Candidate Profile: Lynda Frego For Suffolk County Legislature

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Suffolk County residents will be heading to the polls soon to elect local representatives and make their voices heard.

In addition to local town and village races, residents will weigh in on the race to represent one of the 18 legislative districts in Suffolk County. This year, Election Day falls on Tuesday, November 5.

In advance of the election, Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaign — and the results will be published as candidate profiles in the days leading up to the vote.

Lynda Frego, 52, of Mastic Beach is running on the Libertarian line for election as Suffolk County Legislator for District 3; the 3rd Legislative district is located in the south-central portion of the Town of Brookhaven. The District serves the Incorporated Village of Bellport and the hamlets of Bellport, Brookhaven, Mastic Beach, Mastic, Moriches, Shirley, Smith Point, Yaphank. Also covered in the district are portions of Center Moriches, Medford, Middle Island and Ridge.

Her opponents are incumbent Rudy Sunderman, a Republican and Daryl Edelstein, a Democrat.

Frego has two children, her son Trevor and daughter Disney. Her sister works for the Town of Islip. She graduated from Connetquot High School in Bohemia and college at Suffolk County Community College and Dowling College. She has a digital technology degree from Dover Technical School , and had military training and education at Fort Jackson, SC, Fort Gordon, GA and Fort Eustis, VA. Frego has been the manager of operations for a real estate investment broker for one and a half years.

Following is Patch's full Q&A with Lynda Frego.

Patch: The single most pressing issue facing our community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Lynda Frego: Quality of life. I intend to work with other officials to protect our citizens from force and fraud by listening to their concerns and taking the necessary time to devise and implement logical, effective and efficient solutions.

P: What are the critical differences between you and the other candidate seeking this post?

F: One of my opponents is a mystery, as he is not actively campaigning. My other opponent was smart enough to check with his lawyers when he sought a loophole in the law designed to protect the public from unscrupulous government officials, but may not have predicted the outcome of indictment on felony perjury and misdemeanor charges. As an Army veteran, I was trained to be a leader. I strive to live the Army values of Leadership, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage.

P: If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community?

F: The current county legislator has failed the community by purposely seeking to skirt the law designed to protect the public, bringing his ethics into question.

P: Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

F: Deadly red light camera program, overzealous town code violations.

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

F: The purpose of government is to protect the individual from force and fraud. I served the people of the United States for nine years in the Army. I was trained to be an expert and a professional in the field. Having been selected as a member of Joint Task Force Empire Shield, I worked alongside police to protect them and the public against terrorism.

P: The best advice ever shared with me was ...

F: My Grandma would say, "T-H-I-N-K before you do things!"

P: What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

F: I am a native Long Islander, descended from the founding families of this island— patriots and Revolutionary War soldiers. I joined the Army National Guard after 9/11 and served in communications. I was chosen by the Army to be an Honor Guard, performing the flag folding ceremony at military funerals. I'm a good listener, a child of a Navy veteran and an entrepreneur, and a grandmother of two boys. I love my family and my community, and I seek to protect our freedom for today and tomorrow.