Candidate: Karen Dunne Kesnig
Residence: Manorville
Office Sought: Brookhaven Town Council, District Six
Prior Elected Experience: None
Party Endorsements: Republican, Conservative
Notable Endorsements (including, but not limited to): AFL-CIO, LIBI, LiUNA, CSEA, Suffolk County Corrections Officers
Karen Dunne Kesnig has big shoes to fill in the wake of Dan Panico’s (R-Center Moriches) run for Town Supervisor. She’s making a strong push to retain this solidly-Republican seat for her Party.
Karen Dunne Kesnig directly responded to The Messenger’s request for this candidate spotlight.
Candidate: Kerry Spooner
Residence: Calverton
Office Sought: Brookhaven Town Council, District Six
Prior Elected Experience: None
Party Endorsements: Democratic, Working Families
Notable Endorsements (including, but not limited to): AME, CWA 1109, Eleanor’s Legacy
Kerry Spooner has taken on the formidable task of flipping perhaps the reddest seat on the Brookhaven Town Council.
Kerry Spooner directly responded to The Messenger’s request for this candidate spotlight.
Q: What is your professional background and how does it equip you for the Council?
Karen Dunne Kesnig: I have been an attorney in private practice for thirty-eight years with a specialty in estate planning and administration. I served on the Eastport South Manor Board of Education from 1997 to 2019 and was either President or Vice President for many of those years. I have been President of the Manorville Chamber of Commerce since 2006, and I have been on the Town of Brookhaven Planning Board since 2013. In all of these roles I have evidenced my strong leadership skills and ability to make hard choices.
Kerry Spooner: Education, entrepreneurship, union work and my prior tenure as an elected finance chair for Custer Institute and Observatory, my prior work as a labor technician specialized in creating pathways to employment, particularly for underserved populations, founder and president of Sound Justice Initiative, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities for justice-involved individuals. Leading committees, collaborating with diverse stakeholders, including primary stakeholders, governmental agencies, nonprofits, and community-based organizations, as well as founding companies like the Ivy Writing Scholar—an online tutoring venture, demands exceptional and creative problem-solving skills.
I have also been a Party Committee Member since 2021. I also served two years as an elected Executive Council Member of the Suffolk Community College Faculty Association.
Q: What do you think is the defining political issue facing Brookhaven?
Karen Dunne Kesnig: As I have been speaking to many of the residents in the Sixth District, their top two concerns are safety and affordability.
Kerry Spooner: Quality of life, unaffordable housing, the landfill debacle, unsafe drinking water, and the lack of living-wage jobs with benefits. We need an independent voice in Brookhaven, and I’m the only candidate in my race with an independent voice.
Q: What’s your top priority if you win this election?
Karen Dunne Kesnig: My top priority if elected is land preservation and intelligent redevelopment of existing developments by keeping clean water and energy at the forefront in our decisions moving forward.
Kerry Spooner: Development of an environmental and economic plan that prioritizes the closure of the landfill. In addition, I will scrutinize the conditions under which our public officials operate in Brookhaven, focusing on critical areas such as land-use and zoning decisions, town procurement, and permit systems.
Q: What is your personal background and how do you like to connect with the Sixth District?
Karen Dunne Kesnig: I am married to Richard, we have four adult children and three grandchildren. Our favorite local restaurant is La Volpe and our favorite local small business Bruno’s farm stand!
Kerry Spooner: Having called Brookhaven home for two decades and earned a Ph.D. from Stony Brook University, I am deeply invested in our community’s well-being. My wife, Anne, and I are dedicated to raising our beloved young son here. I’m also a proponent of practical governance. To have a more direct impact, I believe council members should maintain small offices strategically located in the most underserved parts of the members’ district. This approach ensures accessibility and responsiveness to the unique needs of different communities.
The Messenger thanks Karen Dunne Kesnig and Kerry Spooner for returning our questions.
The Messenger’s forecast for Brookhaven Town Council, District Six: Safe Republican
About the Sixth District
The Sixth District includes Mastic, Mastic Beach, Manorville, Moriches, Center Moriches, East Moriches, Eastport, and parts of Shirley, Ridge, and Calverton.
The Sixth District regularly gave Dan Panico margins north of 65% of the vote. This is arguably the reddest seat in the Brookhaven Council. We believe Karen Dunne Kesnig is a safe bet to win the Town’s easternmost seat.
