Candidate Profile: Bill Ruland For Southold Town Board

SOUTHOLD, NY —Suffolk County residents will be hitting the polls next month to elect local representatives.

The race is on in local town and village races leading up to Election Day, which, this year, falls on Tuesday, November 5. Patch asked those running for office to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles in the days leading up to the election.

Incumbent Bill Ruland, 70, of Mattituck, is running for a seat on the Southold Town Board. Also in the race for town board seats are Jill Doherty (R) Bob Hanlon (D) and Sarah Nappa (D).

Ruland, a Republican, has been married for 48 years to his wife Linda; they have one son Peter Ruland — Peter and his wife Janine have one child, Rose, 10. Their daughter Anna Agro and her husband James have three children, Vincent, 21, Alyssa, 19, and Jenna, 17.

Ruland graduated from Mattituck High School in the Class of 1966. He has worked as a farmer for 53 years and as a truck driver for 53 years. Currently, Ruland is a Southold Town councilman and deputy supervisor of the Town of Southold, having served for 12 years. He served on the Mattituck-Cutchogue UFSD Board of Education for 24 years with 13 years as president and chief financial officer; he is the current treasurer of the Long Island Cauliflower Association Board of Directors; the former director and vice-president of Long Island Farm Bureau; and former chairman of the board of Ttustees at Calvary Baptist Church in Riverhead.

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

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

Ruland: The Town of Southold has several pressing issues. Protecting the environment is an extremely important issue that includes stormwater and wastewater management as well as preserving open space and farmland. Maintaining and upgrading our town facilities and programs is crucial to serving the ever-increasing needs of the people of the Town of Southold. This would include the enforcement of our zoning laws and codes. The solutions to these issues, and others, present a daunting task, while at the same time, increase the challenge of keeping a stable tax rate in our beloved town. Along with my colleagues, I will continue to work to find solutions to these and other issues facing our town.

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

R: My 36 years of experience in municipal government, including finance, labor relations and budget administration far exceeds the experience of my opponents. This wealth of knowledge and experiences qualify me to continue to serve the people of the Town of Southold effectively, as I have for the past 12 years.

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

R: In addition to the above mentioned issues, I have led the effort to establish a fleet management and fuel management program for all of our town's vehicles, as well as improving the purchasing of fleet goods and service. I was involved in the design and construction of our new highway maintenance building and our consolidated fuel depot. Along with my colleagues, I continue to work on bringing solar energy production to our landfill.

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

R: While on the Mattituck-Cutchogue UFSD Board of Education I led the effort to combine the Laurel Common School District and the Mattituck-Cutchogue UFSD. Along with this, I worked to secure approval to build an enlarged elementary school for the newly combined districts and oversaw that project to its completion. I pride myself on being able to listen to all people and their ideas and concerns, as we work together to accomplish the common goals for the benefit of our community.

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

R: "Listen and speak from your heart."

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

R: Having served on the town board of the Town of Southold for 12 years, I am still committed to my job as town councilman and given the opportunity to continue in that position, I desire to do what is best for all the people of the Town of Southold.