Vilar and Welk Face Off in Race for 2nd Legislative District

When residents in Suffolk County's 2nd Legislative District go to the polls on November 7th, they will be asked to choose between Manny Vilar who will appear on the Republican and Conservative lines of the ballot, and Ann Welker, who will appear on the Democrat and Working Family Party lines of the ballot. The candidates are vying for the seat that is occupied by retiring Incumbent Democrat, Legislator Bridget Fleming.

Vilar, a resident of Springs in East Hampton, is a recently retired New York State Parks Police Senior Sergeant. He is Chairman of the East Hampton Town Republican Committee. Vilar is one of the last elected Bay Constables in the State of New York; and he is the founding president of the Police Benevolent Association of New York State.

Asked why he is running for the 2nd LD Seat, Vilar told South Shore Press in a phone interview this week. "I love the eastern Long Island community and having spent a lifetime here, I am able to see the failures that occurred such as the housing crisis, and the lack of sustainable jobs," Vilar explained. "On a Suffolk County level, infrastructure is a key part of developing a sustainable economic environment for good paying jobs," Vilar added.

Vilar cited the County Road 39 main thoroughfare in and out of the South Fork, as a prime example of the need for infrastructure and road repairs and upgrades. Vilar also cites the need to devise a better plan for septic waste management. "The number one problem with zoning is the capacity to handle septic filtration, because we've reached the saturation point, and we can't put sewage in the ground," Vilar explained. "We need to look at alternatives such as incinerating sewage and thinking outside the box, and long-term, viable solutions. These," Vilar pointed out, "are all things that fall within the perusal of Suffolk County government."

With the opioid issue high on Vilar's agenda of priorities, education in schools combined with greater outreach into communities, he says, are key. "We're fortunate in that we've finally got an incredible DA in Ray Tierney who rolls up his sleeves and is able to work to get the job done," Vilar said. "We're going to work to give DA Tierney the staff he needs, and to get law enforcement the training tools they need." Vilar added: "The best way to keep kids off drugs is for them to have jobs, and this all starts with a budget that is fiscally responsible."

Where to locate migrants coming into the County and the South Fork is a big issue which Vilar underscored in his interview that needs to be addressed sooner, rather than later. Vilar said the CDCH building in East Hampton, the Southampton Campus of Stony Brook, and Gabreski Airport, are locations that have been floated to situate migrants. "Before we do anything else," Vilar stated, "we need to get serious with the migrant location. We can't even think about this until we solve our own acute housing crisis for people who are here. We have doctors, we have nurses, and we have teachers, police officers and so many more professionals who need to find housing." Vilar asserts immigration is a federal issue. Legislation, he said, "needs to be at the forefront of leading the charge that says 'Wait a minute.' "

Addressing the fiscal crisis in the county will be a priority on Vilar's agenda. "Our bond rating is having an adverse impact on the county; we need to return to having solid, fiscal integrity," Vilar said. "With County Executive Romaine, me, and Catherine Stark (as 1st District Legislator), we will rein in the County's finances." Vilar also noted that the County's workforce has been reduced to levels that he says are "unsustainable," and who should be performing jobs rather than county lawmakers contracting work out. Vilar also cited "epic failures of the county in the past" such as occurrences within CPS that underscore the mandate to provide county employees with the tools they need to successfully carry out their duties. "We have a very highly educated and highlytrained work force in Suffolk County, and we need to provide these people with the tools they need to perform those jobs they've been hired to do," Vilar said.

Asked what makes him the better candidate, Vilar told the South Shore Press: "I bring several decades of experience in law enforcement, government administration, and advocacy in dealing with complex state budget issues to the table." Citing his experience as a founding member of the New York State PBA, Vilar continued: "I ran a big union and I bring a level of governmental experience on how to make government work efficiently and smoothly that spans decades that a lot of people just don't have." Vilar maintains he brings to the table his ability to "work with public employees to bridge gaps, and understand the intricacies of legislation on the state level, and how it impacts us on the local level so we can best serve the County of Suffolk."

Welker failed to return several phone calls and text requests for an interview, nor did she attend an interview before the South Shore Press editorial review board to showcase her platform in her bid for election to the 2nd LD. With water quality improvement and environmental protection being hallmarks of her campaign, Welker has been endorsed by Fleming.

Vilar's endorsements at press time include: Eastern Long Island Police Conference, Suffolk County Superior Officers Association, Suffolk County Detective Investigators Association, Suffolk County PBA, Nassau County Superior Officers Association, Nassau County Detective Investigators Association, New York State Republican Latinos, New York State Republican Assembly Campaign Committee, Brookhaven Town Supervisor and Republican Suffolk County Executive Candidate Ed Romaine, Congressman Nick LaLota, Congressman Andrew Garbarino, former Congressman Lee Zeldin, and Deputy Inspector Alison Esposito.