Politics & Government

Q&A With Elizabeth Black

The Huntington school board trustee eyes a run for the Suffolk County legislature.

Huntington Board of Education trustee Elizabeth Black is considering a run for the Suffolk County 18th Legislative District seat currently held by Democrat Jon Cooper, who is term limited and ineligible for re-election next year. Black, a Republican, recently spoke with Huntington Patch about her interests in the job and what she would bring to it.

Question: What made you want to run?

Answer: I’ve been on the school board for seven years, with one year remaining, and I found that there so many things where my hands were tied. We couldn’t do much because of mandates, we have very little control. There are issues between the town and school board, issues that we didn’t want to get involved in but our hand was forced, where the safety of our children was involved.

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Q. What issues would you hope to address?

A. More county-wide issues; I’m interested in law enforcement and safety, not only in Huntington but countywide. In Suffolk County, we have gang and crime issues that have infiltrated our area.

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As far as budgeting, everything would be on the table. The economy is not in good standing; cuts have to be made everywhere. But not in law enforcement; we need to strengthen that area.

Q. What are your thoughts on the Shotspotters program (a technology championed by the incumbent to detect the location of fired weapons)

A. Anything that could assist in making community members safer is wonderful. The problem is that Shotspotter is after the fact. I’d like to see more preventative measures.

We had three gang members arrested near an intermediate school. The prosecution played important role but we have to have more aggressive preventive measures in town, county, in the schools, with mentoring and truancy components.

Q. What other issues are you interested in addressing?

A. Definitely taxation and regulation in relation to small business. Government has to get out of the way. The county needs to do what it can to encourage entrepreneurs come on in to the Station.

On land use, what kind of decisions do we make that impact our community

There’s too much density. We have to be real careful with what kind of land use decisions we make. It affects the quality of life of everybody.

Q. What are your thoughts on the immigration issues?

A. The key word is illegal. I would go along with what the law is. We have a naturalization process. We have laws in place. My grandparents immigrated from Ireland and England. That’s been part of our American process to legally enter the country. You have to be here the right way. You have to have your papers.  It’s what makes our American society what it is. You have to do it the right way.

Q.  What do you bring to the table?

A. The big piece is that my life shows that I’m a person of commitment. I was raised in Huntington Station and stayed here. I’m very involved in my parish, I raised three kids here.  I love Long Island. The reason I don’t live in the city is that the quality of life is better here than elsewhere. I do volunteer work, while raising my children and working. It’s important that you give back to your community.

Q. What’s it been like, serving on the Huntington Board of Education?

A. Many things have come before us. Obviously we don’t always agree; you’ve got to do what you think is best. The health and safety and fine education of the children are our goals. We’re all doing that.  And we’re upholding the laws of the Constitution.

When you run for a position like that, you know it isn’t going to be easy. It’s not going to be all cupcakes and lollipops.


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