Kenneth L. Lewis, Jr. R

BACKGROUND

• Lewis, 54, of Shelter Island, a registered Republican, is seeking his second term as highway superintendent. He is running on the Republican and Conservative lines. He had been a heavy equipment operator with the town for 11 years and previously was a pool company construction manager.
• He previously served one term on the school board from 2006-2009. Lewis said he graduated from Lebanon Valley Community College, where he studied English and communications.
• He is a member of the Lions Club. 

ISSUES

• Lewis said he would continue renovating town landings to give improved access to water for fire trucks and the public. A policy change preventing "pickers" from going through construction debris and the scrap metal pile at the recycling center, while initially unpopular, has boosted safety and increased the department’s revenue stream by 20% from its sales of scrap metal, Lewis said.
• He said he would work to maintain open road shoulders for bike and walker safety. He said he’s also working with the state transportation department to get a unified width on Rt. 114 to ease bike and pedestrian traffic when the project comes up for repaving. 
• Lewis said he will continue to work with Suffolk County on sidewalk improvements along a three-quarters of a mile stretch of Shore Road near a popular beach. He estimates the work would cost about $500,000 and proposes splitting the cost while town staff would help with the work.