Candidate Profile: Rudy Sunderman For Suffolk County Legislature

LONG ISLAND, NY — Suffolk County residents will be heading to the polls next month to elect local representatives and make their voices heard.

In addition to local town and village races, residents will weigh in on the race to represent one of the 18 legislative districts in Suffolk County.

This year, Election Day falls on Tuesday, November 5.

In advance of the election, Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaign — and the results will be published as candidate profiles in the days leading up to the vote.

Rudy Sunderman, 49, of Mastic, is running for re-election as Suffolk County Legislator for District 3; the 3rd Legislative district is located in the south-central portion of the Town of Brookhaven. The District serves the Incorporated Village of Bellport and the hamlets of Bellport, Brookhaven, Mastic Beach, Mastic, Moriches, Shirley, Smith Point, Yaphank. Also covered in the district are portions of Center Moriches, Medford, Middle Island and Ridge.

His opponents are Daryl Edelstein, a Democrat, and Libertarian Lynda Frego.

Incumbent Suffolk County Legislator Sunderman, a Republican endorsed by the Conservative and Independence parties, has three children, Jennifer, Megan, Rudy and Katie; Rudy works for the Town of Brookhaven Parks Department. Sunderman is a William Floyd High School graduate who has a New York State teaching degree in adult education. He is chief of the Mastic Fire Department and past commissioner of the Mastic Fire District.

Following is Patch's full Q&A with Sunderman.

Patch: The single most pressing issue facing our community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Sunderman: Quality of life / opioid epidemic. I work closely with all levels of government to enforce housing codes, address zombie homes, work closely with law enforcement to ensure the public safety of all residents.

P: What are the critical differences between you and the other candidate seeking this post?

S: I am a lifelong resident of the community and long-time first responder that understands the needs of the district as well as a proven track record as a leader in the fire service and as a current sitting legislator.

P: Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

S: People before politics, dedicated leader with proven results, already on the job and already doing the job.

P: What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

S: Preserving open space, improving quality of life, implementing the Mastic/Shirley sewer district, designating funding for a fish passage in Yaphank, allocating funds for construction of a new spillway on the Carmans River, implementing a Mastic/Shirley conservation zone to protect the low-lying areas of Mastic Beach against future storm surge. Also as a local Fire Chief I have firsthand knowledge of the needs of our community and our residents.

P: The best advice ever shared with me was ...

S: This job will always be about putting people before politics and doing what is best for my district despite political affiliations.

P: What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

S: I've been a 32-year volunteer firefighter in the community as well as I want to see my children that I raised in this community stay in this community. Two have already purchased homes in the community and I want to see that for all of the families in the area. By promoting affordable housing and improving quality of life I am working every day to make this goal become a reality.