Candidate Profile: William Holst For Smithtown Town Clerk

TOWN OF SMITHTOWN, NY — Democrat William Holst is competing against Republican Thomas McCarthy for the position of Smithtown town clerk. One will be elected on Nov. 7.

Patch reached out to both candidates to hear where they stand on important issues affecting the community.

Here are the responses for those who participated. The answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

Name

William G. Holst

How old will you be as of Election Day?

71

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

holst.org

What city or town do you live in?

Smithtown

What office are you seeking?

Smithtown Town Clerk

If you are running in a district, you can specify the district here.

Party affiliation.

Democratic

Education.

Law School Juris Doctor degree

What is your occupation?

Attorney

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

Married to my wife Laura 44 years.
We have a daughter, son-in-law and 3 grandsons, as well as a son and daughter-in-law.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

None

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

Appointed as: Assistant Town Attorney, Town of Smithtown Jan. 1987; Deputy Commissioner, Suffolk Consumer Affairs March 1988; Suffolk County Clerk May 1989; Corporation Counsel, City of Long Beach March 2002; Assistant County Attorney, Suffolk County Dept. of Law March 2004 to Oct. 2017 Elected to serve on the Smithtown Central School Board in 1989 and to serve on the Suffolk County Legislature in 1997

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 believe I can utilize my experience as an attorney and public official to make Town government more open and effective for the people of Smithtown.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is \_\_\_, and this is what I intend to do about it.

One party government in Smithtown has resulted in not just a lack of transparency but also a lack of respect for the taxpayers and a majority of the town workforce. I will be an independent voice to sound the alarm on backroom decision making.

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

Stop irresponsible zone changes that put our water at risk.

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

Be more aggressive in seeking available federal funds.

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

Help them to learn what resources are available to assist them.

What is your stance on the current migrant situation affecting New York? And migrants were to be directed to shelters on Long Island, how would you prepare/plan for that?

I understand that NYC is not legally able to create shelters on LI.

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

I believe that I am uniquely qualified to serve as the Town Clerk of Smithtown given my many years of public service in a variety of positions, which includes three years in the U.S. Army.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

N/A

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

Working on extending the hours of the Town Clerk's Office during the summer to better serve residents.

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

My efforts with respect to Downtown Revitalization in Suffolk County while I was a Suffolk County Legislator as well as the preservation of environmentally sensitive lands.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

To be effective, a public official has to not only be persistent but also creative - which means having a Plan B and C.

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

I have been endorsed by the Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO as well as the Communications Workers of America Local 1109. I will be on the Working Families Party ballot line in addition to the Democratic Party ballot line - Row A.