Patch Candidate Profile: Terence McSweeney For Babylon Town Council

TOWN OF BABYLON, NY — Suffolk County residents will be lining up at the polls for Election Day on Nov. 7, or early voting from Oct. 28 to Nov. 5, where they will be voting for candidates vying for open seats.

Democrat Terrence McSweeney, who has served on the Babylon Town Council since 2017, is running for reelection.

Republican Jarod Morris and Democrat, Councilman DuWayne Gregory are also running.

Voters must elect two out of the three candidates for Babylon Town Council.

Patch reached out to all candidates to hear where they stand on important issues affecting the community.

Here are the responses for those who participated. The answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

Name

Terence McSweeney

How old will you be as of Election Day?

44

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

https://babylondemocrats.com/

What city or town do you live in?

Babylon Village

What office are you seeking?

Councilman, Town of Babylon

Party affiliation

Democrat

Education

North Babylon High School, Suffolk Community College

What is your occupation?

New York City Fireman

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

Married to Cynthia McSweeney and I have two beautiful girls, Elle (13) & Paige (10)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

Yes, current councilman for Town of Babylon since 2017.

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

I am seeking re-election for this office to continue to assure that our residents and business owners remain safe, strong and resilient. I am born and raised here in Babylon and I want to assure that my two children want to live here and most of all be able to afford to live here.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is \_\_\_, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Quality of life issues. We have created the strongest public safety department on Long Island by hiring more public safety officers, including retired police officers.

What needs to be done to address water quality issues on LI?

Addressing Long Island’s water quality issues is a complex and long-term endeavor that requires a coordinated effort from multiple stakeholders, including government bodies, communities, and environmental organizations. Public engagement and commitment to sustainable practices are also crucial for long-term success.

What do you think can be done to help improve our infrastructure, highways, etc?

The Town of Babylon has spent $100 million since 2019 and will continue its 10-year plan to repave our roads. The Town Board passed a bill in 2018 authorizing the town to borrow $10 million for road repair in the first year of the program.

Supervisor Rich Schaffer, along with the rest of the town board acknowledge “If we don’t do something now, this is going to end up costing us triple.”

The $100 million investment over eight years will save the town an estimated $150 million over that span by repairing roads before they’ve had a chance to further deteriorate and require more costly repairs. In past years, the town typically has spent about $6 million on its roads.

The Long Island Contractors’ Association has shown that the Town of Babylon has a 76 rating on its pavement index, which measures the status of the town’s roads on a 1-to-100 scale. We have the highest investment per lane mile among the Long Island municipalities.

How would you plan to help local business owners, who are struggling because of high rents, inflation and labor shortages?

While on the Town Board I have voted to invest over $3 million of the Towns American Rescue Plan Act to put back into our small business community to help recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

What is your stance on the current migrant situation affecting New York? And migrants were to be directed to shelters on Long Island, how would you prepare/plan for that?

I think Congress, in all of their infamous wisdom, needs to deliver a bi-partisan plan to address this issue.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I feel my commitment to public service is second to none. Being a part of Team Schaffer guarantees a future where safety, strength and resilience are not just words, but a way of life.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

I will continue to be as transparent as one can be. I will continue to meet personally with my constituents and give my personal cell phone number to our residents, so they can contact me any time they want for whatever issues are at hand.

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

Some of my accomplishments are my commitment to public safety, continuing our strong AAA bond rating that helps keep our town taxes lower, and my commitment to improving mental health and treating drug addiction through a newly approved expanded mental health program available at little to no cost to our residents.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

The world is changed by your example, NOT your opinion.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

It has been an honor for me to serve the residents of the Town of Babylon for the past six years, and I ask for the residents to come out on November 7 and vote for me and Team Schaffer so we can continue our work for them.