Election 2026: Riverhead voters guide

Riverhead Supervisor Jerry Halpin, an independent running on the Democratic line, is seeking a full, two-year term focused on controlling spending, advancing downtown redevelopment and finding stable partners for EPCAL.

Mr. Halpin proposed a 2027 budget within the state tax cap. His administration projects that a retirement incentive will save the general fund about $819,000 next year.

He favors technology upgrades, reviewing sewer district electricity costs and town-owned real estate, and potentially reviving the town’s audit committee.

At EPCAL, he wants carefully vetted development partners. His ideas include expanding freight rail for local products, attracting a technology incubator and retaining recreational opportunities.

On housing, Mr. Halpin favors homeownership opportunities over rental apartments at Railroad Plaza. He also supports the Riverhead First Baptist Church’s affordable housing project on Northville Turnpike.

Downtown, he wants revitalization to extend beyond the core business district into Polish Town and surrounding areas. He plans to add a public relations employee to promote town activities and local businesses.

Mr. Halpin emphasizes listening tours and collaboration with town staff. He does not currently plan to bring OLA of Eastern Long Island’s proposed public-safety policy to a work session, saying existing laws provide protections.

Republican Councilman Ken Rothwell is running for Riverhead supervisor on a business-oriented approach to controlling taxes, improving services and developing downtown and EPCAL.

The Wading River volunteer firefighter supports construction of the Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps’ new headquarters and the fundraising and medical billing intended to help finance it.

Mr. Rothwell wants to digitize building and planning records, simplify permitting and expand online access to town information. He argues that technology investments can improve efficiency and generate revenue.

The Town Board approved his six amendments to the preliminary 2027 budget, reducing the proposed overall tax-levy increase from 2.79% to 1.79%. The budget has not been adopted.

At EPCAL, he favors high-tech, well-paying jobs alongside recreational development. He supports public-private partnerships that could give residents access to privately operated facilities.

Downtown, he favors a family-oriented attraction at the former Long Island Science Center building rather than apartments. He also supports a townwide reassessment to address an uneven tax burden.

Mr. Rothwell favors continuing the town’s cannabis litigation to defend local control. He has criticized OLA’s proposed public-safety policy but says he would hear the organization at a work session.

Republican Rep. Nick LaLota is seeking a third term in New York’s 1st Congressional District, emphasizing tax relief, public safety, infrastructure and clean water.

He points to his work increasing the federal deduction cap for state and local taxes. He also supports permanent small-business tax relief and estate-tax protections for family farms.

Mr. LaLota cites $4.5 million for public-water connections to PFAS-affected Calverton homes. He has also requested $3.25 million for PFAS remediation at the former Navy property.

He pledges to press the Navy on cleanup and seeks permanent protection of Plum Island. Any ownership plan, he says, must address cleanup, stewardship and funding.

For farms and other employers facing labor shortages, he favors changes to the H-2A and H-2B guest-worker programs.

Mr. LaLota opposes OLA’s proposed public-safety policy. He will not sponsor new discretionary Community Project Funding requests from East Hampton Town or Village while their existing policies remain in place. That pledge excludes already appropriated money and other federal funding.

The Amityville resident and Navy veteran, who entered Congress in 2023, provided written responses to Times Review’s questions.

Democrat Chris Gallant, an Army National Guard pilot from Amity Harbor, is challenging Republican Rep. Nick LaLota in New York’s 1st Congressional District, with affordability as his leading campaign priority.

Mr. Gallant favors adapting underused buildings for housing rather than clearing more trees or farmland. He says housing plans should include single-family homes, not just apartments, and calls for action against corporate price gouging.

On drinking water, he says federal funding could help expand access to public water. He discussed local aquifers and water testing with the Suffolk County Water Authority but did not identify a specific funding proposal.

Mr. Gallant proposes regular town halls and direct communication with constituents to strengthen government accountability. He says he would work across party lines.

On immigration, he calls for more training, oversight and accountability for federal agents, along with a clear path to citizenship or a green card. He opposes using federal municipal funding requests as leverage against communities over immigration-enforcement policies. He said he had not reviewed OLA’s proposed public-safety policy in detail.

