Candidate Profile: Angie Carpenter For Islip Town Supervisor

LONG ISLAND, NY - Suffolk County residents will be hitting the polls next month to elect several local representatives.

In addition to local town and village races, residents should look into who will be running to represent one of the 18 legislative districts in Suffolk County. This year, Election Day falls on Tuesday, November 5.

In anticipation of the big day, Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Angie Carpenter, 75, of West Islip is running for re-election as Islip Town Supervisor. The incumbent received her A.A.S. from Suffolk County Community College and has been Islip Town Supervisor since 2015. Before that Carpenter (R) was Suffolk County Treasurer from 2006 to 2015, a Suffolk County Legislator between 1993 and 2005 and a former small business owner.

She has been married for 55 years and has two sons and two grandchildren.

Her opponent is challenger Tom Murray (D).

Check out Patch's full Q&A with Carpenter below:

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

Carpenter: Taxes, even though the Town portion of the tax bill is only 5%, I am very aware of the need to control the cost of government and to build the tax base to relieve the burden on residential taxpayers.

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

C: Experience,with a steady hand is the most important difference. I ran my own business before I was elected to the County Legislature. I spent nearly 10 years as County Treasurer before being Islip Town Supervisor. Town Supervisor is not a position for on-the-job training.

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

C: I am focused on doing more with less to protect Town taxpayers. I seek partnerships with other governments and with private industry to benefit Islip residents. For example, I proposed and delivered a private not for profit foundation to benefit Town Parks. Many civic minded people responded and the first improvement will be started soon at no expense to taxpayers.

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

C: Probably the most visible is the clean up and restoration of Roberto Clemente Park. A dark mark on our Town has been turned around completely. Also the rejuvenation of the airport to better serve our residents is another visible accomplishment. Getting the bond rating upgraded to the highest possible Aaa, having it reaffirmed four times, puts the Toen on a path of sound fiscal management.

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

C: "Follow your heart and do what your gut tells you is right."

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

C: I have boundless energy and enthusiasm for my job. I am always working for Town residents - not just during the work day but evenings and weekends. I read everything and I want to hear from our residents. I urge people to give me their concerns and let me help them any way that I can. We can't always find a solution, but you can always trust that I will be honest with you.