Meet The Candidate: Dana Forlenza For Southold Town Assessor

NORTH FORK, NY: Suffolk County residents will be heading to the polls Tuesday to elect local representatives and make their voices heard.

Residents will weigh in on the race to represent one of the 18 legislative districts in Suffolk County, vote for Suffolk County District Attorney and Sheriff (both are running unopposed) — and choose their local town elected officials.

On the North Fork, four candidates are running for two open seats on the Southold Town assessor seats, including Dana Forlenza, Leah Sullivan, Ken Poliwoda and Charles Sanders.

Name

Dana Forlenza

How old will you be as of Election Day?

37

Does your campaign have a website?

Southold Dems

What city or town do you live in?

Mattituck

What office are you seeking?

Southold Town Assessor

Party affiliation

I am running with the Democratic party, but I am registered as unaffiliated with a political party.

Education

I graduated from Mattituck High School in 2006, and I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Stony Brook University, which I earned in 2009.

What is your occupation?

For the past 10 years I have been working for JSM Brokerage in Mattituck, where I am a licensed insurance agent specializing in Personal Lines policies.

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

I met my husband Dominick while attending Stony Brook University. Dominick is a small business owner, and we have a 9-year-old son.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My mother works for Southold Town, at the Senior Center in Mattituck.

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

This is my first time running for public office. I have met so many wonderful people in our community, and have learned that many of us care about the same issues, regardless of party affiliation.

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 running for Southold Town Assessor because I believe that each of us has a responsibility to make our part of the world better and that what happens at the local level matters. I grew up in Southold Town and this community has shaped me as a person. I believe that we need qualified people serving in local government, and the role of Assessor is one in which I am qualified to serve.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing Southold Town is:

Affordability. We have very little affordable housing, and as a result our small businesses are struggling. Our town is changing, and it is under an immense amount of development pressure. It is up to us as residents and business owners to be engaged and active to ensure that our voices are heard and that our town is here for future generations.

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

In my mind, water quality means both clean drinking water and our surrounding waterways. Everyone should be entitled to clean, safe drinking water, and our coastlines and waterways need to be protected. These are issues that will need to be addressed individually, but education and conservation will play a role as we move forward in navigating our water quality issues.

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

I think that our current highway department is doing a wonderful job at maintaining our roadways, and working with our counterparts at the county and state level. I think our infrastructure will continue to improve as long as we ensure the highway department continues to be properly funded.

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

As the wife of a small business owner, I see these struggles every day in my own family. If we can address the affordability crisis Southold Town is facing, it will in turn help local businesses to grow and thrive. It is hard to find people to work for a business if they cannot afford to live in town. More access to affordable housing would greatly help our businesses.

How are federal issues impacting local government?

Local government is our first line of defense, and as a small town, our elected officials are also our friends and neighbors. When a decision made at the federal level impacts the town, our residents look to local representatives for a response. We have a responsibility to help and stand up for our residents, regardless of what the federal government is doing.

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

My opponents have real estate experience, and while valuation is part of what an assessor does, it is by no means the entire job. I have over a decade of experience calculating the Replacement Cost of homes across Southold Town, and as a client-facing insurance agent, I understand how to explain the intricacies of a policy to a client. I will bring a service-based mentality to the assessor’s office and will work to ensure that everyone I interact with is paying their fair share and that they understand how to interpret their property tax bill.

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

In speaking with voters, I have learned that many people do not know much about the assessor’s office, or what it does. If elected, I plan to work to increase community outreach so that residents and business owners feel comfortable interacting with the office.

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

In addition to my experience calculating the Replacement Cost of local homes, I know how to work under pressure and how to meet a deadline, all while giving every client the same level of service. I know how to walk a client through the process of compiling and submitting documentation, and I know how to transition a conversation into one of education when there isn’t a better solution. If elected, I will bring these skills to the assessor’s office and will work to ensure that every property owner in town knows the office is there and how it can work for them.

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

I would like voters to know that the assessor is an operational position, not a political one. The assessor is tasked with ensuring that property taxes are collected correctly and fairly, and that each property owner is paying their fair share. It is important that we elect assessors who are experienced in calculating the value of local homes, and who are committed to assisting property owners in navigating the exemption and grievance processes. My insurance experience, service skills, and knowledge of our community have prepared me to serve in this role. A vote for me is a vote for a sense of fairness and empathy to be brought to every assessment.