Riverhead supervisor candidates divided on migrant issue but closer on Epcal development
The Riverhead supervisor race pits a Republican town councilman and retired police officer against Democratic civic leader with years of experience in public health administration.
More Stories
The Riverhead supervisor race pits a Republican town councilman and retired police officer against Democratic civic leader with years of experience in public health administration.
Republican Councilman Tim Hubbard is a former school board member and a retired Riverhead town police officer.
"My life has been based on community service and public service in the town of Riverhead," says Hubbard.
Democrat Angela Devito points to her experience in the public health field as preparing her for the supervisor job.
"I have been responsible for policy making, problem solving, negotiating contracts, managing multimillion-dollar budget," says Devito.
Hubbard and Devito are taking similar stances on a major issue in Riverhead - development at Epcal.
"No cargo airport, no jetport, no commercial airport," says Hubbard.
"We don't have the infrastructure for this," says Devito.
But the two disagree sharply on another controversial issue in town: whether to receive and shelter migrants.
"We don't have the medical, we don't have the law enforcement, we don't have the EMS, the fire department to handle the large influx of immigrants coming to the town," says Hubbard.
"I'm not saying we should take 60,000 people from New York City and bring them to Riverhead," says Devito. "I'm saying we should join with all of the towns on Long Island and sit down and determine what is it that each of us can do to assist."
Riverhead voters have elected four different supervisors over the past 20 years - two Republicans and two Democrats. Hubbard and Devito know party affiliation alone is not enough to win the supervisor job.
"It's a really good thing for me, because I consider myself a moderate Republican and I work with both sides," says Hubbard.
"The response has been great, and I think as a candidate it gives me a fair opportunity," says Devito.
