Patch Community Profile: Anne H. Smith 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.

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

Here is Patch's candidate profile of Anne H. Smith:

Name

Anne H. Smith

How old will you be as of Election Day?

67

Does your campaign have a website?

https://www.southolddems.org/s...

What city or town do you live in?

Mattituck

What office are you seeking?

Southold Town Council

Party affiliation

Democratic Party

Education

Education: Doctorate in Educational Leadership from St. John’s University Ed.D. Educational Leadership and Accountability, Certification in School District Administration NYU, Certificate of Advanced Study.

What is your occupation?

Professional experience: 2014 to 2018 Superintendent of Schools Mattituck Cutchogue School District, 2007-2014, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Mattituck Cutchogue School District , 1996-2014, Elementary School Principal Mattituck Cutchogue School District, Elementary School Principal, 1990-1996 William Floyd School District. 1988-1990 Elementary Assistant Principal Rocky Point School District, 2010- 2014 Associate Professor at LIU and St. John’s University

Awards
Certified Fellow Communities for Learning, Lifetime Membership Awarded for Service from Suffolk County Association of School Superintendents 2017, Southold Town Anti-Bias Task Force Citizen of the Year 2001, LEADS: Leaders in Education Award, 2010 St. John’s University Graduate School of Education for outstanding achievement in the field of education and doctoral work.

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

I value the love of family, friends and community. My husband Ron and I raised our children Caleb, Rebekah and Jacob in Southold Town where community and connection matter.

We came to Mattituck in 1985 where we raised our family. I retired as superintendent of schools for Mattituck-Cutchogue School District in 2018. My long career as a leader includes Assistant Superintendent and Elementary School Principal. Service and community matter to me. Post-retirement, I was chair of the North Fork Coalition for Behavioral Health advocating for local mental health services for families. I was president of the Mattituck-Laurel Civic Association and a member of the Southold Town Police Review Task Force. I was a member of the North Fork Civics work group focused on affordable housing, house size code, code enforcement, and study of the Southold Town Comprehensive Plan. As a current and active member of the Southold Town Housing Advisory Commission I support the Community Housing Plan to create a diverse housing market.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

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

No.

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?

Southold is at a critical crossroad and needs to move forward on multiple issues at the same time. The zoning update project, the design and development of the Southold Town police station and court, the creation of a new recreational facility, creating a secure infrastructure, just to name a few, will require strong partnerships to achieve the goals of the comprehensive plan. I know how to lead on multiple fronts at the same time and will ensure there is thoughtful goal-driven planning, clear communication, and accountability.

I will foster community engagement to address the pressures of development and climate change. I will build upon the work of the water committee, the land preservation committee, and the agriculture committee as part of an integrated approach to protect and nourish our history of agriculture and commitment to the environment, while strengthening and expanding partnerships with environmental and conservation groups dedicated to the same.

I will support, sustain, and advocate for local businesses by working alongside local business associations, chamber groups, and the Southold Economic Development Committee.

My leadership and expertise will serve to support and engage youth and families as well the health and wellness of all members of our community. I will make supporting youth and families a priority building upon the success of our current youth and recreation programs and community partnerships.

I am committed to supporting local law enforcement and their commitment to our safety. I will ensure that Southold Town police and related services have the resources, training, and working conditions that they need to protect our community.

I recognize the housing crisis and will work closely with the planning department and the Housing Advisory Commission to usher in the Community Housing Plan by ensuring that the plan communicates clear goals and ways to measure improvements.

I will make sure Southold Town citizen populated committee, commission, and task force efforts lead directly to the decision-making boards they advise. The experts who volunteer their time are an asset and their work is critical for our success. I will bring consistent communication between the Southold town board and each of the groups advising the town.

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

As we seek a 'productive and viable future', (comprehensive plan)… we must tackle the pressure of development while honoring the need for a viable and thriving economy. We are a diverse group of hamlets and as the wealth gap widens, as we become a naturally occurring retirement community and as our school enrollments are diminishing, the expansive resources we are trying to protect are at risk of the impact of climate change, water quality alarms are sounding and the simple vulnerability of being an island stand before us. We must tackle multiple issues at the same time.

