Meet The Candidate: Jennifer DeSena 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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Incumbent Jennifer DeSena is running for the Town of North Hempstead Supervisor role on the Republican line against challenger Sean McCarthy, who is running on the Democratic 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

Jennifer S. DeSena

How old will you be as of Election Day?

57

Does your campaign have a website?

supervisorjendesena.com

What city or town do you live in?

Manhasset, Town of North Hempstead, NY.

What office are you seeking?

North Hempstead Town Supervisor.

Party affiliation.

Republican.

Education

I earned my undergraduate degree from Boston College and my law degree from St. John's University School of Law.

What is your occupation?

North Hempstead Town Supervisor.

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

I have been happily married to my husband Ralph, a Directing Attorney for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), for 29 years. We have two sons, Robert and Michael.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No, just me.

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

Yes. I have been elected Town Supervisor of North Hempstead three times, most recently in 2025. Although the position traditionally carried a two-year term, a change in New York State election law now requires me to seek reelection again in 2026

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?

When I first ran for Supervisor, I had no ambition to become a career politician. I had never held elected office. I was an attorney, a community advocate, a mom, and someone who had spent years working with families and civic groups to make our communities better.

But I was also a resident who could see that too much was being neglected. Infrastructure projects languished for years. Our roads needed attention, our parks needed investment, and residents deserved more from a government funded by some of the highest taxes in the country. I believed we could do better, and that local government should be about solving problems, not protecting the status quo.

Since taking office, we have demonstrated what happens when you challenge the old way of doing things. We have delivered record-breaking road repaving, invested in our parks, advanced long-neglected infrastructure projects – all while reducing the tax burden on our residents. There is still more to do, and that is why I am seeking another term.

I raised my family here. This is my home, and I want my children—and someday my grandchildren—to have the opportunity to build their lives here, too.

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

New York's affordability crisis, fueled by unchecked state spending, repeated tax increases, and one-party rule in Albany that has failed to hold government accountable to taxpayers.

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

Protecting Long Island's water quality requires a comprehensive, long-term commitment to safeguarding our sole-source aquifer, reducing pollution, and modernizing aging wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. Government must lead by investing in sewer expansion, reducing nitrogen pollution, and supporting proven technologies that protect our groundwater and waterways. As Town Supervisor, I advanced the Plandome sewer line project to help prevent wastewater from leaching into the groundwater, launched the Graywater Irrigation Project at Harbor Links to conserve freshwater, planted more than 1,200 trees, supported reef restoration, and expanded composting and waterway cleanup initiatives.

I am also proud to share that my administration has been awarded Bronze Status in the Nitrogen Smart Communities program. The program is administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Long Island Regional Planning Council. I'm a supporter of New York's Clean Water Infrastructure Act and I've worked to secure funding specifically for North Hempstead. Clean water is not a partisan issue; it is essential and we must protect it without placing an unfair financial burden on our residents.

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

I'll continue my commitment to transportation and infrastructure improvements because they are essential to Long Island's economic growth and quality of life. Our success is due in large part to coordinating efforts among local, county, state, and federal governments.

A perfect example is our Westbury Avenue Revitalization Project in Carle Place. It had been stalled for more than 20 years, but I was successfully able to coordinate efforts between the town and county, and even worked closely to include the local civic association.

My administration has demonstrated what can be accomplished when we prioritize infrastructure, pursue grant funding, and work with our other government partners to move long-stalled projects forward.

But we need to bring much greater state resources back to our communities to help fund these critical improvements, or else we place the burden on local taxpayers. That's been our greatest challenge because we must convince Albany to redirect funding to infrastructure. New York State cannot continue unchecked spending and tax increases while communities struggle to maintain aging infrastructure.

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

I would continue reducing the obstacles government puts in their way. My administration has worked to reform the Town's Buildings Department, making it easier for businesses to navigate the approval process and get up and running without unnecessary delays and red tape. We have also prioritized affordability, delivering five years of tax cuts and freezes that have reduced the Town's property tax burden by a total of 22%, helping residents and businesses keep more of their money. We've also invested in infrastructure, from record-breaking road repaving to major revitalization projects like Westbury Avenue. Our roads are the lifeblood of Long Island's business communities, connecting customers to local shops, supporting commerce, and making our downtowns more attractive and accessible.

While local government cannot control inflation or solve every labor shortage, we can control how we operate, keep taxes in check, make government more responsive, and invest in the infrastructure that helps local businesses grow.

How are federal issues impacting local government?

