Northport Village election: Candidates share priorities and vision at community forum
Northport Village Mayor Donna Koch is running for reelection; her seat as mayor is being challenged by current Village Trustee Joe Sabia. Election day is March 18, 2026.
The Northport Village election will take place on Wednesday, March 18, from 6am to 9pm at Northport Village Hall. There are three open seats on the board – one for mayor and two for trustee. The Village judge seat is also on the ballot.
Candidates include Donna Koch and Joe Sabia for mayor; James Izzo and Monica Zenyuh, who are running unopposed for two available trustee seats; and Robert Polizzo and Brian Trodden for the seat of Village judge.
Last week, the Northport Chamber of Commerce hosted a Meet the Candidates Night at the American Legion. All candidates were present, delivering opening and closing statements and answering questions submitted by community members. Below is a summary of the key issues each candidate addressed.
Mayor
Donna Koch said serving as mayor for the past four years has been one of her greatest honors. A lifelong Northport resident, she raised her family in the Village, and two of her three children are now raising families here as well.
Koch said her service to the Village began in 1993 and has included many roles over the past 30 years. “Those experiences gave me a first-hand understanding of what residents expect from their mayor and Village officials. Since taking office, I’ve worked hard every day to meet those expectations,” she said.
Another four-year term would allow her to continue work already underway, she said, describing her approach as progressive and thoughtful while preserving Northport’s historic character.
Among her accomplishments, Koch highlighted the creation of a comprehensive master plan – the first update in more than 50 years. She also pointed to ongoing work addressing stormwater runoff and the development of a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP), both of which support future grant funding opportunities. She added that her administration has settled staff contracts and maintained strong relationships with neighboring municipalities, including the Town of Huntington.
On stormwater management, Koch said the Village has installed rain gardens and is developing plans to capture water on upper Main Street earlier in the runoff process. She also referenced improvements made on Valley Drive.
Regarding residential growth, Koch said space is limited and emphasized the importance of enforcing steep slope regulations. She acknowledged the presence of accessory apartments and suggested the Village may need to consider legalizing them to ensure safety and generate revenue.
On the budget, Koch said the Village is fiscally responsible, with all spending carefully evaluated. She said she plans to propose raising income eligibility levels for senior tax exemptions, similar to recent changes by the Town of Huntington. While acknowledging the cost of maintaining services such as policing and snow removal, she said her administration works to balance quality services with responsible spending.
In her closing statement, Koch emphasized collaboration, transparency and preserving the Village’s character while moving it forward.
Joseph Sabia, a current Village trustee, said he is running for mayor to maintain and strengthen Northport’s police, fire and EMS services.
He emphasized the importance of maintaining property values through infrastructure improvements, including roads, sidewalks and curbs. He said many sidewalks are currently patched rather than properly repaired. “It's good enough for now,” he said, but added that he believes in fixing issues properly the first time.
Sabia also highlighted the Village harbor and docks as key assets. While acknowledging the installation of rain gardens, he said many drains were clogged and must be properly maintained to reduce stormwater runoff. He added that homeowners also play a role, noting that fertilizer use contributes nitrogen to local waterways.
On development, Sabia said homeowners should be able to build within Village code but expressed concern about illegal apartments, which he said can strain resources and pose safety risks. He called for enforcement of current regulations.
Regarding the budget, Sabia said the Village should closely monitor spending, identify inefficiencies and review payroll and job roles. He described his approach as “zero-based budgeting,” starting from scratch to evaluate costs. While acknowledging that tax increases may sometimes be necessary, he said the Village should also work to avoid costly litigation.
In his closing statement, Sabia said he stands for safety, strong property values, a clean harbor, transparency and honesty.
Trustee
Jim Izzo said he spent much of his career running supermarkets on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx before moving to Northport 15 years ago. Since then, he has been active in the community, serving as president of the Chamber of Commerce and participating in the Huntington Station Business Improvement District and the Village’s Comprehensive Plan Committee. He is also the owner and a commercial real estate broker at Cow Harbor Realty.
Izzo said his experience working with business owners and landlords would make him a valuable asset to the board, particularly in securing grant funding and maintaining services.
Addressing traffic concerns, Izzo suggested rethinking how space is used in the Village. He said events do not always need to be held on Main Street and could be spread across locations such as the pit and Scudder Park to reduce congestion.
He emphasized that communication is central to transparency, saying boards must work together with openness and respect. He also noted that the Comprehensive Plan can help guide future development and improve access to grant funding.
In his closing statement, Izzo said he values listening and open dialogue as key to finding solutions.
Monica Zenyuh, an educator and Northport resident since 2002, said she is deeply involved in both her school community and the Village. Over the years, her volunteer work has included coaching youth sports, supporting environmental initiatives, and helping run the farmers markets at the Lewis Oliver Farm and downtown at the end of Main Street.
Zenyuh said she is running for trustee because she believes she can make a meaningful difference, offering a fresh perspective and a strong connection to the community’s youth.
On traffic and parking, Zenyuh suggested evaluating parking lots for additional capacity and improving space usage, including adding parking lines along Scudder Avenue. She also proposed bringing back a trolley during busy events to help transport visitors.
She described herself as a strong communicator who values openness and respect. She said she has no agenda and aims to serve as an impartial, dependable representative.
Regarding the Comprehensive Plan, Zenyuh said its absence has limited progress on environmental initiatives. Once finalized, she said, the plan will allow the Village to move forward and pursue funding opportunities. She also highlighted the effectiveness of rain gardens in managing runoff during heavy storms, when stormwater bypasses drains and heads towards the harbor. Zenyah said Northport has the potential to serve as a model for other waterfront communities.
In her closing statement, Zenyuh said she has grit, a willingness to learn and a commitment to working collaboratively for the good of the community.
Judge
Robert Polizzo, a lifelong Northport-East Northport resident, has lived in the Village since 2006 and operates a law practice on Bayview Avenue. He is active in the community through organizations including the Northport Yacht Club, Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club and Cow Harbor Committee.
Polizzo said he is running for judge to help educate the community about the Village court system and its role. He said the courtroom should be accessible and that residents, including students, can benefit from understanding how it works.
He described the current court as efficient and fair, while suggesting that allowing people to process cases ahead of scheduled appearances could improve efficiency. He emphasized the importance of balancing efficiency with giving each person time to be heard.
In his closing statement, Polizzo said he is committed to running a fair, impartial court while continuing his longstanding involvement in the community.
Brian Trodden, the current Village Justice, said his experience as both an attorney and judge makes him well qualified for the role. He said he has appeared in 25 Village courts across Long Island and has spent nearly three decades handling traffic and criminal cases.
Trodden said his goal has been to treat everyone who enters the courtroom with respect and fairness while maintaining efficiency.
He noted several operational improvements made during his tenure, including transitioning from handwritten ledgers to digital recordkeeping and introducing credit card payments. He said these changes have improved efficiency and increased revenue collection.
In his closing statement, Trodden said the role of judge carries significant responsibility and that his experience has prepared him to continue serving the Village effectively.
The Northport Village election will take place on Wednesday, March 18, from 6am to 9pm at Northport Village Hall.
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