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

Protecting the aquifer and working with environmental groups, local, county, state and federal agencies, we need to use data driven decision making to solve this complex issue. Every household and business can join the effort to do what we can every day to reduce nitrogen and pathogens in our local waters; however, the issue is larger than that and needs a broad sustainable approach.

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

Interdepartemental work as this includes traffic calming, environmental needs, technology and information storage, open communication, and access across departments for understanding trends and patterns in all departments is needed. Our highway department and engineers work tirelessly on infrastructure including drainage, beach access and health, safe walkable hamlet goals, and the list goes on. Infrastructure is addressed in the comprehensive plan and throughout plans and initiatives in our town. The goals needs to be reviewed and assessed with regular updates and planning efforts which are already in place.

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

We need to work closely with local business owners and business leaders to improve infrastructure in terms of internet and technology, zoning updates and code updates that responsive to issues around parking, traffic and land use. Labor shortages will continue until we can help solve the housing issues and reduce the percentage of residents who are living cost burdened. We need to develop more internship opportunities for young adults and study the future workforce needs and training needs. Listening to business leaders and working with them is key.

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 State and the federal government need to address this issue with local municipalities. If we as a town needed to prepare for any dramatic shifts in the number of people living here it would require extensive planning.

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

It is important to for voters to understand not just what I will do if elected but also how I will lead and support. I will work to represent all residents of our town and dig into the comprehensive plan, goals and objectives alongside stakeholders and the department leaders and the other members of the town council and related boards.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

I am working toward a vision for Southold Town and how I will help as a team player on the the town council, rather than running against someone. There are residents in our town working for our community — religious leaders, school leaders, fire and rescue volunteers, law enforcement environmentalists, business leaders — working to create the fabric of who we are: Southold Town. We are a town of 'diverse hamlets surrounded by pastoral landscapes and expansive natural resources. Our residents cherish Southold’s small-town quality of life and wish to preserve what we currently value while planning for productive and viable future.' (comp plan)

As the former superintendent of schools of the Mattituck-Cutchogue School district, planning with data driven decision making and community engagement, clear communication defined my responsibilities and will serve me well as a town councilwoman.

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

As we seek a 'productive and viable future,' (comprehensive plan) we must tackle the pressure of development while honoring the need for a viable and thriving economy. We are a diverse group of hamlets and as the wealth gap widens, as we become a naturally occurring retirement community and as our school enrollments are diminishing, the expansive resources we are trying to protect are at risk of the impact of climate change, water quality alarms are sounding and the simple vulnerability of being an island stand before us. We must tackle multiple issues at the same time.

The joy of running for town council has allowed me to connect with many people across our town and has energized my hope for our future. A strong, engaged community makes a strong, engaged local government and I would be proud to serve as a member of our town board. I appreciate the opportunity to run with this slate of incredible and dedicated community leaders.

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

Whether building a budget, negotiating, or leading the North Fork Coalition for Behavioral Health supporting youth and families, I knew collaboration was key. Supporting youth and families will be a priority for me.

I was honored to receive the Helen Wright Prince Award (2017) from the Anti-Bias Task Force for supporting inclusion and diversity in our schools. This honor reflected the work of parents, students, educators and a school board. The award reflects our town values: inclusive, welcoming bias-free community.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

My dad and other mentors in my career always taught me to be true to myself. My husband Ron reminds me everyday of the importance of family, community and having a sense of humor. Our children, Jacob, Rebekah and Caleb are our best teachers. Their love and kindness inspire me always. The deep well of courage in this community we call Southold Town should be an example to other towns and the choice to make this our home is something I will always be grateful for.

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

Community matters above all else. We can sustain a quality of life where memories are created. Connected community creates energy for solutions. Engaged government creates a connected community. When community exists, we can care for each other, our environment and the future.