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10 Questions For Suffolk County Executive Republican Candidate Angie Carpenter

By Douglas Harrington | 2 Comments

Republican Candidate Angie Carpenter. (Courtesy Photo: Angie Carpenter's office)

Southampton - Hamptons.com has posed the following 10 questions to Suffolk County Executive candidates running in the upcoming November election.

Jobs, jobs, jobs! As Suffolk County Executive what initiatives would you take to create jobs in the county and do you support President Obama's American Jobs Act?

Angie Carpenter: President Obama's American Jobs Act is ill conceived. As someone who built a small business from the ground up and later passed it on to my two sons, I understand that big government can't create good paying jobs; that is something than can only be achieved by the private sector. The main thing that the Suffolk County Executive can do is to reach out to the private sector and let them know that Suffolk County is open for business and that as County Executive I will work with businesses large and small to create the level playing-field they need to succeed. We must work to reduce job killing taxes and burdensome regulations that stifle growth, reduce productivity and make other states and regions more attractive to business owners and management when the site their companies. Finally, we must work to improve our transportation alternatives so that goods and products can be moved easily on and off Long Island.

It has been debated as to whether Suffolk County obtained an adequate share of the 2009 Stimulus Plan. According to U.S. Government figures, as of June 30 a little over $6 billion of the $17 billion awarded to the state has yet to be received. What is your plan to obtain Suffolk County's fair share when and if it is awarded?

AC: This question reflects some of the main problems associated with the stimulus plan created by President Obama and the Democrat controlled Congress. Big Government; whether it's federal. state or local, historically has a problem when it is tasked with the distribution of large sums of money. As Suffolk County Executive I will be a vocal advocate for obtaining our fair share; lobbying elected official and government bureaucrats so that our county obtains these long overdue funds

Do you support green initiatives like windmill farms for job creation and energy conservation? If so, would you consider county tax abatements for farmers on the East End who designate a portion of their acreage for windmill farming?

AC: Creating jobs and providing inexpensive electricity are two of the main challenges the next County Executive faces. In upstate New York along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence Seaway there have been proposals for windmill farms that have created a great deal resistance among the surrounding community. Ultimately, the local municipality should have the final say on whether or not windmills, individually or in the "farm" scenario are appropriate for the community. Only then, should tax abatements be considered.

Budget deficits are inevitable in a struggling economy. The present economic recovery is very slow paced and may take years to be fully realized. If elected County Executive you will probably face your own budget deficits during your term in office. What options would and would not be on the table in your plan to close the gap?

AC: Like so many families around Suffolk County and our nation we must sit down sit down, take a look a our budget and trim away as much fat as possible. We must also look for situations where there is duplication of management, services, or procurement and streamline them so we achieve true value for the tax dollars we spend. As a former businessperson I also plan to introduce private sector techniques and technologies that will save money and increase productivity. In these uncertain economic times the last things that should ever be considered are lay-offs or tax hikes due to the burdensome effect that will have on Suffolk County residents.

Do you support continued funding for open land and farmland preservation and if so how would you generate the revenue necessary at the county level?

AC: The preservation of open space and farmland are key components of the proper stewardship of our county and environment. It is imperative that we work closely with non-government organizations as well as other levels of government to identify and the secure the funding needed to preserve these resources for generations to come.

As County Executive in what ways will you help the county's threatened commercial fishing industry?

AC: Commercial fishing has been an important part of the Suffolk community for centuries and should remain so. In recent decades, regulations, many ill conceived, have made a hard livelihood even harder. As County Executive, I will work closely with the fishing industry, our elected official and a variety of state, federal, and local agencies to relieve the regulatory burden as much as possible while preserving the environment that is so crucial to preserving a good catch.

With increased cuts in State and Federal funding for education, what is your plan for maintaining the high quality of education in Suffolk County? Is there a better way to fund education than the real property tax?

