The New York League of Conservation Voters is proud to announce endorsements for seven candidates for the Suffolk County Legislature. Following the failure of county lawmakers to pass the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act, the New York League of Conservation Voters believes a new direction is needed on Long Island and that it’s time to elect a majority who will prioritize the health of its residents.
In the 2023 Legislative Session, the state approved a ballot measure to advance the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act which would have funded the Suffolk County Subwatersheds Wastewater Plan. However, despite having overwhelming support from residents as well as business, labor, and environmental groups, the majority in the Suffolk County Legislature chose to keep the measure off the ballot, thereby taking it out of the hands of county residents, the very people who for decades have suffered from the health impacts of unsafe levels of nitrogen in their water.
“There is a crisis happening on Long Island that is decades in the making. The water in the bays and harbors and the water coming into homes across Suffolk County–water that our children drink every day of their lives–is at risk from unsafe levels of nitrogen caused by septic pollution,” said NYLCV President Julie Tighe. “A solution was proposed and all that lawmakers had to do was place it on the ballot. Sadly, the majority in the Suffolk County Legislature chose pure politics over the health of their constituents. This fight is not over and we look forward to the November election when voters will have the opportunity to choose public health over partisan politics.”
Last year was a big year for the environment at the ballot box. A record number of candidates sought NYLCV’s endorsement – indicating that the environment continues to grow in importance for voters – and New Yorkers overwhelmingly, and in bipartisan fashion, approved the Environmental Bond Act. NYLCV looks forward to carrying this momentum into the 2023 election and beyond, and we are proud to endorse the following candidates for the Suffolk County Legislature:
Suffolk County Legislature:
Catherine Kent (D)
Ann Welker (D)
Steve Englebright (D)
Dorothy Cavalier (D)
Ryan McGarry (D)
Thomas Donnelly (D)*
Eve Meltzer Krief (D)
Samuel Gonzalez (D)**
Jason Richberg (D)**
* indicates the candidate is an incumbent.
** indicates incumbent candidate endorsed in July
Today’s announcement brings the total number of NYLCV-endorsed candidates on Long Island to 30; of those 19 are democrats and 11 are republicans, including Ed Romaine for Suffolk County Executive. The League has endorsed a total of 115 candidates statewide. Of the 48 candidates from the League’s first round of endorsements, which are listed here, 95% of them won their primary election.
Early voting for the general election runs from October 28 to November 5 and Election Day is on November 7. NYLCV will announce additional endorsements later this election season.