Thomas M. Cronin R

BACKGROUND

• Cronin, 56, of Shelter Island, a registered Republican, is making his third bid for a seat on the council. He is running on the Republican and Conservative lines. 
• He retired from the Shelter Island police force after a 22-year career. He said he earned an associate degree in business management from the Wyoming Technical Institute. 
• Cronin is a volunteer firefighter and an officer in the department. 

ISSUES

• Cronin said he’s concerned about increases in tick populations and suggests bringing back controlled burns and asking the fire department to assist.
• He said he is not in favor of adding a municipal water system but would rather learn the extent of contamination — saltwater intrusion in shore areas and nitrogen in center island — and understand the island’s water quality before exploring other options.
• Cronin said he is not in favor of the direction the town is heading with the proposed 10 units of workforce housing being managed by an outside company. He said he would prefer the town oversee the rentals. Cronin said he would use the $1.2 million in the housing fund to build one or two houses and then build more houses as money becomes available.