AC: I firmly believe that the first step needed is to maintain quality education in our county is the creation of town-wide school districts in Suffolk County. This will create a variety of cost savings and eliminate the duplication of services within the town. It's a common sense solution that will lower education costs without lowering standards.

With some of the highest real estate prices in the nation young county residents, particularly East Enders must leave the area rather than raise families here, what will you do as County Executive to stem the exodus?

AC: Real estate prices are only one part of this problem. High taxes, unemployment, education and transportation issue are also components to the problem. As County Executive I will work tirelessly to create an environment where good paying jobs are available and a quality of life that will enable young families to put down roots here.

The immigrant workforce, legal and otherwise, is and has long been part of many East End industries like landscaping, construction, hospitality and farming. Do you support comprehensive immigration reform and how would you address the very volatile issue of curbside, undocumented hiring at the county level?

AC: The Federal Government must come to grips with this issue and formulate a policy that will secure our borders while still providing access to work-force needed by our nation. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 made this a national security issue as opposed to an immigration or labor issue. As county Executive I will work federal and state agencies, municipalities, the business community and immigrant worker advocacy groups to facilitate solutions to the problems of 'curbside hiring" but, ultimately, ordinances and enforcement are best made on the municipal level.

What is your position regarding the Shinnecock Nation's effort to gain the right to create a casino on their sovereign land?

AC: Casinos have become a huge economic engine for areas throughout the nation. Everyday Nassau and Suffolk County residents travel by ferries to the Connecticut casinos or by bus or car to Atlantic City. The bottom line is we should have a casino but, the site that is chosen must create the least amount of negative impact on the quality of life of surrounding property owners as possible. I am deeply concerned that as a site, the Shinnecock sovereign land would create numerous quality of life problems. That said, I plan work with the Shinnecocks and their developer to identify a site elsewhere that would be appropriate for a casino.

Finally, faith in our elected officials is at an all time low, what in your character, professional and personal background and legislative history qualifies you to earn the trust of the electorate and serve as Suffolk County Executive?

AC: For more than four decades I have been a mother, a businesswoman, a leader in my community, a Suffolk County Legislator, and for the past six years Suffolk County Treasurer. No one has ever questioned my honesty, integrity or my devotion to doing what I believe right for my family, my community, my county and my country. I believe my actions, words and deeds have always been an example of how government officials should conduct themselves.

Related Articles:

Suffolk County Treasurer Reminds Taxpayers About STAR Deadine

Suffolk County Treasurer Reminds Taxpayers Of March 1 Exemptions Deadline

Bellone Announces Formation Of Budget Review Task Force

Comments

Guest (T.V.DeMartin) from Suffolk says:
I don't particularly care for a "national ID card"..it smacks of "Big Brother", but truly something must be done to stem/reverse the tide of illegal aliens in the USA generally and in Suffolk particularly. Unfortunately it seems Angie Carpenter has taken the typical "big biz" stance that we need these low wage workers. I call it corporate greed. Hello! We have at least 9% unemployed and perhaps another 10% underemployed or discouraged job seekers. This is not the time to tolerate/encourage immigrants whether legal or illegal to remain/come here. There seems to be an unholy alliance of the major parties on this issue. On the GOP side we have the undue influence of greedy businesses/contributors. On the Dem side we have politicians seeking a new base of immigrant voters indebted to them. Who is representing the existing base of American Citizens , many of whom are out of work? The silence is deafening!

