for town vehicles have helped trim town spending, he said.

By Nicholas Spangler

nicholas.spangler@newsday.comspanglernewsday

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