By Angela Marshall
Republican incumbent Kathleen Murray was appointed to replace Richard Guardino last February when he left to take a position at Hofstra University.
Murray, a former town clerk and state assemblywoman, faces town Councilwoman Dorothy L. Goosby, the only Democrat on the board. Goosby still bridles at the fact that Murray was appointed to the position instead of earning the right in a special election, giving her eight months in office to build name recognition. Not that Murray needs it; she was successfully re-elected twice to the state assembly and was elected the first woman town clerk in 2001. Goosby has since successfully urged an assemblyman to introduce a bill that, if adopted, would change the state law that now requires vacancies to be filled by appointment.
Murray says the town board was just following the law when she was appointed, and points out that Goosby had to go to a Suffolk County assemblyman to find support for her cause.
Goosby was first elected to the board in 1999, and it was her lawsuit against the town's at-large election system that led to the creation of six geographic councilmanic districts so that each area had a specific representative. She boldly calls herself a "changer of government." But those who believed councilmanic districts would help the Dems take control of the town, long a Republican stronghold, were sorely disappointed when Goosby was the only Democrat incumbent returned to office in the 2000 special election to establish those districts.
Despite her underdog status on the board, Goosby feels she has contributed in large ways to town government during her three years on the board. She says she has the qualifications her opponent lacks, pointing out that it was she, not Murray, who has worked on the town's last three budgets. "She has not had to do anything," Goosby said.
Murray disagrees. "I think I'm very much qualified," she said.
The incumbent said she has had eight months to learn the job of supervisor, and as town clerk she learned the ins and outs of the town departments. Murray also said she has proved she could handle the job with the leadership skills she displayed during the many trials the town has faced during her brief tenure, including one of the toughest winters in recent memory, the blackout and the threat of hurricane Isabel.
Murray, who practiced law before being appointed to the assembly in 1998, says she understands what it takes to be town supervisor, making sure quality services are delivered in a timely manner and at the "best and lowest cost." She also believes her position can be used as a "bully pulpit" and vows if elected to keep standing up against injustices on all levels. She already spoke out against a $25 fee the county was charging residents who wanted to fight their property assessment. She said it was like the county made a mistake and was forcing the injured party to pay to have it rectified.
That issue aside, Murray said she has an "excellent relationship" with County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi and that they worked together to protect residents during last winter's blizzard and last summer's blackout.
Goosby believes her run itself is a fight against injustices. She said not all areas of the town are served equally, and she is the person who can bring equity to all. She says one of the first things she would do if elected is remove administrators she feels have been given patronage jobs. "They're not there because they're actually qualified," she continued, saying that she has provided resumes of well-qualified applicants who haven't even been considered for jobs.
Goosby is a registered dietitian/nutritionist and has a master's degree in labor relations, accounting and finance.
Both candidates say they are committed to finding a way to solve the town's affordable-housing crisis and addressing environmental issues.
