Two candidates square off for a seat on Town Board

Republican Joe Barone,left, and Democrat Antonio Martinez, right

Two candidates running for Babylon Town Board have clear political distinctions. Democrat Antonio Martinez, who was appointed in the spring to fill the unexpired term of Carol Quirk, says he wants to continue to work with the Bellone administration in representing the people of Babylon using his experience as a family advocate. His Republican opponent Joe Barone, a local business owner, said his best efforts would be in providing the people of Babylon with an independent and strong voice on the Town Board, something, he said is missing.

"I am not a professional politician, but I wanted to know everything that was going on in my community and wanted to make a difference," said Barone who became active in politics as a volunteer in 2000. "I want to help people and get things done."

Martinez, the first Hispanic to serve on the Town Board, works as a representative for the Carpenters union. The experience, he said, has made him understand the plight of working families. "(Babylon Town Supervisor) Steve Bellone is a great leader and has managed to keep the line on taxes, which helps families," said Martinez. "That is why I am excited to work with him."

Prior to assuming the role of Town Board Member, Martinez served on the Town's Planning Board for 18 months.

But his opponent says that there is a difference between working together with someone and being indebted to them. Martinez, says Barone, is the "handpicked" candidate of Bellone and as such, cannot be an independent lawmaker.

"He (Martinez) has to be a team player on the Bellone team," said Barone.

Martinez disagrees. "My appointment was supported by Councilman Lindsay Henry, an Indepencence Party member, and my campaign to the Town Board is supported across party lines," he said. Martinez is running on the Indepencence, Conservative and Working Families lines. "I will speak up and make my opinion heard when I disagree, but up until now, I am proud to support the Supervisor." But Barone said Martinez has to "quote the party line," and that is evident when he talks about taxes. "While the Town has not raised the general Town tax rate in six years as the Bellone administration constantly reminds people about, the administration has raised taxes in others ways. Barone cited increases over the years in garbage collection costs, permits and other user fees. "Just because you have to pull this money out of another pocket does not mean it's not a tax," said Barone.

"Those increases (for garbage fees), are due to contractual obligations with our vendors," countered Martinez. "As you know, everything is more expensive now because of the high cost of fuel. However, we will continue to control spending, reduce the Town's debt and make government smaller and more efficient."

Barone also objects to a Town program that is being funded by a surplus of $2 million in the garbage fund, a fund that all residents contribute to through their property taxes. By adding carbon dioxide to the Town's list of waste materials, Babylon was able to set aside those funds for a program that provides money to residents who want to make their homes energy efficient. The Town picks up the initial costs of that work, which might include installing a new burner or new windows, and the property is assessed to repay the costs over a period of five years.

Barone said while the program may be a good one, that it is being paid for with tax money the Town collected from residents for a purpose other than what it is now being used.

"If they had a surplus it should have gone back to the taxpayer," said Barone. "At the least the administration should have gone back to the public to ask if that is how they wanted this surplus spent. It wasn't up to the Town Board to decide how it would be spent."

"This is a progressive program that not only helps families and seniors struggling with their energy bills but also the environment," said Martinez. "If we distributed the money back to all residents, it would have been done and the benefits of the program, which will be a cleaner environment and 6,600 new green collar jobs, would not become a reality."

Barone is a volunteer coach with the Copiague Youth League and Deputy Chairman for the Lindenhurst Village Zoning Board of Appeals. He has lived in Lindenhurst for 40 years and is a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help R.C. Church, and a member of the Kings of Columbus and Holy Name Society. He and his wife Liz have two children.

Martinez lived in Deer Park and now Wheatley Heights and is a graduate of Lynbrook High School and SUNY Oneonta. He has worked with the Empire State Regional Council of Carptenters since 2001 years. He and his wife have three children.