Tom Croci took office Monday as Islip’s new town supervisor after being sworn in before more than 800 people at Connetquot High School, his alma mater. The 39-year-old Navy veteran replaces longtime supervisor Phil Nolan. Preserving jobs is one of the items on Croci’s agenda. “It’s the quality of life we enjoy here. And that starts with our economy and jobs. We got to make that we’re bringing the businesses in to Islip and keeping them here,” he said.

To find the latest news on Supervisor Croci, and Islip Town, visit the Town of Islip website.

“I remain committed to ensuring citizens’ concerns are answered when they contact Town Hall. I am committed to improving Islip’s economy and I am committed to finding efficiencies in the town budget,” said Supervisor-Elect Tom Croci, “These people I am announcing today will join those previously announced in helping me hit the ground running on day one.”

Today Croci is announcing the following additional appointments:

Acting Deputy Supervisor – Councilwoman Trish Bergin Weichbrodt

Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Control – Eric Hoffmeister, current Deputy Commissioner of Aviation and Transportation.

Acting Town Attorney – Robert Cicale, former Town Attorney and presently Chief Law Clerk to Judge Stephan Behar.

Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development – Dave Genaway, currently serving in the position and will remain.

Director of Economic Development and Executive Director for the Town of Islip’s Industrial Development Agency – William Mannix, currently serving and will remain in those positions.

In a previous release Croci announced those who will serve as Chief of Staff, Comptroller, Director of Labor Relations and Commissioner of the Department of Public Works. That release can be found at http://www.CrociForIslip.com.

As with others already announced, all of these individuals are expected to begin work as soon as the new Administration is sworn in and they are approved, where required, by the Islip Town Board.

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As I said, I look forward to hitting the ground running,” said Supervisor-Elect Tom Croci, “It is critical that I have people there beside me to help implement my plans to provide more responsiveness to citizen concerns, to find efficiencies in the Town budget and improve Islip’s economy.”

Today Croci is announcing the following appointments:

Chief of Staff – Lynda Distler, the former Mayor of Lindenhurst from 2000-2004.

Comptroller – Joseph Ludwig who is currently serving as Islip Comptroller, will remain in the position.

Director of Labor Relations – Linda Angello, former Commissioner of the New York State Department of Labor from 2001-2006

Commissioner of Department of Public Works – Thomas Owens, former Deputy Highway Superintendent for the Town of Brookhaven Highway Department and current Chief Deputy Commissioner for the Town of Brookhaven Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources.

All of these individuals are expected to begin work as soon as the new Administration is sworn in and they are approved, where required, by the Islip Town Board.

Future announcements are forthcoming as the Transition process continues in the coming weeks and months.

Recently Croci announced members of his Transition Team. Those Transition officials have been assisting in assembling the people necessary to help Croci hit the ground running following the Inauguration. (If you missed the release, you can find the names of those individuals at www.crociforislip.com).

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ISLIP, NY – Tom Croci, Supervisor-Elect of the Town of Islip, announced additional members of his Transition Team today as he prepares to take office in January.

“I look forward to hitting the ground running,” said Supervisor-Elect Croci, “As I said during the campaign my focus is working for lower taxes, finding and ending any wasteful spending, improving responsiveness at Town Hall and doing everything I can to grow Islip’s economy. My Team will help me make that happen.”

Croci previously announced that Islip resident, and former U.S. House Assistant Majority Leader, Rick Lazio would lead his Transition Team.

Chief Joe Badala, Chief of the Islip Fire Chiefs’ Council and Head of Training and Safety at Islip MacArthur Airport, was also announced as a member of the Team.

Also announced was Ivan Young, a long time community leader and attorney from the Brentwood and Central Islip communities. In a nod to bipartisanship, Young is a former Chairman of the Islip Town Democratic Party.

Croci had also announced that John Schettino, an Islip Town Planning Board, West Islip Breast Cancer Coalition Advisory Board and West Islip Chamber Of Commerce Member; was serving on the Team as well.

Today Croci is announcing new members of the Transition Team who join them.

