Candidate: Legislator Dominick Thorne
Residence: Patchogue
Office: Suffolk County Legislature, District Seven
Elected: 2021, re-elected in 2023
Committees: Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services & Medical Preparedness (Chair); Seniors and Human Services (Vice Chair); Public Works, Transportation & Energy; Veterans; Budget & Finance
Party Endorsements: Republican, Conservative
Notable Endorsements: Association of Municipal Employees (AME), Long Island Law Enforcement Federation, Suffolk Community College Faculty, building and construction unions
In 2021, Dominick Thorne flipped a blue seat red, ousting then-Presiding Officer Rob Calarco (D-Patchogue). He was re-elected in 2023 by a ten-point margin, dispatching an opponent who received national campaign funds.
Legislator Thorne sat down with The Messenger for the purpose of this candidate spotlight interview.
Q: What is your professional background and how has it equipped you for the Legislature?
A: I worked for the Suffolk County Board of Elections for seven years. I have twenty-five years of experience in emergency medical services (EMS) and fire services. I also worked part-time in a mechanic shop. I also currently ride with South Country Ambulance as an EMT. I can’t stand here as the Chair of the FRES Committee and ask people to volunteer if I don’t do it myself. It would be hypocritical, so I joined the squad and ride whenever possible.
Q: What are some of your accomplishments for the Seventh District in the last two years?
A: Everything I promised I would do in my first two terms is done. Two years ago, we talked about preserving the Bianci-Weiss Property. That deal is done and it’s now a beautiful preserve with a nice walking path. It’s no longer a blighted property. We also talked about the Avery Property in East Patchogue. We’ve put $250,000 in new fencing and repairs on the structure, as well as $50,000 in a State grant to replace the barn roof. That’s currently in progress.
District-wide, I’ve secured almost 100 acres of open space, ten of them here in the Village of Patchogue. I also finished a meeting with Mayor Pontieri this month to look at the transportation network. There’s too many buses idling and too many people hanging out at the train station and bus stops. It’s right across from two schools and poses hazards to children and hardworking people. We took all the benches out so people can’t use the space for criminal activity. We’re looking to move the hub out of Patchogue and back to Ronkonkoma where it belongs.
In Blue Point, we put up a beautiful skate park that is now property of the Town. That park is busy every day of the week. In Canaan Lake, we’ve spent $50,000 on revitalizing the park with new swings and gates, we cut back all the weeds, and put in a canoe rental dock.
We’ve continued the concert series in Medford but we also have done a $100,000 sewer feasibility study there. The State Route 112 corridor makes the most sense. We’ve also obtained another $100,000 for the same study for Gordon Heights.
Speaking of Gordon Heights, I promised to revitalize the area, which has been difficult since they don’t have sewers. We have the study looking at Granny Road into the heart of the hamlet so we can put a business district there – mixed-use zoning with affordable housing on top and stores on the bottom. They have the highest fire district tax in the state. Since there’s no business district, the tax burden falls on the residents. Past administrations split Gordon Heights into three ZIP codes to dump unwanted things there, and then they wondered why the area wasn’t surviving. I’m rapidly trying to correct that.
In Coram, we’ve been monitoring drug activity. Recently, there were three overdoses in Coram, and within hours, the police took 20 grams of fentanyl, a firearm, and a bad guy off the streets. That’s Suffolk County at its best.
In Bellport, we’re replacing broken sidewalks on South Country Road (CR-36). We’re looking at replacing antiquated sewers there and rerouting one that drains into an active body of water. We’re also looking at crosswalks and streetscape improvements to make it safer for pedestrians.
In North Bellport, we’ve had some great results. We allocated $3.5 million worth of sewer money and I’m working on an economic development plan to bring more sewers in. We’ll be running a sewer line into Bellport Village down Station Road and along a bit of Montauk Highway. We can’t have supermarkets or restaurants in North Bellport without sewers. We’ve also identified some blighted properties in the Greater Bellport Area for open space but also to build affordable, single-family dwellings. It puts a family in a home and gets the vacant properties off the County tax rolls.
We’re also looking at expanding knowledge of resources for kids with special needs. We’re working on holding a health fair explicitly for that population. It was helpful in North Bellport and Gordon Heights with our “Give Back” days – all County resources in one spot.
Q: What are some of your accomplishments for the County at-large in the last two years?
A: I sponsored a bill that requires police vehicles to carry Epi-Pens. A life was saved just days after the law went on the books. I also sponsored a bill that requires developers seeking subsidies to section off units for first responders, particularly fire and EMS volunteers. We have 11,000 fire and EMS volunteers from Amityville to Montauk. There is a problem with recruitment and retention. We structured the bill to keep volunteers close to their home stations.
I also helped craft a bill to crack down on unscrupulous contractors soliciting people for fire board-up services. One fire in North Patchogue saw eleven different people approach the owner to the board-up. The law also stipulates that those contractors can’t be within 1,000 feet of a fire line. Some have even physically threatened our firefighters and investigation teams.
These bills passed with unanimous, bipartisan support.
I also helped lead an initiative to merge Suffolk’s Fire and Rescue with Emergency Services, as EMS was previously under the Health Department. Now, they all train together and respond together. It’s the Unified Command System and it’s wildly important. One team, one purpose.
I’m also working to inform the community that, amidst the immigration reforms – whether you’re for or against – is that some people are afraid to call the police because their immigration status might be checked. The County is not involved in that; that is a federal issue. If you call 911, you will be responded to and treated just like anyone else. And like anyone else, if you have a warrant, you’ll be arrested. But if you don’t have a warrant and need help, you will get help.
Q: Last year, you voted to sue the State over the even-year elections law. Explain your stance.
A: A coward dies a thousand deaths; what’s wrong is wrong and what’s right is right. And Governor Hochul (D) was wrong on this one. Local elections are where bread-and-butter issues are. It’s your police, fire, and EMS. I support term limits and it’s wildly important we protect them. You do not interfere with local elections. There’s a reason Suffolk County has a charter. Suffolk voters need to know what we’re doing. Fifty-plus people on the ballot will overwhelm the voters and some will only vote for president and leave the rest of the ballot blank.
Q: What’s your favorite quote, motto, or work ethic?
A: “Be the servant for all people all of the time.”
Q: How do you like to connect with and enjoy your community?
A: I grew up in a single-parent welfare home. It taught me the value of money, it taught me that not everyone eats every day. It taught me to be compassionate to those people but also to lift them up. I find the most joy in conversations when I know someone doesn’t support me. The more you promote conversations, the less arguments you’re going to have. The angriest customer is your best source of growth. There’s not one community I can’t have a conversation with, even if we disagree. It’s been a blessing to help change neighborhoods.
I have two young daughters and I spend time with them and my wife in my spare time. I was married for twenty-four years before my first wife suddenly passed. But what an amazing thing to be blessed twice in a lifetime.
The Messenger thanks Legislator Thorne for taking time for this interview
About the Seventh District
The Seventh District includes Bellport, Blue Point, East Patchogue, Gordon Heights, North Bellport, Patchogue, and parts of Coram, Holtsville, Middle Island, and the portions of Fire Island with the Town of Brookhaven.
Legislator Thorne faces Jawaan Sween (D), who is not actively campaigning.
