Patchogue 2012 Kicks Off Campaign

The Patchogue 2012 party held its kick-off for the mayoral campaign at Thursday night.

“I’ve had a very positive response, people know who I am, people understand the accomplishments that we have had, and I feel good about where we are at,” incumbent Patchogue Village Mayor Paul Pontieri said.

Pontieri says that there has been many projects and construction since he first took office in 2004, resulting in a safer Main Street and making Patchogue a very different place.

The party is made up of Pontieri, incumbent trustees Lori Devlin and Jack Krieger, as well as trustee candidate Tom Ferb.

The party will faceoff against the Residents First party, made up of Elisabeth McGuire running for mayor, incumbent trustee Stephen McGiff, and trustee candidates Greg Powers and Lisa Ihne.

Pontieri said that he doesn’t think that this campaign is going to be an easy one, but says he is not opposed to the competition.

“That’s what elections are about. I said it was very strange not having to justify yourself to others [in the unopposed 2008 election]. There is nothing wrong with elections, there is nothing wrong with the debate, but the debate should be about issues, the problem is they have made the debate about people, they haven’t made it about about issues,” Pontieri said. “All they have said is they want to get rid of me, they haven’t told us what their platform is, what their plan is, what are they going to do. Now we may end up with a judge and a wife.”

McGuire is the wife of Patchogue Village Justice Christopher McGuire.

Pontieri said that it is through high density housing that new businesses will be attracted to come to Patchogue.

“My goal obviously is to continue the growth on Main Street, to move the development forward, and to get the 40,000 square feet of new retail, the new office space, 291 rental units, to have them so that we have the people on Main Street,” he said.

The New Village plan currently is held up by a filed by several business owners and residents, including McGuire.

High density housing appears to be the issue that splits the two campaigns the most.

“His plan to build 291 rental apartments of the Four Corners, if constructed, will lead to the long term demise of our Village,” Elisabeth McGuire said in her candidate announcement speech the day before. She also said that she would like forge a different but non-specific plan for the location.

The NU Village party has also announced its intention to be a part of the race, but has not yet announced candidates.

The election, which will take place on March 20, will have two types of votes. The mayoral campaign, which will take place between Pontieri, McGuire, and the NU Village candidate will be one election. All trustee candidates are in a separate election and the top-three vote getters will receive a seat.

Both parties that have announced their candidates are currently seeking the about 100 signatures needed in order to appear on the ballot.