Professor Edward Gullason who served as a staff economist for President Ronald Reagan’s Council of Economic Advisers and is a Professor of Economics at Dowling College in Oakdale has joined Croci’s Transition Team.

Laura Rogacki, President of the Bayport – Blue Point Chamber of Commerce and a Speech Pathologist who practices in Blue Point, has also been added to the team.

“I appreciate their service as I continue to assemble my administration. From my time in uniform as a Navy Lt. Commander serving with a SEAL Team in Afghanistan, to my work in the White House Situation Room and as a small business owner; I know that I must have a strong team around me to handle the challenges that lie ahead,” said Supervisor-Elect Tom Croci.

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Croci thanked Supervisor Nolan for the meeting. “I want to thank Supervisor Phil Nolan for meeting with me today and for his commitment to a smooth transition. As I said during the campaign my goal is to evaluate Town government and look for ways to lower taxes for Islip seniors and families. I will also aggressively seek out new employers and growth in Islip’s economy. I look forward to putting my experience in uniform and as a successful small business owner to work for all of the citizens of Islip to improve our quality of life,” said Tom Croci.

Croci also noted the requests he made of Supervisor Nolan. “I asked Mr. Nolan to ensure that Town government continues to operate smoothly during the transition. It is critical that services are performed on schedule and that Town equipment and property is maintained well during this period,” added Croci. “I have also requested that all current Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners who seek to remain on through the change of administrations, submit a letter of resignation and a resume for evaluation,” said Croci. Croci’s transition team noted that his personnel request was in keeping with successful Presidential transitions (http://www.opm.gov/transition/trans20r-ch1.htm). He also noted that having employees who may wish to stay submit resumes allows a full evaluation of job performance when looking at needed services within the Town.

Joining Croci at the meeting was former United States Congressman Rick Lazio, who is heading up Croci’s new Transition Team. Lazio is a resident of Brightwaters in Islip and former four term Member of the U.S. Congress. In Congress Lazio served as both a Deputy Majority Whip and Assistant Majority Leader.

Today Croci is also announcing other members of his Transition Team addition to Lazio. At this time joining Lazio are John Schettino, an Islip Town Planning Board, West Islip Breast Cancer Coalition Advisory Board and West Islip Chamber Of Commerce Member; Chief Joe Badala, Chief of the Islip Fire Chiefs’ Council and Head of Training and Safety at Islip MacArthur Airport; and Ivan Young a long time community leader and attorney from the Brentwood and Central Islip communities. In addition to these individuals Croci expects to name others to his Transition Team as the Transition process progresses.

“I spoke with literally thousands of Islip residents during the campaign. I look forward to using their counsel as well as the advice of these members of my Transition Team to advance my tax relief and job creating agenda in Islip,” concluded Croci.

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Thank you for all you have done to support our recent campaign for Islip Town Supervisor. Your hard work and dedication elected a new Team to restore honesty, hard work and integrity in town government.

I, along with my colleagues, Councilman Elect John Cochrane, Councilman Elect Anthony Senft, Town Clerk Elect Olga Murray, Receiver of Taxes Elect Alexis Weik, Councilman Steve Flotteron and Councilwoman Trish Bergin will be prepared to serve the residents of Islip from day one.

Since May, our Team traveled through every community– we went to stores, schools, civics, and community meetings – we spoke with seniors, veterans, small business owners, police, and firefighters. I know there are challenges ahead for our town, but together we will over come them.

Community involvement and having an open process in our town government will be top priorities.

I thank the previous administration for their service to the hardworking residents of the Town of Islip over the past years.

Again, please accept my heartfelt gratitude for all your support. I wish a happy and safe Thanksgiving to the residents of the Town of Islip.

Tom Croci

A disturbing new development has surfaced in the Croci race. Phil Nolan, along with Steve Bellone, have paid professional campaign workers from NYC to try to help their desperate campaigns. Yesterday, and today, Monday, nearly 100 mercenaries got off the train in Oakdale and reported to Nolan HQ, where they got a pep talk from Bellone before being sent out to Central Islip and Brentwood. This is disturbing because Nolan actually had the audacity to question Croci’s residency. How ironic that he now has to use NYC paid help to try and save himself.

