Patch Campaign Profile: Kelly Fogarty For Southold Town Tax Receiver

SOUTHOLD, NY — Southold Town residents will be hitting the polls soon to elect local representatives.

The race is on leading up to Election Day, which, this year, falls on Tuesday, November 7. 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 Kelly Fogarty, a Republican, is running unopposed to retain her position of Southold Town Receiver of Taxes.

Here is Patch's candidate profile of Kelly Fogarty:

Name

Kelly J. Fogarty

How old will you be as of Election Day?

59

What city or town do you live in?

Mattituck

What office are you seeking?

Receiver of Taxes

Party affiliation

Republican

Education

BBA - University of Georgia

What is your occupation?

Certified public accountant, 33 years

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

I have been married to my husband, Jim, for nearly 30 years. We have raised our 3 children, Dan, Mally, and Sarah in Mattituck. All have attended local schools and are now successful, independent adults. Dan attended the University of Massachusetts and works in the construction industry. He recently married his beautiful bride, Katie. Mally attended Villanova University and works with EY as a financial consultant. Sarah attended Providence College and works with CVS as a financial analyst.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

Receiver of taxes, 2019 to 2023.

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

As a proud resident of Southold Town, I believe it is my duty and privilege to serve my community using my strengths as a financial professional.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Fiscal responsibility. I will diligently collect property taxes and timely pay them over to our municipal agencies.

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

We need to elect leaders who will make our water quality issues a priority.

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

We need to elect leaders who will prioritize needed improvements on our infratructure.

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

We need to elect leaders who can make these important issues foremost.

What is your stance on the current migrant situation affecting New York? And migrants were to be directed to shelters on Long Island, how would you prepare/plan for that?

New York needs to change its stance on being a sanctuary state. We do not have the housing or infrastructure to support our legal residents.

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

I have been a small business owner for 23 years. I will use my skills as a practicing CPA to continue to bring professionalism and integrity to the office.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

"Live life fully while you're here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself, your family and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, be weird. Go out and screw up! You're going to, anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process."