Voters Guide 2013: Smithtown Supervisor, Town Board Seats Up for Grabs

Voters have their chance to cast their vote on who will lead the Town of Smithtown into 2014 this Tuesday at the polls. 

As we head into Election Day, Patch is here to bring you the information you need to know before heading out to cast your vote. Residents will be voting for newly elected local officials at the town and county levels in addition to several referendums on Tuesday. 

Here's s rundown of the candidates whose names will be on the ballots, their parties and what you need to know to vote. 

Smithtown Town Supervisor

• Robert Creighton (Conservative) - Creighton, a Kings Park resident, was elected to his first political office as a Smithtown Town Board trustee in 2008. He was a former police commissioner for Suffolk County Police Department and former chief investigator for Suffolk County District Attorney's office. He has worked for private sector companies including American Express and Visa International. 
  
  Creighton has outlined plans for the Hauppauge Industrial Park that include permitting taller buildings, up to 62 feet off Motor Parkway, build more parking garages and create a buffer zone between the northern edge of the park and nearby residences. 

• Steven Snair (Democrat, Working Families) -  Snair is a political newcomer, but a life-long resident of the Town of Smithtown. He is a small business owner who runs his own legal practice on Smithtown's Main Street. 
  
  Snair has released a comprehensive plan of his proposals, should he be elected on Tuesday, and has pledged to slash the current salary of the town's supervisor by 10 percent. 
  
  
• Patrick Vecchio (Republican) -  Vecchio was first elected as the Town of Smithtown's supervisor in 1978. He is New York's longest presiding town supervisor.
  
  Vecchio announced that he is in opposition to the proposed Uplands at St. Johnland project off Route 25A in Kings Park. He has stated his interests lie with protecting open space and pursuing business development in appropriate areas. Vecchio won the Republican Primary on Sept. 10 by 3,245 votes to 2,566 votes, over councilman Robert Creighton.

•  Adam Halpern (Democrat) - Halpern, a Hauppauge resident, is challenging for a spot on Smithtown Town's Board. He is an assistant Suffolk County District Attorney, and former Suffolk County District Court judge.
  
  Halpern is a practicing attorney who runs his own private practice handling both criminal and civil law matters, graduating from St. John's University School of Law. He guest lectures at Suffolk County Community College.  
  
  
• Richard Macellaro (Democrat) - Macellaro, a Kings Park resident for more than 22 years, is running for a seat on Smithtown Town Board. He has served as special assistant for two New York State assembly members and helped coordinate numerous election campaigns. 
  
  Macellaro worked as a home health care administrator for more than 20 years and, is a trustee-membership chairperson for the Kings Park Fr. John Papallo Lodge-Order of Sons of Italy in America. 
  

• Kevin Malloy (Conservative) - Malloy, a life-long Smithtown resident, was first elected to Smithtown Town Board in 2010. He has previously served as deputy tax received and as an aide to five presiding officers of the Suffolk County Legislature. 
  
  Malloy said one of his first actions if re-elected this November would be to support the creation of a 12-year term limit for town board members. He said while campaigning, many residents have complained to him about town board members becoming unresponsive to the public while in office. 

• Thomas McCarthy (Republican) - McCarthy, a Smithtown resident, was first elected to office in 1998 and also serves as the deputy supervisor of Smithtown.
  
  McCarthy has said he sees himself as a candidate "fighting for good government in Smithtown." He opposes proposed plans for the assisted nursing facility, Uplands at St. Johnlands, for Route 25A in Kings Park and will fight to preserve the town's open space. 
  
  McCarthy has also been adamant about pushing forward with town's crackdown on illegal businesses in the Kings Park-Commack area who fail to comply with zoning regulations. 
  
  
• Lynne Nowick (Republican) - Nowick, a St. James resident, has served representing the 13th district in the Suffolk Legislature for last 12 years and cannot run for re-election due to term limits. As such, she's set her eyes on a seat among Smithtown Town Board. 
  
  Nowick said she's tired of other candidates saying the Town of Smithtown "needs to be fixed." She come out in open opposition to the proposed assisted nursing facility, Uplands at St. Johnland, on Route 25A in Kings Park.  She supports the preservation of the town's open space, business development in appropriate areas and looking towards greener practices.
  

• Glenn Jorgensen (Republican, Conservative)
  
• Thomas D McCarthy 

• Edward Haeffer (Democrat) 
• Vincent Puleo (Republican, Conservative)