Guest (Dave Francis) from Infinity007@comcast.net says:
WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW—HURTS? Illegal Immigration, Voter fraud and E-Verify. Every American can do their part, to insure that ‘THE LEGAL WORKFORCE ACT’ (H.R.2885) and get to the floor of the House of Representatives. It’s the only way to get future satisfaction of saving the billions of dollars we give reluctantly, to illegal aliens. E-Verify--the bill would require 100% of businesses to begin using E-Verify for all new hires within 2 years and require all federal and state governments to check new hires and existing employees within 6 months. Although the official figures estimates there are only 11.5 million illegal aliens in the US, other reputable organizations exceeds this number by at least another 10 million. Of these 8.5 foreign nations have claimed a job unlawfully, while 22 to 24 million citizens and legally here residents are unemployed. These are non-agricultural numbers and this could be reduced by the immediate vote of ‘The legal Workforce Act.’ Unknown numbers of illegal families began departing Arizona, Alabama, South Carolina, with the introduction of harsh policing laws and headed for other states with more flexible immigration laws—California and Nevada included. Sanctuary States will be overwhelmed, with economic illegal aliens, looking for free money and other easy accessed welfare benefits. Thousands of American workers are already replacing the illegal absconders, as business have no option but to look elsewhere for labor. The days of cheap illegal labor is over and so are the big profits they have for years. There is no time to wait, as E-Verify must become mandatory, instead as it is now—voluntary. Hundreds of thousands of businesses are now hooked up to the electronic program and can now vet their workers. Businesses that are not using E-Verify needs to learn an expensive lesson of harsh fines, company profit confiscation and prison for hiring unauthorized labor. Rick Perry unlike most of the others, is true GOP establishment and not a member of the TEA PARTY leadership. Citizens and legal residents must challenge the Republicans dominated House and insist on E-Verify. The ‘Ways and Means Committee led by Majority Speak John Boehner (R-OH) must adopt the Mandatory E-Verify Bill (H.R. 2885.) and should be bombarded with insistent voters. Reps. Chip Cravaack (R-Minn.), Tim Johnson (R-Ill.), Reps. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) and Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) have cosponsored House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith's Legal Workforce Act (H.R.2885), with new members to sponsor in the forthcoming wings. Not sure what to do? Go to NumbersUSA web site, where you can freely fax politicians or you can also can locate them through this phone number at 202-224-312; the Congressional Switchboard. As of last Friday, November 4, 2011 currently has 54 sponsors and 32 co-sponsors. Our freedoms and liberty are under constant attack by the Liberals, Democrats and even hard core Republicans, so that’s why everybody is fed up with the usual trash from Washington; ‘The Quid Pro Quo’ should join the massive population of the growing TEA PARTY. We must anticipate that in the 2011 Presidential race, the impending gubernatorial and state legislative elections in Louisiana, Mississippi and West Virginia will be electing governors. . In addition, 578 state legislative seats are available, with the majority of these in Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia where the fate of politicians are in the hands of voters. ILLEGAL ALIENS HAVE BEEN VOTING AND WILL IN THE FUTURE. Democrats are looking the other way, as this has been happening nationwide. We must be watchful of Congressman as Keith Ellison, who could cripple our voting system. Ellison would weaken our nation’s policies even more so, than the voting regulations are already so poorly enforced. In agriculture, the dairy industry for decades they have been substantial subsidies, but that has not filtered through to the illegal workers. Poor wages and even poorer conditions will not bring US citizens and lawful residents to the farmers or others need. The American people are finally aware that the farmers do not pay for the hospital care in case of injury, sickness and that all their children go to public schools and these benefits; fall in to the US taxpayers lap to pay. Eventually a uniform system of tracking agricultural worker, with employment visa over-stays deported. Georgia's Secretary of State’s office is obligated to administer elections and investigate allegations of voter fraud. Brian P. Kemp, who is Georgia Secretary of State, said that Georgia’s elections are among the most secure in the nation, and we take every measure possible to guarantee the integrity, security, and fairness of our elections process. Election voter fraud undermines the very foundations of our great state and country, and will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Then in the Liberal Progressive window or a leftist Democrat Congressman called