Patchogue hopefuls vie in political debate

Patchogue's only political debate of the season touched on familiar themes: development, quality of life and accountability.

Incumbent Mayor Paul Pontieri and the two trustees running for re-election on his Patchogue 2012 line pointed to the village's downtown revitalization as evidence of their administration's success, while challengers questioned their fiscal responsibility and support of the New Village apartment development.

On Thursday at St. Joseph's College in Patchogue, candidates answered 10 questions from moderator Greg Sleter of debate sponsor Patch.com. Audience members were asked to submit questions ahead of the debate.

Regarding the 291-apartment New Village, at North Ocean Avenue and Main Street, Residents First mayoral candidate Elisabeth McGuire said, "We're faced with a plan that the community does not embrace." Independent candidate Richard Evans said the site needs to be a "cornerstone of our business district," not a residential development.

The $100 million New Village plan is being challenged in court by McGuire and owners of local businesses including BrickHouse Brewery, The Colony Shop and Remember Yesteryears.

"This corner has been vacant for 12 years," Pontieri responded. He defended the developers, Tritec Real Estate of East Setauket, who, he said, "have already put $22 million in our village."

The candidates also debated how to trim the village budget, which was $11.9 million last year. Evans said cuts should be made "across the board," while Pontieri said savings couldn't be realized solely through cuts. McGuire vowed to look at how "bloated" the government has gotten.

The division over the New Village development came up again during the trustee debate.

Incumbent Deputy Mayor Jack Krieger, on the Patchogue 2012 line, said the development would bring much-needed traffic to downtown stores. Incumbent trustee Stephen McGiff, on the Residents First line, said the village fell prey to developers. "We lost our political will as a community, and for that this village will suffer," he said.

Incumbent trustee Lori Devlin, on the Patchogue 2012 line, called the new development "good assets" to the community. Patchogue 2012 candidate Tom Ferb said the plan had been endorsed by two local newspapers, while Residents First candidates Lisa Inhe and Greg Powers were concerned about overcrowding.