The list of candidates for the Smithtown Special Library District’s board of trustees has been released and contains 15 candidates vying for three positions. The election is on October 11.
The eyebrow raising-chasm between the number of candidates and the number of seats open epitomizes the increasing interest in seats traditionally won in low turnout, low viability elections.
In some regards, Smithtown is at the forefront of the changing dynamic surrounding local races in an increasingly polarized environment. While it might be expected in a situation like this one for candidates to drop out to bolster support for like-minded candidates, a spokesperson for the library stated that the ballot is finalized.
Board Candidates as they appear on the Smithtown library website (Residences and statements were omitted for space and can be found on the library’s website):
Joseph Gregurich (incumbent):
Education:
• BS Computer Science – SUNY Oswego – 1990
Work Experience:
• Consultant – The Jamann Group – 2017-present
Organizations:
• Member – Friends of The Smithtown Library
Lucian T. Durso:
Education:
• High School Diploma – Fort Hamilton -1970
• B.S. – CUNY Queens College – 1975 • M.S. Health Education – Hofstra – 1981
Work Experience:
• Director – Day Care Centers Huntington Y.M.C.A. – 1975-1979
• Teacher/Coach – Westbury Public Schools – 1979-2013
Organizations:
• Executive Board Director – Westbury Teachers Union – 1990-2013
• Retired Member – N.Y.S.U.T. – 2013-present
Barbara Deal:
Education:
• B.A. in English – SUNY Stony Brook – 1991
• M.S. in Special Education – Adelphi University – 1994
Work Experience:
• Program Specialist I – Nassau BOCES – 12/2020-present
• Program Specialist II – Nassau BOCES – 9/2007-12/2020
• Sales Representative – Pearson Longman – 4/2004-8/2007
Organizations:
• Vice President – Local SAANYS Union – 10/2016-present
• Treasurer/Secretary – LIESA – 10/2001-10/2007
• Vice President – Nob Hill South – 10/2002-10/2013
Carol Katz:
Education:
• A.S. – Suffolk Community College – 2010
• Diploma – Kings Park High School – 1990 Work Experience:
• Sales Manager – Omni Funding Corp. – 1980-2022
• C.E.O – Be Our Guest Bridal Works and Consultants – 1993-2022
Organizations:
• Vice President – Smithtown North Home Owners Assoc. – 2013-2016
• Chairperson of 3 Committees – Half Hollow Hills P.T.A. – 1987-1993
Charles Fisher:
Education:
• J.D. – Fordham University School of Law – 1995
• B.B.A. – University of Notre Dame – 1992 Work Experience:
• Attorney – Fisher Law – 2012-2022 Organizations:
• Committeeman – Smithtown Republican Club
Helene Stein:
Education:
• Masters – Teachers College
Columbia University -1 996
• Bachelors of Arts – University of Pennsylvania – 1994
Work Experience:
• Teacher – North Shore School District – 2014-present
• Teacher – Bay Ridge Prep – 1996-2013 Organizations:
• Member – Professional Development Committee – 2017-present
• Co-chair – Wellness Committee of PTA – 2013-2015
Howard E. Knispel, P.C.
Education:
• JD – New York Law School – 1988
• BA – Eisenhower College of RIT – 1981 Work Experience:
• Owner – Howard E. Knispel, P.C.
• Principal – Law Office of Howard E. Knispel – 2001-2009
• Associate – Sari M. Friedman, P.C. – 2000-2001 Organizations:
• Member – Smithtown Sunrise Rotary – 2019-present
• Board Member – Smithtown Board of Ethics – 2007-2009
• Member – Suffolk County Bar Assoc.
Theresa M Stabile:
Education:
• Medical Billing & Coding – Hunter Business School – 2013
• Certified Pharmacy Technician – Pharmacy Tech ENT – 2004
• BA – Stony Brook University/ Excelsior College – 1979
Work Experience:
• CSR – West Carver Medical – 2/2022-present
• Data Entry – Huntington Hospital – 12/2019-9/2021
• Customer Compliance Manager – Akron Generics – 11/2018-2/2019
Organizations:
• Board of Trustee – The Smithtown Library – 2019-2021
• Certified Pharmacy Technician – National Health Career Assoc. – 2004-2008
• Lector Coordinator/Teacher of Religious Education – Christ the King Parish – 1972-1997
Annette Galarza:
Education:
• BS Computer Science Work Experience:
• Senior Project Manager – LSEG – Present Organizations:
• Certified PMP – Project Management Institute – Present
• CSM – Scrum Alliance – Present
Anita Doward-Neufeld (Incumbent):
Education:
• Certified Human Resource Professional – SHRM – 2017-present
• Post Graduate Executive Leadership Certificate – SUNY Purchase – 2017
• Masters of Arts – SUNY Stony Brook – 1985
Work Experience:
• Senior Vice President-Community Services – Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. – 1992-present
Organizations:
• Board of Trustees – The Smithtown Library – 2017-present • Friends Member – Friends of The Smithtown Library – 2017-present
• Member – Society for Human Resource Management – 2017-present
JoAnn Lynch:
Education:
• A.S. – Farmingdale College – 1994
• Diploma – Copiague High School – 1992
Work Experience:
• Copywriter – Freelance – 2007-2008
• Pharmacy Technician – South Oaks Hospital – 1998-2007 • Pharmacy Technician – American Preferred Prescriptions – 1994-1998
Organizations: • Volunteer – PFA Kings Park HS – 2017-2002 • Member – Kings Park Moms Club – 2013-present
Deborah J. Roberts:
Education:
• Associate in Applied Science with Distinction – Suffolk County Community College – 1999
• Master of Arts in Liberal Studies – SUNY at Stony Brook – 1975
• Bachelor of Arts – SUNY at Stony Brook – 1971
Work Experience:
• Optician/Office Manager – Hauppauge Vision – 1999-2020
• Long Term Leave Replacement Substitute Teacher – Central Islip High School Math Department – 1996-1997
• Long Term Leave and Per Diem Substitute English Teacher – Deer Park High School and Middle School – 1993-1996
Organizations:
• Committee Person – Smithtown Democrats
• Past Board Member – Temple Beth Chai of Hauppauge
• Former Board Member – Mid Suffolk NOW
Frank Chester:
Education:
• BS in Business Administration – Villanova University – 1970
Work Experience:
• Member – New York Stock Exchange – 1983-2006
• Floor Trader
• Seat Owner – Olsen Securities Stock Exchange
Organizations:
• Assistant Basketball Coach – Old Westbury College – 2014-present
Michael Gannon:
Education:
• BA Economics – SUNY Buffalo – 1990 Work Experience:
• CEO/Business Owner – 2005-present
Mildred Bernstein:
Education:
• Master of Library Science – CUNY Queens College – 2000
• Professional Diploma – Long Island University – 1996
• Master of Science – Long Island University – 1993
Work Experience:
• Inter Library Loan Librarian – Nassau BOCES – 11/2021-present
• Office Assistant – Commack Union Free School District – 7/2017-9/2021
• Part-time Librarian – Hauppauge Public Library – 3/2017-present
Organizations:
• Member – American Library Association – 5/2022-present
• Member – Long Island Association of Jewish Libraries – 1/2000-present
• Lifetime Member – Jewish Genealogical Society of Long Island – 1/1994-present
