Candidate Profile: Jen Hebert For Huntington Town Council 2023

TOWN OF HUNTINGTON, NY — Jen Hebert is one of the four challengers for the Huntington Town Council, where two candidates will be elected on Nov. 7.

Voters will choose from Hebert, Donald McKay, Brooke Lupinacci and Theresa Mari.

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

Jen Hebert

How old will you be as of Election Day?

I will be 55 years old.

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

https://jenhebertforhuntington.com

What city or town do you live in?

Huntington

What office are you seeking?

Town Council

If you are running in a district, you can specify the district here.

N/A

Party affiliation.

Democrat

Education.

I earned both my BA and a Masters in Early Education from Tufts University in Medford, MA.

What is your occupation?

I have been an educator for 30 years. My jobs have included public school teacher, director of St. John's nursery school in Huntington and most recently, program director for Kerber's Farm School.

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

My husband, Jamie, and I met at Tufts University and have been married for 30 years. We have three sons (Ben, age 26, Will, age 23 and Sam, age 19) who all graduated from Huntington High School.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No one in my family works for the government in any way.

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

I was a school board trustee for nine years in the Huntington School District. Board trustee is an elected, upaid position.

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?

This is a very important local election. I believe I would bring valuable experience, independent thinking and creative problem-solving skills to the table. I want to address the issues of over-development and housing, support our local small businesses and find ways to protect our environment and water.

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

Over-development and housing. I would address this issue by making sure projects done in our town are within the correct zoning laws and meet all environmental and building codes. I would also look for ways to improve and modernize our Huntington's infrastructure. In terms of adding housing to our township, I would like to work with local builders to find ways to reimagine some of our empty commercial spaces as modern, safe housing for young people, single-income earners and seniors.

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

There are several factors that we need to address to improve our water quality. We need to extend our sewer districts in Huntington. We also need to upgrade our antiquated septic systems that are leaking nitrogen into our ground water. Unfortunately, the Suffolk County Legislature recently voted against allowing a referendum on the ballot in November. This referendum would have given voters the opportunity to opt into a program that would have provided us with much-needed funds to address these exact issues.

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

We need to make the best possible use of the state and federal funds available from the recent infrastructure bill, and make sure we're getting our fair share. I would also recommend looking into hiring a professional grant writer to help the township find available grant funds for infrastructure improvements.

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

As the daughter of a small business owner, I understand the challenges that small businesses face every day just to stay open. I would be proud to partner with our local businesses to find innovative solutions to the problems they're facing.

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

Our current immigration system is broken and needs to be addressed at the federal level. Our leaders on both sides of the aisle have failed us in this department. But the migrants are human beings who, in many cases, have been lied to about their future in the United States. We need to find a compassionate way to house and care for them until a more permanent solution can be found. It will be vital for elected officials, community leaders and clergy to work together to find a viable solution.

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

There are several major differences that set me apart from the other candidates. First and foremost, I come with the experience of having worked on a board before. I spent nine years on Huntington's Board of Education, and worked collaboratively and respectfully with people who had very different perspectives than my own. In addition, I'm a real grassroots candidate. My campaign has been funded almost entirely through small dollar donations from supporters, friends and community members.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

This race has two open seats, no incumbents.

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

I would like to address issues that involve supporting our youth, and providing them with opportunities and programs that will keep them on the right track. This would include getting the long-promised community center built in Huntington Station.

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

I am confident that my nine years on the Huntington School board, as a trustee, vice president and president, prove that I'm both capable of handling the job and committed to serving my community.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Just about any advice my mother ever gave me was good, solid advice. But one specific piece of advice that I got from her, that has proven helpful over and over again, is this - "lead with diplomacy." We're living through a time when people feel very divided and we're inundated with angry rhetoric from all sides. This is a sure-fire way to get nothing accomplished. I believe that working respectfully and collaboratively with people who have different perspectives and viewpoints is the best way to find solutions and improve our community.

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

If I have the honor of being elected to the Huntington Town Board, I will treat it as a full-time job. This will give me the time and energy to be fully dedicated to representing our community.