Dana M. Forlenza D

BACKGROUND

• Forlenza, 37, of Mattituck, who is not registered in a political party, is making her first bid for elected office. She is running on the Democratic and Working Families lines. 
• She is a licensed insurance agent with 12 years of experience, including 10 years specializing in personal line policies that includes writing homeowner’s insurance policies across town. 
• She said she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at Stony Brook University. 

ISSUES

• As an insurance agent who writes homeowner’s policies, Forlenza said she’s very good at calculating replacement costs, based on a cost per square foot calculation. "I’m extremely experienced in calculating the value of homes across town," she said.
• Insurance work is client facing and involves a lot of explanations, Forlenza said, and she will bring that service-minded approach to the assessor’s office. "I find people don’t know a lot of details, so it’s mostly a conversation of explanation. I will use skills from my career to serve in a better way.".
• Forlenza said she would work to do outreach and communicate with residents so they know they can come discuss their tax bill without fearing their taxes will increase.