Political Newcomer Abigail Field, A Democrat, Is 1 Of 2 Challenging Republican Suffolk Clerk Vincent Puleo

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Political newcomer Abigail Field, a Democrat, is one of two challengers looking to unseat Suffolk County Clerk Vincent Puleo in his bid for re-election on Nov. 3.

Patch has reached out to Puleo's campaign team.

This is what Field had to say in her Patch election questionnaire:

Name: Abigail Field

How old will you be as of Election Day?: 56

Does your campaign have a website?: www.WriteInAbigailField.com

What city or town do you live in?: Cutchogue

What office are you seeking?: Suffolk County Clerk

Party affiliation: Democrat

Education: B.S. Geology UConn; J.D. NYU Law School

What is your occupation?: Attorney

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them: I've been married to David Field for 20 years, and we have two children, a sophomore at Hunter College and a high school junior.

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 for election and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?: I'm running for Suffolk County Clerk for two reasons. First, voters deserve a clerk who is committed to serving the public instead of himself and his party boss. Second, voters are supposed to choose their clerk, not ratify re-election by default.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing constituents is: The single most pressing issue facing constituents of the county clerk's office is the deed backlog, which facilitates deed theft.

What needs to be done to address water quality issues on LI?: This is not a county clerk topic.

What do you think can be done to help improve our infrastructure, highways, etc.?: This is not a county clerk topic.

How would you plan to help local business owners, who are struggling because of high rents, inflation, and labor shortages? Revamping the clerk's website to make it easier for people to access the business-related forms and services the clerk's office offers, including by offering forms in Spanish, as well.

How are federal issues impacting local government?: The federal government's funding cuts are affecting all levels of government.

What is your stance on how ICE enforcement has impacted local communities?: I oppose ICE's unconstitutional, barbaric actions.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidate seeking this post?: I'm competent and committed to serving the public to the best of my ability, each and every day.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?: In year one, I'll clear the deed backlog, revamp the website, and start offering pop-up clerk's offices to bring its services closer to residents.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?: My work as an attorney, which has included real estate and litigation, which ties to the land records and court support roles of the office. My work for the Voting Rights Lab, which included being part of a small team that designed and built a database offering a huge array of records in a thoroughly organized and easy-to-use way for the public, which is relevant to revamping the clerk's website. My work leading teams and organizing people, which built my management skills.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?: While I'm a Democrat, the clerk's office is an operations job. What voters should want is competence, and I can deliver that in ways [Vincent] Puleo isn't. Under his watch, deeds take months to record. Also, because the ballot was rigged to re-elect Puleo by default, I'm a write-in candidate. My name is easy to spell, the write-in process easy. If enough people write me in, we won't be stuck paying the incompetent team of Puleo and [Michael] Torres a combined $1.2 million in salary over the four-year term.

What is the best advice anyone has ever given you and why?: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. That advice covers just about everything.