Jerome Halpin for Riverhead Town supervisor

During his first run for town supervisor, Jerome Halpin was criticized for being critical of Riverhead's four-year streak of piercing the state's property tax cap. Then-Riverhead Supervisor Tim Hubbard said Halpin should do himself "a favor and look at the budget online ... do your homework, be smart, educate yourself."

Halpin beat Hubbard last year by just 37 votes, and then took his opponent's advice. The result? Riverhead's proposed 2027 budget, the first under Halpin, stays under the tax cap.

Now, Halpin, 54, of Riverhead, an independent running on the Democratic Party line, is back on the ballot, seeking reelection a year later because of a change in state election law. His challenger is Riverhead Councilman Kenneth T. Rothwell, 55, of Wading River.

Rothwell told the editorial board that Riverhead had reached a tax "plateau" after the town's previous actions piercing the cap. Last week, he and his fellow Republican councilmembers countered Halpin's budget with amendments that would bring the budget further below the tax cap.

Rothwell has championed increasing staffing to improve town services after reductions caused by COVID-19, and as a volunteer firefighter, he knows the needs of the EMS community. He's also worked to get state money for downtown revitalization grants, a critical need for Riverhead's future.

That revitalization focuses on the Long Island Science Center property on East Main Street. A resolution authorizing the town to pursue eminent domain passed 3-2 in August, with Halpin voting against it and Rothwell for it. Rothwell said the town had already given the nonprofit another year to raise money to preserve the center, and in the interest of downtown revitalization, the town had to expedite the property's redevelopment. Halpin agreed on the property's importance for revitalization, saying he "didn't fault the board" for its decision.

Rothwell is right that the town needs to resolve issues with the Riverhead school district about its school resource officer program. He wants to continue the program but questions why taxpayers from other school districts in the town should continue to pay for Riverhead's security. Halpin said the town's "legal team obviously missed a few things there, and they fixed that ..." They agreed that the town and school district must continue to collaborate to keep the program.

Halpin and Rothwell agree on several of the larger issues pressing Riverhead — the need for clean water, getting Enterprise Park at Calverton out of court and into development, upgrading Long Island Rail Road access, and improving downtown parking.

In fact, during their endorsement meeting with the editorial board, Halpin and Rothwell agreed more often than not. They both take issue with the Suffolk County Water Authority for its handling of the North Fork Water Main Project. The town board voted unanimously earlier this month to require SCWA to comply with town zoning regulations for that project, further evidence the group can work as a unified front.

Under Halpin's stewardship, the building department implemented electronic permitting and the town offered an retirement incentive.

Rothwell should continue to push reforms and initiatives, as he has successfully done. But Halpin deserves the opportunity to finish what he started.

Newsday Opinion endorses Halpin.