Federal decisions directly impact local government, from infrastructure funding and environmental regulations to inflation, energy costs, and how we deliver the Town's essential services.

Additionally, federal grants are critical to advancing major projects without shifting the financial burden onto local taxpayers. We've seen this firsthand with projects like the Town Dock renovation, where generous federal funding has played an important part in moving a long-stalled project forward. As Supervisor, I believe local government must be proactive in pursuing every available federal dollar and build those relationships. Since becoming Supervisor, I travel yearly to Washington, D.C. to advance those relationships and to advocate for funding.

Regardless of who is in federal office, my responsibility is to put North Hempstead residents first, protect their tax dollars, and make sure our community receives its fair share of the resources.

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

I believe public safety and the rule of law are both essential to strong communities. Federal immigration enforcement is the responsibility of the federal government, while local government must focus on delivering services and spending tax dollar responsibly. As Town Supervisor, my responsibility is to focus on what brings people together: safe neighborhoods, and a government that treats everyone with dignity and fairness. I believe cooperation among federal, state, and local authorities should be guided by the law, clear communication, and a shared commitment to everyone's public safety.

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

The biggest difference between my opponent and me is independence. My opponent is the choice of a Governor whose policies have contributed to New York's affordability crisis, and he is backed by the same political establishment that controlled this Town for 32 years. During that time, residents faced repeated tax increases while critical infrastructure projects were neglected and too many problems went unaddressed. It was a pattern of annually increased taxation and too little progress.

I answer to the residents of North Hempstead, not political bosses. That's allowed me to challenge the status quo, make tough decisions, and move long-stalled projects forward. Those are results that residents can see and experience every day.

This election is a choice between going back to the same political establishment that had decades to get things done and failed, or continuing an administration that has demonstrated an ability to challenge the old way of doing things and succeed.

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

We've made great progress addressing many of the Town's long-standing challenges and implementing reforms. But I also want to focus on North Hempstead's long-term future. That's why we've begun updating our Town's Comprehensive Master Plan for the first time in 37 years. This will give residents a meaningful voice in shaping responsible development, protecting neighborhood character, and planning for future infrastructure and housing.

We've also launched the revitalization of North Hempstead Beach Park, rebuilding this extraordinary waterfront asset and improving its facilities for generations to come. Those are my priorities: plan responsibly, invest strategically, and ensure North Hempstead remains an affordable, vibrant place to live.

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

I don't have to ask voters to take a chance on me. I've spent nearly five years doing this job, and we have a measurable record of accomplishment.

Most notable is that we've reduced the Town's property tax burden by 22% through tax cuts and freezes while maintaining all our services. We're one of the only Long island Towns to do that.

We've also increased our annual road repaving from just eight miles to more than 20 miles. We launched our "Parks Renaissance" initiative across 53 parks, and moved long-neglected infrastructure projects forward. We're modernizing Town facilities, protecting our environment, and making government more transparent and accountable.

We also overhauled the Buildings Department to make it more responsive, secured federal funding for innovative water conservation, and established a new management partnership at Harbor Links that delivers guaranteed revenue and millions in improvements without the Town taxpayers bearing the cost.
But we're not finished. We have major projects already underway this year, including the Westbury Avenue Revitalization Initiative, the Town Dock renovation, and a comprehensive update to our Master Plan. These are going to shape North Hempstead for generations.

I believe North Hempstead is moving in the right direction, and we've come too far to turn back now. I ran because I love this Town and knew we could accomplish more. And we've done just that. I'm asking voters to let me continue the work we've started and finish the projects we've fought to advance.

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

I want voters to know that I never lost sight of why I ran for office in the first place. I'm a mother, a neighbor, and a resident who believes that government should work for the people who pay for it.

Fiscal responsibility and progress are not contrary to each other. In fact, they go hand in hand. Residents should not have to choose between affordable taxes and good roads, between protecting our neighborhoods and planning for the future, or between preserving our environment and maintaining a strong local economy. With sound management and a willingness to challenge the status quo, we can do all of these things.

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

The best advice I received was to always do what you believe is right, even when it's not the easiest or most politically convenient thing to do.

Public service requires you to make a lot of difficult decisions and to sometimes challenge people who would prefer that things stay the way they've always been. You won't please everyone, and you can't make every decision based on what's politically popular. You have to consider the facts and remember to act on what delivers the greater good.

I've tried to live by that principle as Supervisor. But I came in as an outsider so I guess I've always had the mindset to challenge the status quo and do what's best for North Hempstead's residents, not what's best for political insiders.