Smithtown Chocolate Shop Owner Announces Plans To Run For Town Supervisor

Smithtown resident Kristen Slevin currently owns a local chocolate shop -- but she's hoping to have a completely different job soon.

The 40-year-old Hauppauge High School graduate, who owns Yottabyte Chocolate located on 9 Singer Lane along with her husband, recently announced her plan to run for Town of Smithtown supervisor this November.

"Our customers are always talking about how disappointed they are with the deteriorating main streets through Kings Park, Smithtown and St. James," she said. "When we started an election watch group, to get more involved in local government we were given a lot of misinformation about running for elected offices. After some digging, we realized this is a systemic problem in Smithtown. With the encouragement of our customers, we decided to go all in, and run for Supervisor."

Slevin and her husband opened the shop after leaving their corporate jobs to try running a small business together.

Before that, Slevin worked for 15 years in inventory, purchasing and customer service for contract textiles and hospital linens.

Now, she decided to run for the seat currently held by Patrick R. Vecchio who has served as Supervisor since 1977.

"I love our town and our community," she said. "Many of my childhood friends are still living here. I have invested all my savings in starting a business in our town, because I believe in Smithtown."

Slevin, who is running under the "None of the Above" party, says if elected, the first thing she plans on doing is to establish term limits. Vecchio announced he will be seeking re-election for his 14th term.

In addition, Slevin says she plans to create volunteer joint-task groups to address concerns like the local marinas and boat slips, revitalizing the downtown areas with music and art, and creating new streams of revenue for the town to lower taxes.

However, before she can get on the ballot, Slevin needs a total of 1,500 people to sign a petition.

"In 2013 only 25% of the Smithtown voters - voted. Here we are 4 years later with basically the same deteriorating towns," she said "If we want a different result we need to change our approach. We need every resident to get involved on the local level and be the change we need."

Slevin also adds that while people believe that Smithtown is "great the way it is," she believes the Town can do "so much better."

"I respect their opinion and their involvement in politics through the years," she said "I believe it's time for new people to get involved and bring our skills to the Town."