Contact: Kim D’Ambrosio
Phone: 631-427-4701
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For Immediate Release

Huntington, NY-- How can you decide if councilmanic districts are right for Huntington Township before you may be asked to go to the polls and cast a vote?

The Leadership Huntington Foundation (LHF) wanted the community to have the opportunity to hear points and counterpoints on both sides of these two different forms of government. In response, they organized in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Huntington and the Governmental Relations Committee of the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce, a six panel member debate scheduled for Thursday morning, June 18 from 8:00 am to 10:00 am at The Cinema Arts Center.

Under the present system, each citizen of Huntington Township can vote for all four town council members. This is called the “at-large” system. If a change is made to a councilmanic district system, the town would be divided into four separate districts, and each district would vote only for its own town council representative.

Supporters of the at-large model argue that elected representatives keep the interests of the town as a whole paramount.  They say that Huntington as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Those who favor the councilmanic district approach state that dividing the town into four smaller districts brings government closer to the people. A grassroots group is petitioning to force a referendum to bring the decision before the public.

Debate panelists Mark X. Cronin, Paul Johnson, and Eric Alexander will take a stand in favor of councilmanic districts (otherwise known as town council districts.) Writer Mark Cronin leads the Concerned Citizens of Huntington, the group who is spearheading the drive for town council districts. Paul Johnson, a noted community activist, led efforts to create councilmanic districts in Huntington in 2005. Distinguished “smart growth” and “mixed use” advocate Eric Alexander completes this team.

Ken Christensen, James V. Kelly Jr., and Judy White will take a stand in favor of keeping the current at-large system in place. Ken Christensen brings his experience as a former Huntington Town Councilperson and small business owner.  James V. Kelly Jr. is the former chairperson of the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce and a leading force in the business community.   Judy White has a strong background in government and business and is active in many Long Island affordable housing groups.

Well-respected columnist Joye Brown of Newsday will moderate the debate and Nancy Engelhardt of The Energeia  Partnership and former Director of Leadership Huntington will facilitate the Q & A and community dialogue portion of the program.

Event chairperson and Leadership Huntington 2003 graduate, Kim D’Ambrosio comments “this is a unique opportunity for Town of Huntington citizens to come together and get the information they need to know about this important issue facing our town as well as a chance to join in the discussion and let their voices be heard”.

Tickets are limited so please RSVP to Leadership Huntington at 470-3990 by Monday, June 15 to obtain a discounted price of $25.00. For more information, you may also visit www.leadershiphuntington.org.  Tickets purchased after June 15 cost $30.00.   Proceeds will benefit the Leadership Huntington Scholarship Fund and help underwrite the programs and activities of the organization.

A continental breakfast will be served at 7:30 am before the event at Cinema Arts Center, located at 423 Park Avenue, Huntington.

The Leadership Huntington Foundation is a non-partisan 501 (c) (3) organization whose mission is to stimulate positive change by engaging and inspiring a broad range of citizens to embrace community trusteeship.