Michael Catalanotto D
Council member, Town of Smithtown

Credit: Morgan Campbell
BACKGROUND
- Catalanotto, 47, a registered Democrat, is running for Smithtown Town Board on the Democratic line.
- Catalanotto previously served as president of the Smithtown Central School District Board of Education for six years until he decided not to run again this year. He has a bachelor of science in accounting, an MBA in business administration from Salisbury University in Maryland and a law degree from Touro Law School.
- He is a divorce attorney who practices in Smithtown.
ISSUES
- Catalanotto said there was "irresponsible development" going on in Smithtown with several pending projects, such as a planned apartment complex in Kings Park and a planed assisted living facility in St. James, He wants to take a more cautious approach to development.
- He said he is also concerned about vacant stores in several hamlets and wants to explore ways to incentivize landlords to fix up empty storefronts and rent them out for short periods of time while exploring permanent ways to create vibrant downtowns in Smithtown.
- He said he is advocating for term limits for town officials, more transparency in government through community forums, regular mailings to residents on important issues and creating a solid relationship between the town and its union employees regarding collective bargaining.
OPPOSING CANDIDATES
Thomas J. McCarthy
RC
Lynne C. Nowick
RC
Jesse L Phillips
D