It’s no secret that Smithtown’s metamorphosis is cut from an entirely different cloth than those of other towns. Not only is the Town experiencing the same growing pains the other nine Suffolk towns are facing, but Smithtown’s growth was especially beleaguered under a past administration that took few risks while the Town remained stuck in the Twentieth Century.
Enter Ed Wehrheim, who was first elected in 2017 and resoundingly returned to Town Hall in 2021. Wehrheim successfully primaried former Supervisor Pat Vecchio (R) in 2017 on the merits of aging – or in some places, nonexistent – infrastructure, outdated parks, and the needed revitalization of the Town’s three business districts – Smithtown hamlet, St. James, and Kings Park.
Over the last four years, the Town has successfully revitalized the lion’s share of its parks, delivering Town assets to the community that can also serve as anchors for families who might consider moving elsewhere – a much-needed bolster to the Town’s school district’s declining enrollments.
Moreover, St. James’ revitalization is nearing completion, while Kings Park sewers are finally coming online. Supervisor Wehrheim and his team successfully lobbied the State for the much-needed Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) funds to the tune of about $10 million, funds that will go directly into beautifying downtown Kings Park starting next year.
With that, the Kings Park Republican has been eager to hold certain feet to the fire on facades and aesthetics, citing to us in his interview over the summer that the Town could only take such enforcements so far if the Town itself wasn’t holding up their end of the bargain. Power lines are slated to be moved from the sidewalks to the rears of the buildings, a move his opponents have claimed was feasible. Mr. Wehrheim has raised the point with the utilities multiple times. We revert to our point made in our June endorsement of the incumbent, if it were as simple as his detractors say, it would have been done already.
Moreover, building caps have been cited as a key issue in this campaign. We’ve stated previously that we could easily climb aboard the ship against “overdevelopment” at face value, but again, Mr. Wehrheim’s detractors fail to note that buildings heights are already capped – 3 stories in St. James, 3 in Smithtown, and 2.5 in Kings Park, with the latter’s third-story option requiring a recess to fit the character of the neighborhood.
Wehrheim has also been able to maintain the Town’s coveted AAA bond rating while shepherding the Town’s open space program that incentivizes new developments to section off some green space.
Mr. Wehrheim successfully won a contentious June primary that was essentially a referendum on his leadership versus over-development. His then-opponent, term-limited Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta, is the Town Democratic Committee’s current choice for a write-in campaign this November, although the Fort Salonga Republican has said that he is not actively campaigning on that line.
Originally slated to run against the Supervisor this year was Rosemary Griffin. However, the Kings Park Democrat suspended her campaign in July for undisclosed reasons, leaving her name on the ballot while her committee is seeking write-in votes for Mr. Trotta.
Our understanding is that Ms. Griffin sought an amicable campaign this autumn, one much different from the June Republican Primary. During Smithtown Day in June, the two shook hands on a clean campaign, but we also understand that Ms. Griffin didn’t exactly object to many of Mr. Wehrheim’s accomplishments thus far.
Mr. Wehrheim has also been a staunch supporter of preservation of both natural and historical terms, including his aid to the Calderone Theatre of St. James, which the Town currently possesses and charges just one dollar per year in rent to Celebrate St. James, the non-profit who is looking to revitalize the property.
As we said before, Smithtown has made significant progress thus far. We don’t feel that now is the time for a learning curve, lest the momentum be lost.
The Messenger endorses Wehrheim.
Sal Formica for County Legislature, District Thirteen
The Thirteenth District includes Fort Salonga, Head of the Harbor, Kings Park, Nissequogue, San Remo, St. James, and parts of Commack and Smithtown hamlet within Smithtown Township, and parts of Commack within Huntington Township.
There’s a reason the Swiss Army Knife is considered a kitchen-drawer must-have. We think Sal Formica could be such an addition to the Suffolk County Legislature.
The open Thirteenth District is up for grabs as Legislator Trotta is term-limited. Mr. Formica defeated Frank Black, a Smithtown Republican, in June by a handy margin, and now faces Kings Park Board of Education Trustee Shala Pasucci.
The Commack Republican not only has deep Smithtonian roots, but has storied experience in hospitality, finance, law enforcement, and emergency services. After a decade-long career in banking, Mr. Formica moved not just to law enforcement, but to an NYPD precinct tasked with protecting high-profile dignitaries, including U.S. presidents, at the United Nations. He’s also a decades-long member of the Commack Fire Department, having served as chief, and has extensive experience in EMS as well.
Mr. Formica also put some serious skin in the game in his hometown by opening a restaurant – Sal’s Ristorante on Jericho Turnpike – serving as owner and head chef. What might seem a seemingly innocuous venture to some instead signals to us not only commitment to community, but optimism and contribution as well.
For LD-13, a representative at the County will be an invariable help to the Town’s ongoing revitalization efforts in terms of grant funding, particularly for infrastructure. But since this position entails a County-wide prerogative, we feel that this position is reserved for a candidate who is a Swiss Army Knife of seasoned proportions. We’re also interested in his proposal to enact a law that imposes consequences if bystanders intervene in an active arrest or police situation or otherwise involves themselves in any way that could threaten officers’ safety. Mr. Formica also stresses that rights of recording and presence are not to be violated – a balanced, common-sense approach with which we agree.
Ms. Pascucci brings a passionate approach to issues, but we feel that her platform is much too focused on issues that are handled by the Town rather than the County. The Kings Park Democrat emits a palpable desire for change within Smithtown, but the exact changes she’s seeking can’t be effectuated from the horseshoe.
As we said in our June endorsement, the successor to this seat will have seventeen other teammates in a County that’s evolving before our very eyes. This position requires someone with a seasoned background to speak not only to multiple issues, but numerous walks of life.
The Messenger endorses Formica.
