Peter S. Gunther, of Centerport, was recently endorsed as the official candidate of the Huntington Conservative Party for Town Superintendent of Highways.
Gunther is a retired New York City Firefighter and registered Conservative party member, with a long history of community involvement, serving as a volunteer firefighter for both the Northport and Centerport Fire Departments. He currently serves as fire commissioner of the Centerport Fire District.
Conservative Party Chairman Frank Tinari made the announcement last week.
“The people of Huntington deserve a proven manager who will run an efficient department while holding the line on spending,” Tinari said.
Gunther said he’s awaited the chance to run against 25-year incumbent William Naughton for nearly five years.
“I've been following Mr. Naughton and I feel that he hasn't been living up to his standard and he's slipping a little bit. With this past hurricane and snow storm, he ran into problems being able to fulfill his elected obligations,” Gunther said.
“I think that [Naughton] wasn't able to reach out to enough contractors and have them all ready in line to be able to answer the call when needed. If he had a computer system that was up and running that would have aided him greatly.”
Gunther added that community relations within the department leave much to be desired.
“If you tried to get a hold of somebody during any of those storms you get an answering machine and then most of the time you don't get a phone call back from anyone,” Gunther said. “Sometimes the answering machine doesn't even work.”
Gunther said he would prepare a long term equipment replacement program for the department, something he considers essential, if elected.
“There should be a plan to replace equipment and have that be lined out for 20 years down the road, so that every time you need to have something, you're able to put some money aside and get what you need replaced,” Gunther said.
“I also believe there is more equipment that needs to be purchased, some that is brand new like an excavator, which the Town of Huntington doesn't have.”
Suffolk County Conservative Party Chairman, Ed Walsh, applauded the move to nominate Gunther as the official candidate for Town Highway Superintendent.
“We need true conservatives serving in government,” Walsh said. “Every time a conservative gets elected the people win. They get lower taxes and more efficient government. Pete Gunther is exactly what the Town of Huntington needs.”
Local elections will be held in November 2013.
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