Meet The Candidate: Sean McCarthy For Town Of North Hempstead Supervisor

LONG ISLAND, NY — Long Island residents will be heading to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Ahead of Election Day, 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.

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Sean McCarthy, a former NCPD officer, is running for the role of Town of North Hempstead Supervisor on the Democratic line against challenger and incumbent Jennifer DeSena, who is running on the Republican line.

The Town of North Hempstead incorporates many towns, including East Hills, East Williston, Floral Park, Great Neck, Great Neck Plaza, Lake Success, Manorhaven, Mineola, New Hyde Park, Old Westbury, Port Washington North, Roslyn, Sands Point, Westbury, Williston Park, and more.

Name

Sean Micheal McCarthy

How old will you be as of Election Day?

64

Does your campaign have a website?

https://mccarthyforsupervisor.org/

What city or town do you live in?

Port Washington, NY

What office are you seeking?

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor

If you are running in a district, you can specify the district here.

N/A

Party affiliation.

Democratic

Education

Nassau county police academy class of 1985

What is your occupation?

Retired from Nassau County Police Department. Currently Police Commissioner for the Port Washington Police District (elected, paid $18,000 per year).

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

I've been married to my wife, Lisa, for 28 years. Together we have 3 children: two daughters, Caroline and Tara, and our son, John.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

Port Washington Police District, Police Commissioner, Elected.

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running for election and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

I am running to bring accountable leadership and responsive government back to Town Hall—ensuring every resident is heard, respected, and served.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing constituents is:

Affordability.

What needs to be done to address water quality issues on LI?

Our water quality issues are a result of our aging infrastructure. We need to fix our aging septic systems and reduce our overuse that are leading to salt water intrusion.

What do you think can be done to help improve our infrastructure, highways, etc.?

Our town should leverage state and federal partnerships and grant money to make capital improvements. Our infrastructure needs to be hardened for resilience to take into account rising sea levels and harsher climates. We also need to improve drainage on our streets and low-lying areas to prevent flooding.

How would you plan to help local business owners, who are struggling because of high rents, inflation and labor shortages?

One of the most pressing issues I've heard from voters on the campaign trail is the slow pace of permitting approval for small businesses. We must streamline the permitting process to assist business owners who would be better off spending their energy in town on building their business by removing unnecessary hurdles in the permitting process. An expansion of housing stock would help to combat labor shortages and increase labor stock.

How are federal issues impacting local government?

Over-regulation and unfunded mandates place a burden on all residents of the town.

What is your stance on how ICE enforcement has impacted local communities?

ICE's tactics have created a climate of fear in our immigrant communities and that has stifled their ability to participate and boost our local economy.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidate seeking this post?

What separates me most from my opponent is that I take and answer questions from residents even when it's inconvenient. I'm willing to engage in civic debate whereas my opponent chooses to ignore the concerns of the public when it would harm her politically.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Once elected, I intend to create a comprehensive master plan, expand project independence so our seniors can age gracefully in place, and bring common sense and bipartisanship back to town hall.

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

Being the commanding officer of the third and sixth precinct where I managed support services prepared me with the necessary skills to manage the complexities of local governance.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have spent my entire personal and public life in the town of north Hempstead and I have always appreciated its natural beauty and recreational opportunities, and I intend to leave it a better place after serving as supervisor.

What is the best advice anyone has ever given you and why?

Start. Never wait to do something. Just start.