Northville civic leader seeks Democratic nod for council
Fresh off a powerful showing of public outcry last week that appeared to sway Riverhead Town Board members against the controversial Riverhead United Terminal expansion plans, the Northville civic leader that led the charge is now seeking public office.
Neil Krupnick of the Northville Beach Civic Association said running for a council seat was the last thing on his mind since taking over as the group’s president last year.
Riverhead Democratic Committee member and screening chairman John Stefans said he was so impressed by Mr. Krupnick that he asked him to screen.
He “has done a great job organizing opposition to the URL permit,” Mr. Stefans said.
Meanwhile, candidate Glen Friedman of Jamesport, who was previously listed by the Dems as screening only for council, says he will be looking for the Democratic nomination for supervisor.
Mr. Friedman screened two years ago as well, but stepped aside so the party could let former state Assemblyman Bill Bianchi run, he said. Mr. Bianchi was not elected.
Mr. Friedman is expected to screen Wednesday for the supervisor position.
Anthony Coates and Greg Fischer are also screening, as previously reported here and here.
Former Democratic candidate for supervisor Angela DeVito, who just last month said she wouldn’t run, will also be screening for supervisor and council.
“I’m very honored that they reached out to me,” Mr. Krupnick said of his possible run for office. “Obviously, it has something to do with [the civic group’s] efforts with URT. We certainly saw what can be done when people get together. It definitely was inspiring to me and I was honored that people would consider me.”
Mr. Krupnick, 55, works full-time at home, writing, producing and editing television promos.
He owns a home on Sound Shore Road that he bought with his spouse in 2008, moving from Manhattan.
“This was absolutely the last thought on my mind when I got involved,” Mr. Krupnick said. “I can say, the more I attended [Town Board] meetings and saw how things went on, I started to think things could be done different. But I didn’t see myself [running for office]. I am relatively new to the town … but I think I’ve already proven how much I care. And I think that might be the number one qualification for this type of job.”
He said and his wife joined the civic group almost immediately after purchasing the Northville house.
He took over as president last August, just a month before the plans to expand the tank farm near his neighborhood went public before the Town Board.
Mr. Stefans said Tim Hubbard, a recently retired Riverhead Town police detective, will only be screening for council, not supervisor, as previously reported.