DO NOT let Nolan steal this election with his Working Family Party tactics. Please donate even an hour of your time tomorrow by coming to Islip Republican HQ, 39 Third Avenue, Bay Shore, NY, (665-5532) between the hours of 9:00 AM-9:00 PM. Thank you.

Islip Town Republican Committee
Frank A. Tantone-Chairman

This is State Senator Lee Zeldin with an important message regarding this year’s race for Islip Town Supervisor.

Yesterday morning, I received a piece of campaign literature from the current Town Supervisor attacking his opponent, Naval Reserves Lieutenant Commander Tom Croci. I thought it was outrageous that Mr. Nolan would criticize Tom Croci in the manner he did. I would like to respond to 3 separate ill-conceived attacks by the current Town Supervisor in this mail piece.
Tom Croci’s former residence in the Washington D.C. area was for the purpose of quarters while stationed in our nation’s capital. He was serving on active duty in the Navy under two U.S. Presidents. Between his assignments inside the White House, Mr. Croci deployed twice to Afghanistan and should be commended for his sacrifice in defense of our freedoms and liberties. Shame on the Town Supervisor for using Mr. Croci’s former residence in a desperate campaign attack piece to try to paint Mr. Croci as anything other than who he is…a lifelong native of Islip, a proud veteran and Naval officer.

The primary function of the service disabled veteran owned “business”, referenced by the Town Supervisor, is to train Special Operations forces and work with our government to protect U.S. National Security interests. Aside from Mr. Croci’s continued military service as a Navy Reservist supporting SEAL teams, Tom’s expertise has been sought after by the Special Operations community through his company. Tom should be applauded for his continued service, not spit at by Mr. Nolan.

I am honored to say that Tom Croci served as my District Director prior to taking a leave of absence to run for Town Supervisor. He did a tremendous job leading my office in the days and months after I took office. The current Town Supervisor made a disgusting mischaracterization of Tom’s duties as a “political patronage job so that he could run for office on the taxpayer’s dime.” Tom Croci remains on a leave of absence from my office, which means that he HASN’T made a “dime” since taking his leave. In fact, this race is costing him a lot of personal time, energy, and money, but he is making the sacrifice for one very important reason…he knows that he can improve our quality of life.
The mail piece sent by the incumbent Islip Supervisor is a disgrace, and symbolizes every reason why individuals get fed up with politics and career politicians. On November 8th, send a message that these tactics should have no place in government. Vote for Tom Croci for Town Supervisor. Please forward this message to your friends, family, and neighbors so that they learn the facts about this offensive attack ad against Mr. Croci.

I need a partner like Tom Croci in government who can help me improve our community. We all need a fiscal conservative with fresh, bold ideas to create jobs, lower taxes and reduce wasteful government spending.

To learn more about Tom and his plans for Islip Town, please visit his website at www.crociforislip.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/crociforislip. His campaign office is located at 3320 Veterans Memorial Highway in Bohemia. You can reach his campaign by phone at 631-456-5990 or by email at teamcroci@gmail.com.

Please don’t forget to help get out the vote for Tom Croci on November 8th.

**Veterans Appreciation

Breakfast**

With your Islip Town Candidates

Saturday, October 22, 2011
10:00am – 12noon
Islip Town Republican Headquarters
39 Third Avenue, Bay Shore, NY 11706

Meet 3 outstanding Islip Town Veterans that are devoting their time and energy to secure your future:

Tom Croci-Supervisor Candidate
• Lieutenant Commander in the Naval Reserves U.S. Navy
John Cochrane Jr.-Town Council Candidate
• Captain, U.S. Navy
Anthony Senft-Town Council Candidate
• Captain, U.S. Army

RSVP by Friday, October 14, 2011 to Nina @ (631) 665-5532.

For transportation, please call Claudia @ (631) 987-7480.