Meet The Candidate: Mark Woolley For Riverhead Town Board

RIVERHEAD, 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 — and choose their local town elected officials.

In advance of the election, Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaign. In Riverhead, four candidates are vying to fill two open town council seats.

Name: Mark Wooley

How old will you be as of Election Day: 69

Does your campaign have a website:VoteMarkWoolley.com

What city or town do you live in: Riverhead

What office are you seeking: Town board

Party affiliation: None

Education: Riverhead High School; some college courses.

What is your occupation: Retired from congressional service (worked with members of Congress)

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them: Wife, five children, and three grandchildren.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? One is in the Air Force.

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective? No

Now we'd like to ask you a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government.

First, why are seeking this office? We are being taxed out of our homes. I am a much-needed independent voice that will inject reason at a time when we are at the breaking point.

High, excessive taxes and wasteful spending.

What needs to be done to address water quality issues on Long Island:

Work more with congressional partners to bring federal funds to cleanup, remediate contaminated groundwater.

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

Work with federal, state transportation officials to free up money targeted for such work.

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

Meet with them collectively or one-on-oneto determine their needs and then pursue labor department programs.

How are federal issues facing local government?

The current shutdown, if not resolved soon, will adversely impact food programs and force local governments to step in.

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

I have 30 years of state/ federal service helping folks of all political affiliations. My job is to work for all residents, not the politically-connected.

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

End the lawsuit delaying the use of EPCAL; end pay-to-play and no-bid contracts; encourage farmland production; slow over-development.

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

I brought in the Army Corps to begin a study to mitigate Peconic River flooding. Made sure millions in federal dollars went to hook-up homeowners near EPCAL whose wells were contaminated.

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

I have a five-point contract with Riverheadthat spells out my priorities. It can be found on my website. I'm the lone hometown candidate in this race.