Patch Candidate Profile: Stephen Kiely For Southold Town Council

SOUTHOLD, NY — Southold residents will be heading to 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.

Stephen Kiely, on the Republican ticket, is running for one of two open seats on the Southold Town Council. Also running is Republican candidate and incumbent Jill Doherty and Democratic candidates Anne H. Smith and Gwnn Schroeder.

Here is Patch's candidate profile of Stephen Kiely:

Name

Stephen F. Kiely

How old will you be as of Election Day?

48

What city or town do you live in?

Mattituck

What office are you seeking?

Southold Town Board

Party affiliation

Republican

Education

J.D.

What is your occupation?

Current Shelter Island Town Attorney; 20 years of zoning and municipal law experience

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

Married with four children

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

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

Yes. Former Assistant Town Attorney for Southold, Southampton, Brookhaven; former prosecutor for Village of Greenport and Westhampton Dunes; and former Senior Deputy County Clerk in charge of court actions.

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?

To keep Southold rural.

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

Overdevelopment. Amend the zoning code to eliminate high density housing opportunities, battery storage facilities, big business and promote and protect agriculture and aquaculture. Ensure that home rule is protected.

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

Increase the utilization of IA septic systems and systems that treat emerging contaminants.

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

Create a Capital Projects Committee to prioritize infrastructure needs and explore funding through grants and bonds

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

Cut bureaucratic red tape, foster agriculture which is our economic engine, and increase low density community housing opportunities.

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?

While I sympathize with the plight of the migrants, I would support an executive order prohibiting the placement of migrants within the Town of Southold as we do not have the infrastructure, nor the resources, to help our own neighbors in need, which should be our priority.

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

Qualifications. My experience writing and enforcing local laws (including the transient rental prohibition and historic preservation law), and representing every department and board within the Town of Southold, makes me uniquely qualified to hit the ground running and Keep it Rural.

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

Reestablishing and increasing code enforcement, preserving more farmland and finally bringing an indoor sports facility to Southold

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

I have written and enforced local laws for Southold Town, including the transient rental prohibition and historic preservation district laws, provided legal counsel to the town board, planning board, zoning board and trustees, as well as to departments such as building, planning, and code enforcement.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Do right and fear no man.

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

If you want a town board member who is equipped and ready to fight to Keep our Town Rural, and protect it from an overreaching governor, please vote for me.