Gordon: Keeping Government Efficient, Taxes Low Key Issues

Jacqueline Gordon, a long-time Copiague resident and member of the military, said she's running for re-election this year to continue ensuring that Babylon Town continues “to do more with less” in light of the suffering economy – an issue she feels is top-of-mind for many residents.

“Obviously, the economy is the top concern not only in the Town of Babylon, but also in towns across the country,” she said, citing “taxes, making government work for the people and maintaining a community in which people can take pride” as other top issues for her and her fellow town residents.

With regard to those issues, feels that, as a member of the town board, “my colleagues and I have made protecting taxpayers our top priority. We’ve provided two consecutive tax cuts these past two years, and work every day to find ways to increase efficiency to keep spending as low as possible.”

Gordon vows that if re-elected for a second full term – she was elected to the board in 2006 to fill an expired term, and re-elected in 2007 – then she’d “continue the work we’ve been doing to keep Babylon moving forward.”

Gordon, chairperson of the town’s Beautification Committee, said she plans to “continue working to make improvements to our parks system and further the beautification program to help foster a sense of pride in the community.”

On a personal level she’s proud of the work she’s done as chairperson of the town’s Veterans Advisory Council, which provides “services and information to those in Babylon who’ve heroically served our nation.”

It’s work that hits home for her, since she’s currently a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserves.

“I serve as Commander of the 310th Military Police Battalion in Uniondale. I’ve been deployed to Baghdad, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and, I’m being deployed overseas again [to Afghanistan starting in January],” explained Gordon, who also chairs the annual Wounded Warrior Soldier Ride Babylon.

The - between that and the town’s annual Run for the Warriors race - has raised more than $500,000 for wounded veterans, noted Gordon, a mother of two who’s also involved in the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Reserve Officers Association.

As a council member Gordon’s also proud of the town’s “upgrades to our infrastructure” and the development of Babylon’s downtowns.

“We’ve worked hard to develop our downtown areas, implement sustainable programs and increase efficiency to continue bringing top-notch services to Babylon families for less money,” said Gordon, a guidance counselor at Wilson Technological Center in Huntington.

“I’ve been extremely fortunate to serve the residents of the town, my home and the place that I love,” said Gordon, who’s also involved in the Western Suffolk Counselor’s Association and the town’s Parent Leadership Initiative.

“I have a sense of duty to my community and my country, and work as hard as I can to serve them,” she added.

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