TOWN OF HUNTINGTON, NY — Town of Huntington residents are gearing up to head to the polls for Election Day on Nov. 2, where they will be voting on the Huntington Town Council. Democratic challenger Jennifer Hebert is running against fellow Democrat Joseph Schramm Jr. and Republicans Dave Bennardo and Salvatore Ferro.
Patch reached out to all candidates to hear where they stand on important issues affecting the community.
Here are the responses for those who participated. The answers have been lightly edited for clarity.
Jen Hebert
Age (as of Election Day)
53
Position Sought
Huntington Town Board
Party Affiliation
Democrat
Family
Benjamin (Jamie) Hebert, 54, Husband/Ben D. Hebert, 24, Son/Will Hebert, 21, Son/Sam Hebert, 17, Son.
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
No
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Tufts University 1990
Masters in Art of Teaching - Tufts University 1991
Occupation
"I've worked in education all my life including as a public school kindergarten teacher, a preschool teacher and currently as the director of St. John's Nursery School in Huntington village (for the last 7 years)."
Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office
"I was elected to 3 terms (9 years) on the Huntington Board of Education - elected, unpaid position."
Campaign website
jenhebertfortowncouncil.com
Why are you seeking elective office?
"I served the Huntington School District for 9 years as an elected volunteer on the Board of Education. During that time, I proved that I'm a hardworking, capable leader who knows how to represent constituents with integrity and respect. I know that I can bring that experience to the town board table and help find solutions to the problems and issues that affect our community."
The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
"The single most pressing issue facing our town board is our outdated infrastructure that's being overburdened by the surge of development in our town. We have federal money coming that will give us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to modernize and strengthen our infrastructure. I want to help prioritize how this money is best spent in Huntington and have shovel-ready plans."
What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
"Because of my years on the Board of Ed, I have a record of proven leadership. I ran for three terms and received widespread community support all three times. I worked with colleagues from all over the political spectrum and always found a way to work respectfully and productively with each and every one of them.
"Being the only female town board candidate, I also bring a different perspective to the issues at hand. I think my perspective and approach to finding solutions to our town's problems would be an asset at the table."
If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)
"One of the most pressing issues facing our town board is the dysfunction and mismanagement of the town board by the current leadership. As residents, we deserve a town hall that is well-run and efficient. We deserve to have modern systems in place, so a task like trying to get a permit from the building department doesn't take up to a year. Unfortunately, what we have is a town hall that is carelessly mismanaged, with unqualified people in important positions, and outdated systems that are costing our residents time and money."
How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?
"I would generally give our local officials very low marks for their response to the coronavirus. During a time when our residents and local businesses needed more support than ever, our town hall remained closed to business for far too long. My nursery school was open all last year because we worked hard to put protocol in place that allowed us to remain open safely all year long. The fact that our town hall remained closed during that same period of time is shameful and disrespectful to the Huntington residents and local businesses."
Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.
"I want Huntington to be proactive in addressing the challenges our community faces. This includes issues like stopping contaminated water run-off into our harbors, bringing additional businesses to our downtown areas and the Jericho Turnpike corridor and supporting our youth with internship programs and apprenticeships."
What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
"I've been a small business manager for 7 years as the director of St. John's Nursery School in Huntington village. I'm very proud that I've helped hundreds of students have a strong, positive start to their educational career. I also successfully kept my nursery school up and running during the pandemic which provided employment to 12 staff members.
"As a member of the Huntington Board of Education, I spent 9 years helping improve the district for the students, staff and taxpayers. During my time on the board, I was part of the team that reopened the Jack Abrams School as a STEM magnet school, restored full-day kindergarten in the district, and helped implement countless efficiencies and improvements to the curriculum and district facilities."
The best advice ever shared with me was:
"Just about everything my Mom ever taught me. But also this from a mentor and friend. Always make sure to do your homework and make your decisions for the right reasons. If you've done that, you can stand strong and firm knowing you're doing what you think is best."
What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
"I strongly believe I'm the right person for this job. I'm not interested in being a politician. I'm interested in governance, in doing the work and being a responsible, dedicated representative of our community. I truly hope for the opportunity to serve our town."