Candidate Spotlight: Jack Krieger [VIDEO]

With the Patchogue Village Mayoral Election coming up on March 20, Patchogue Patch has sat down with all of the candidates for Q&A and for a quick video pitch on why you should vote for them. Check back to Patchogue Patch this week for spotlights on the trustee candidates from Patchogue 2012 and Residents First.

Jack Krieger

Candidate: Trustee (Incumbent)

Party: Patchogue 2012

Patch: Why have you decided to seek office and what makes you qualified to serve as a trustee/mayor?

Krieger: My decision to seek a third term is based on a simple desire to help make Patchogue Village a better place for all residents. We have made great strides in the past eight years, but there is more that must be done. I look forward to working with the Mayor and my colleagues on the Village Board to ensure that New Village is the best it can be and that we focus on improving the quality of life in every neighborhood. I have always been responsive to the needs of our residents and I believe that my eight years on the board dealing with a wide range of important issues, as well as my professional experience in government, marketing and public relations qualify me to tackle the job at hand. I am a lifelong resident and my commitment to our Village is stronger than ever.

Patch: What are your thoughts on Patchogue's growth over the past five years?

Krieger: Patchogue has experienced significant growth over the past five years, but I think it has reached a point where things have become stalled because of the blight on the Four Corners. Further economic growth depends on the start of New Village. If the delays persist, there will be none at all. Our local economy will remain stagnant and property values in neighborhoods across the village will suffer.

Patch: What are the two biggest issues Patchogue still faces?

Krieger: The continued revitalization of our downtown business district and quality of life issues in neighborhoods throughout the Village. Redevelopment of the Four Corners will have a significant impact on our community and bring a new wave of residents, retail and businesses that will contribute to our success both financially and socially. We must take advantage of this opportunity and be prepared to adapt and respond to the changes that it will bring. As for the quality of life issues, every neighborhood has its own personality and its own issues and each one must be addressed individually. We will establish the “Neighborhood Focus” initiative, and back it up with strict enforcement of our village codes and swift prosecution of the most blatant violators. This new initiative will help us respond to resident concerns and complaints in a more thorough and expedient manner.

Patch: Are you for or against project and why?

Krieger: I am in full support of New Village, the most talked about initiative in our 119 year history, and the largest piece of the revitalization puzzle. Our local economy has been stalled due to the 12 years of blight on the Four Corners which has resulted in empty storefronts and lower property values. Those who are trying to stop the progress and perpetuate blight should look at the wider picture to see that without New Village our downtown will experience a financial decline that will negate the efforts of the last eight years. This decline will drive away investment, cause businesses to fail and sink our local economy down to the point of no recovery for many years to come.

Patch: What kind of time commitment would you be able to put toward the mayor/trustee position?

Krieger: I intend to continue to put in the hours necessary to carry out my duties as Village Trustee. Over the last eight years, I have been closely involved in every major issue that has come to the board and will be even more involved once New Village finally gets started. I will spend as much time as needed to develop practical solutions to parking issues throughout the village and work with the board and staff at the to help maintain, grow and promote its stature as the “Best of Long Island.”

Patch: In what ways would you reach out to Patchogue's large Hispanic community?

Krieger: The first step is reaching out to their leadership, which we have already done. Mayor Pontieri's swift and decisive actions in the aftermath of the Marcelo Lucero murder helped to heal our community and lay the foundation for better relations with our Hispanic neighbors. Through his continued efforts, communication has improved and is getting better day by day. We will also work to reinforce the fact to these new immigrants have a stake in the future of the Village just like those who came before, and we must help them to assimilate into the fabric of the community where they live, work, shop, go to school, raise their families and enjoy all the great things that Patchogue has to offer.

Patch: What's your goal for the makeup of Patchogue's Main Street at the end of the next four years?

Krieger: We can all agree that there needs to be more retail and other businesses to compliment our successful restaurants. I anticipate that once New Village begins construction, a wide variety of much needed retail will follow, including national and regional brand stores, small shops, specialty boutiques, a grocery market, stationary/newsstand and more. I also look forward to seeing more professional, medical, technical and service businesses occupying the office space currently available in the village.

Patch: There are many vacancies on Main Street; how would you propose enticing new businesses to open up in Patchogue?

Krieger: New Village will be the single most effective way to entice new business into the Village. It's presence in the heart of our downtown will mean that hundreds of people will be within easy walking distance to every storefront in the village. When you put feet on the street, new businesses will be there too. I will also work hand in hand with the Mayor, Chamber of Commerce and the BID to aggressively market Patchogue Village to prospective retail companies and new businesses. This initiative will include participation in high visibility conferences and conventions, as well as “Patchogue Means Business” events that will introduce a wide range of companies to the benefits of doing business in Patchogue. .

Patch: What are three of your hobbies?

Krieger: Having two young children at home and serving on the Village Board barely leaves me time for one hobby, let alone three. I do try to squeeze in time to play guitar and record a little in my home studio. Usually it's later in the evening once the kids are in bed.

Patch: How would your best friends/family describe you?

Krieger: A lifelong Patchogue resident who is loyal, hardworking, dedicated to my family and friends and optimistic about the future of the village.

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