Mr. Gallant has worked as an FAA air traffic controller, served as a union leader and volunteered with the Copiague Fire Department.

Republican Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio is seeking a fourth term in the 2nd Assembly District, arguing that tighter control of state spending would help make New York more affordable.

Ms. Giglio supports a gradual transition to renewable energy, saying rising electricity bills and property taxes are driving residents away.

Connecting Calverton residents affected by PFAS contamination to public water is another priority. She supports state clean-water funding and criticized delays in the Navy’s cleanup of the former Grumman property.

She also supports preserving Baiting Hollow’s Dorothy P. Flint 4-H Camp. The proposed preservation effort involving Peconic Land Trust and Suffolk County remains unfinished.

On immigration, Ms. Giglio expressed confidence in law enforcement and favors allowing business owners to sponsor immigrants.

She opposes moving local elections to even-numbered years, arguing that longer ballots can contribute to voter fatigue.

Ms. Giglio previously served for a decade on the Riverhead Town Board. She is vice chair of the Assembly Minority Conference and ranking minority member of the People with Disabilities Committee, and also serves on the Agriculture Committee.

Independent Kimberly Wilder, an educator and writer, is running on the Voter Options line against Republican incumbent Jodi Giglio in the 2nd Assembly District.

Ms. Wilder identifies corporate exploitation of personal data, including through artificial intelligence, as her top priority. She describes the problem as “data colonialism” and wants stronger protections for individuals.

On housing, she supports accessory dwelling units to expand options for seniors and people with disabilities, including additional living spaces in basements, attics or backyards.

She supports OLA of Eastern Long Island’s proposed public-safety policy, saying communities should plan how to protect residents, particularly children, during and after immigration raids.

Ms. Wilder also favors abolishing or significantly reforming ICE. On the environment, she supports groups focused on the Brookhaven landfill and favors balanced land use that preserves farms.

Ms. Wilder has worked as a teacher, teaching assistant and coordinator for PeaceSmiths, a peace, justice and environmental advocacy organization. She founded Riverhead RASI, a parent and school community network, and ran for the Riverhead school board in 2023.

Republican Anthony Palumbo is seeking a fourth term in the 1st Senate District, identifying housing, environmental protection and public safety as central East End concerns.

Mr. Palumbo favors locally directed housing assistance. He sponsored the Senate legislation enabling East End community housing funds and wants Southold to put its developing homebuyer-assistance program into operation.

He also points to legislation he helped pass while in the Assembly establishing a first-time-homebuyer exemption from Southold’s Community Preservation Fund transfer tax.

Mr. Palumbo opposed this year’s changes to the state environmental-review process. He argues that workforce housing and preservation can coexist and says development must account for water infrastructure and contamination concerns.

On immigration, he supports limited coordination between local and federal law enforcement but says local police should not be deputized to enforce federal immigration law.

He favors stronger deermanagement efforts, including a proposed program paying hunters to deliver tagged deer to butchers for food banks. He sponsored Southold’s deer-management pilot legislation in 2023.

The New Suffolk resident and former Suffolk County prosecutor first won election to the Assembly in 2013 and the Senate in 2020. He emphasizes bipartisan cooperation to advance local priorities.

Democrat Chris Murray is challenging Republican incumbent Anthony Palumbo in the 1st Senate District with a platform centered on affordability, health care and environmental protection.

Mr. Murray proposes cutting the state sales-tax rate by 1 percentage point and replacing the lost revenue with higher income taxes on the top 8% of earners.

He supports tax-free savings accounts for first-time homebuyers, modeled on college savings accounts, to help residents build a down payment.

On education, Mr. Murray wants the state to cover one-third of communitycollege costs, arguing that insufficient state support leaves students paying more through tuition.

He backs the New York Health Act, a proposed statewide single-payer system, saying it could reduce costs for businesses, school districts and local governments.

Mr. Murray supports renewable energy, stronger environmental enforcement and holding polluters responsible for cleanup. He also favors preserving local control over development decisions.

He supports OLA of Eastern Long Island’s proposed publicsafety policy and opposes some forms of local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. An attorney from Strong’s Neck, he has held leadership roles at Suffolk County Community College and Citizens Campaign for the Environment.