Candidate Profile: Rich Schaffer For Babylon Town Supervisor

BABYLON, NY — Suffolk County residents will be lining up at the polls for Election Day on Nov. 2, where they will be voting for their chosen candidates.

Democrat Rich Schaffer is running to keep his position as the Babylon Town Supervisor. He served his first term as town supervisor from 1992 to 2001, and was sworn in again in 2012. He is being challenged by Republican Dan Martin.

Here are the responses for those who participated. The answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

<b>Age (as of Election Day)</b>

57

<b>Position Sought</b>

Babylon Town Supervisor

<b>Party Affiliation</b>

Democrat

<b>Family</b>

Single

<b>Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?</b>

My cousin, Victoria Russell just recently retired as environmental control commissioner.

<b>Education</b>

North Babylon High School Regents Diploma, Class of 1981, SUNY Albany, Political Science, 1985, Brooklyn Law School, 1990 J.D.

<b>Occupation</b>

Town supervisor, 1992 to 2001 and 2012 to present.

<b>Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office</b>

Suffolk County Legislator, 1988 to 1992, Babylon Town Supervisor, 1992 to 2001 and 2012 to present

<b>Campaign website</b>

www.babylondemocrats.com

<b>Why are you seeking elective office?</b>

I have dedicated my life to local public service as I believe it is the best way for me to have an impact on our local quality of life.

<b>The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.</b>

I believe the most important issue impacting our town is the post-COVID economic recovery and keeping local government affordable while providing important services to our residents. Our team at Town Hall has successfully provided conservative budgeting practices, which have earned us the town's highest bond rating of AAA, and saves us on borrowing costs. We have also been able to keep our town budget under the state's tax cap for the last four years.

<b>What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?</b>

Experience and a caring attitude where I provide personal service to all of our residents, making myself available to discuss individual concerns as well as neighborhood concerns.

<b>How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?</b>

I believe we performed well. We were able to continue town services, especially our great parks and recreation programs. We also provided support for small businesses when everyone started reopening as well as an innovative grant program that has put $7 million out onto the streets for our small businesses and nonprofit organizations.

<b>Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.</b>

Tony Martinez, deputy supervisor/councilman wrote a new law creating a rental permit review board that has shown great success in cleaning up slumlord properties that bring down our communities. We also strengthened our public nuisance law which allows us to close down homes that are sites for criminal activity.

<b>What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?</b>

My work during Superstorm Sandy as well as many major storms. My work during the COVID pandemic and the post-COVID recovery work. Our town board's fiscal conservative budgeting, which has earned us a AAA bond rating from the financial experts.

<b>The best advice ever shared with me was:</b>

Ego is the enemy. Keep your ego in check and everything else will take care of itself.