Keith Ellison from Minnesota’s wants to impose on his state a slack election system and also on the rest of this sovereign nation. This moron has introduced two bills to impose the worst two aspects of Minnesota’s system on the entire country. This arrangement undermines election integrity and trust we used to share as citizens. This Democrat “Same Day Registration Act” H.R. 3316 and its attendant H.R. 3317 would involve all states to allow unconfirmed voters to register and vote on Election Day. This would be outrageous enough and is mild compared to being infuriated by the second bill, namely “Voter Access Protection Act,” which would forbid states from requiring voters to show photo ID. Perhaps 25 years ago—but not anymore, when we have notorious groups like Acorn, caught using low-life’s collecting hundreds of thousands of registrations, which should have been flushed down the toilet. Democrats are out to win the presidential race, in any way they can—and have, as ACORN was prosecuted by numerous state attorneys for fraudulent voter registrations. Its federal funding dropped a supposedly dismantled, but however it has resurfaced in New York under a new name. To me and I’m sure to tens of millions of TEA PARTY members this is beyond incredulous, that any politician would try to destroy what little is left of our freedoms. Under no restraint H.R. 3316, in expelling all photo identification necessities, and H.R. 3317, that would allow people to walk into a polling station, register and vote straight away in all 50 states. GOD HELP US! America can no longer support the poverty entering this country. If we don’t look after our own veterans, our own homeless, how we supposed to be the PPO health care for the world. This is an invitation to financial disaster, when large parts of the 16 percent living in poverty are illegal migrants and immigrants Rep. Ellison states his proposals are needed to “curb voter suppression” and shield the rights of young, elderly and minority voters, except photo ID laws in 14 other states have been challenged in America and state Supreme Courts and plaintiffs have no evidence that a single voter would be disenfranchised by those laws. Perhaps Mr. Ellison should investigate the growing trend of illegal aliens or even permanent residence, either by being misled by registration canvassers or using ‘The Motor Voter’ bill to vote. This is extremely dangerous in very close races and has been prevalent in many states throughout the nation. Hopefully the citizens of Vermont see through this reckless law, and drive this unpatriotic fool from Montpelier. The state of Georgia maintains a website for US citizens or any individual to inform the Secretary of State of violations in their voting law. In fact every American state should provide a website to report this serious wrongdoing, as it is undermining the basic foundation of citizen’s right to vote. This is not just a threat within a the polling stations, but where anybody could walk in and profess to be a citizen, Under bills introduced by Rep. Ellison brought to Congress or in his own state of Vermont would have irredeemable consequence to our electoral system. , One of the easiest documents to forge—is the absentee ballot. Outside of the influence of a Secretary of State’s Elections Division is easily compromised. We already have almost indescribable problems with the illegal aliens side-stepping our borders, or slipping through air terminals. Every American state should power their politicians to supply a law, that every American has a government photo ID to vote. In addition today when our country is carrying a near 15 Trillion deficit, we need to start repatriating all illegal foreign nationals. When our elderly cannot find a seat in a clogged emergency room, as the hospital has become overpopulated with illegal parents and their children. That these impoverished people have no conception of the cost for a minor infection, an Aspirin or major treatment. That these are unfunded mandates, which include the education of their many children, is carried by the US taxpayers. Overcrowded public school classroom, congested hospital emergency waiting rooms, is what’s seen above the surface—the massive financial costs are hidden below. Over a $113 Billion dollars is attributed to subsidizing foreign aliens, so surveyed by a Heritage foundation report. No matter where these undocumented are from, they must go home. This is where Lamar Smiths E-VERIFY is so urgently important. The ‘LEGAL WORKFORCE ACT’ will shift the legal responsibility, over to the employer. They will be charged with insuring every worker fills in a I-9 form and identifies the recipient, who has been hired. That the business owner checks their ’Right to Work’ verification through the federal E-Verify process. Those who are ineligible can verify their lawful status, through appearing at the nearest Social Security office, to rectify any problem. Of course No Liberal associated newspaper pass this information, staying silent about any irregularities as they are determined to cripple any chance of this commonsense bill from becoming law.