Incumbent Republican Councilman Jim O’Connor is running for reelection, this year for the first time in a councilmanic district. He also makes history as the first incumbent to run following Islip redrawn electoral map away from at-large voting, running to represent the constituents of District 2 in the hamlets of East Islip, Islip Terrace, Bohemia, Oakdale, Hauppauge, Central Islip, North Great River, and Great River.
O’Connor is an accomplished attorney and a small business owner and has made reinvesting in Islip’s Downtowns and Main Streets a priority. He continues pushing this work as a member of Islip Towns Economic Development Commission and IDA.
As a father of a non-verbal son on the Autism spectrum, O’Connor takes his role as Chairperson of the Town of Islip Disability Advisory Board seriously. He has advocated strongly for the disabled community, revitalizing the town’s initiatives and establishing the first Town of Islip Disability Advisory Board Resource Guide.
O’Connor has fought diligently to save taxpayer dollars by maintaining the Town’s Aaa bond rating for the sixth year in a row, a commitment he made when first elected. In the face of COVID-19, he focused health and safety, helping secure pop-up testing and free vaccination sites, and to ensure vital services such as housing and senior meal assistance. For small businesses, he fought hard to mitigate the effects of the pandemic to help deliver over $250,000 of COVID grants to Islip small businesses.
Further, O’Connor is a strong proponent of environmental initiatives that protect and support Islip’s celebrated biodiversity, including programs to enhance save the Great South Bay.
O’Connor’s campaign theme “Leadership. Experience. Activism. Collaboration” truly summarizes his common-sense approach to government.
The Messenger Papers endorse Councilman Jim O’Connor for Islip Town Councilman in District Two.
