Candidates for Suffolk County Legislator (District 18): Incumbent Stephanie Bontempi and Dr. Eve Krief

Stephanie Bontempi and Dr. Eve Krief are competing for the Suffolk County Legislator seat for the 18th district, an area that reaches from Cold Spring Harbor through Huntington, Centerport, Northport and East Northport.

County legislators introduce, debate and vote on various pieces of legislation that cover a wide range of issues, including the county budget, zoning regulations, public safety and environmental protection. The legislature also ​​determines how county funds are allocated for various services and programs, oversees county government operations, and establishes policies that cover areas like transportation, public health, housing and economic development.

Below is information on each candidate and their priorities, endorsements and goals for the coming term.

Legislator Stephanie Bontempi
Republican incumbent Stephanie Bontempi is a Centerport resident and former elementary school teacher who was elected to the 18th legislative district in 2021.

On her campaign website, Bontempi highlights five key priorities: making government work for taxpayers and reducing inefficiencies in government; supporting legislation that benefits veterans; protecting and enhancing the health of Suffolk’s environment; building public trust with transparency; and supporting and funding law enforcement.

Some of Bontempi’s most notable endorsements include the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association and other law enforcement associations, the Suffolk Association of Municipal Employees (AME), the Utility Workers Union of America Local 393, and the Faculty Association of Suffolk County Community College.

Bontempi includes in her first-term accomplishments her support of legislation to secure more housing for veterans and the disabled, sponsorship of efforts to address drug and alcohol addiction, and initiatives to preserve over 200 acres of open space in Suffolk County.

She has been criticized for her vote against the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act, which would have been included as a proposition on Tuesday’s ballot for public approval had the vote to approve it passed. The measure would have created a fund to restore clean water with additional sewers and upgraded septic systems throughout the county; it also would have extended an existing tax-free grant program for homeowners upgrading to clean water septic systems, and allowed the county to take advantage of federal and state grants currently available for sewer expansion. Bontempi, along with all other Republican legislators in Suffolk, voted against moving the measure forward.

If re-elected, Bontempi told the Journal, “I hope to continue to ensure that high standards of public safety are maintained, any development is consistent with the suburban lifestyle that the community cherishes, and our infrastructure is maintained and improved.” She also plans to make sure the environment is “protected in a sustainable, fair and realistic manner” and “our businesses are not overburdened with fees and red tape.”

When asked about the three Northport-East Northport district properties that are being considered for potential lease or sale, Bontempi said, “I have already reached out to the school district on behalf of the county to express interest in acquiring district property for open-space purposes.”

She added that she has initiated conversations with Town of Huntington (TOH) Supervisor Ed Smyth and Mark McAteer of the TOH’s Environmental Open Space & Park Fund (EOSPA) committee. “Other options would be to acquire the properties for educational functions or for community activities. Where there is a will, there is a way to prevent overdevelopment. Regardless of the options, the community’s input is paramount and the residents will have the final say through a referendum vote.”

Find out more about Stephanie Bontempi here.

Dr. Eve Krief
Dr. Eve Krief is a Centerport resident, Huntington-based pediatrician, and a board of education trustee for the Harborfields school district. She is also an active member of the Long Island-Queens-Brooklyn chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, where she serves on the executive council as legislative chair.

“I have been a fierce advocate for policies that help advance the health and well-being of children, including working to eliminate the sale of flavored vaping products targeting our youth and pushing for safe gun storage in New York State. I also serve on the NYS Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Advisory Board,” Krief states on her campaign website. She was appointed by the TOH supervisor to be a town council liaison to the Huntington Anti-Bias Task Force, where she sits on the steering committee.

“As a mom, pediatrician, and school board member, I see the struggles our children and families face every day. I believe we need a new voice in the legislature to bring different perspective and vision to the body,” Krief stated.

Some of Krief’s most notable endorsements include Moms Demand Action (For Gun Sense in America), Eleanor’s Legacy, The Long Island Federation of Labor, Planned Parenthood, the Sierra Club, Everytown for Gun Safety, and Doctors in Politics.

When asked about her priorities if elected to the county legislature, Krief told the Journal, “As a pediatrician, I understand that because children are still developing, they are uniquely susceptible to toxins in the water they drink and in the air they breathe. With the quality of the water in our harbors and bays at historically poor levels, I will fight for clean water infrastructure for our children and families.”

She would also advocate for mental health support and resources to help families get the help they need. “I advocated for the NYS law that banned the sale of flavored vaping products from being sold to children,” she said. “It is clear that this law needs tougher enforcement and more protections need to be in place to keep these dangerous products out of the hands of our children. I want to be a voice for health and well-being.”

When asked about the three Northport-East Northport buildings that are being considered for potential sale or lease, Krief said, “Ideally, the school would seek to lease the buildings. This would preserve open space and prevent overdevelopment while also leaving the option open to have the space, should the student population increase in the future.” She noted that lease opportunities should be actively pursued.

“Ultimately, it is entirely the decision of the community and I would always advocate for what will provide students with the best possible educational opportunities through the funding the buildings could provide, or through the learning enrichment and after-school opportunities that might be considered for these spaces. I would always work with the school district to help identify grants to offset costs and enhance programming.”

Find out more about Dr. Eve Krief here.

Don’t forget to vote
Registered voters are able to vote early at three local polling places: Greenlawn Fire Department, Huntington Library Station Branch, and Dix Hills Fire Department. Early voting hours are this weekend, November 4 and 5, from 10am to 6pm. Election day is Tuesday, November 7 from 6am to 9pm at your normal polling location. To find your polling place, click here.