Donnelly: Sense of Community, Fiscal Responsibility Key Issues

As a lifetime resident and a FDNY lieutenant with more than two decades of service, Tom Donnelly feels strongly about fostering a sense of community and serving his fellow residents.

That’s what’s pushing the current Babylon Town Planning Board member to run for a Council seat this year.

“I take a lot of pride in the town, and have shown a desire to serve its residents in any way that I can,” said , a Deer Park resident who’s been a captain in that community's fire department and a part of many community sports programs.

“The Town of Babylon is a wonderful place to live, and I want to keep it moving in the right direction,” he added.

In Donnelly’s estimation the “right direction” includes lower taxes and efficient government. And that means continuing the fiscal policies of the current town government headed up by Supervisor (and now Suffolk County executive candidate) Steve Bellone.

“If elected, then I would continue the Bellone Team’s efforts to keep Babylon moving forward by maintaining the fiscal policies that led to two consecutive tax cuts,” said Donnelly.

To achieve that goal he’d apply his decade-plus experience as a member of the Board of Fire Commissioners in the Deer Park Fire District.

“I’ve played an instrumental role in maintaining a reasonable budget for Deer Park’s taxpayers, providing a zero budget increase in 2010 and 2011 while continuing to offer residents outstanding fire and rescue protection,” he explained.

Donnelly – who’s served on the FDNY Search and Recovery Task Force during and on the National Search and Rescue Team during Hurricane Katrina – further feels that being able to balance keeping taxes low while “providing excellent services to town residents despite challenging economic times” is also a key component to being a Town Council member.

Lastly, Donnelly also supports the town’s current parks and recreation efforts.

“I’d also continue the Bellone Team’s commitment to its parks and public spaces, providing state-of-the-art facilities that increase property values, and providing excellent recreational facilities for residents,” said Donnelly, who was deployed with New York Task Force-One to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.

Upon his return he received New York State’s highest civilian award, The New York State Liberty Medal, for his rescue efforts there.

Donnelly is running for one of two seats on the Babylon Town Council this year. The other three candidates are fellow challengers , and current Councilwoman . Councilwoman has chosen not to seek re-election this year. Polls are open Tuesday, November 8, 2011 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.