Top of the Ninth!

Top of the Ninth!

PLEASE remember to head to the polls tomorrow and vote for me and Steve Flotteron for Islip Town Council!

We are almost at the end of what has been a very long six months. So I decided as a self-professed political neophyte, to share my thought about the whole experience.
I have never walked so much and eaten so much pizza in my life! I also have never met so many great people. Knocking on doors in each community really gave me a clear perspective on the needs of each community. So thank you to everyone for sharing your ideas and for teaching me so much about each hamlet.
Fundraising was probably the worst part of it. I hate to ask people for money and I hate to waste money. In a political campaign, we all have to spend money on mailers and lawn signs. It is important that we get our names and ideas out, but after this experience I wish campaign reform would include this idea: Allow a candidate to raise money for the first 4 months for his or her campaign. Then during the last 4 months, have the candidates pick their favorite charitable organization, and have a contest to see how much money each candidate can raise for that cause. Wouldn't that be better than dropping thousands of dollars on lawn signs?! I guess to try to accomplish this, you'd need either campaign reform, or a deal with your opponent to try this out. THAT would require having a good relationship with your opponent, which leads me to my next point.
This campaign started off with two people who were professional friends for nearly 17 years, Jim Morgo and myself. We worked together on countless projects. He as an elected official ,and me as a news reporter. Punches were thrown from both camps. But I promise you that if Jim and I are voted in together, I will work hard WITH Jim to make Islip a place we want to live, vacation and do business.
Volunteers.. that was very interesting to me. I was amazed at how many people come out to support a candidate. I would attend volunteer meeting and walk out amazed that hundreds of people whom I have never met before, wanted to spend their free time trying to get me elected. I know what you're thinking, "What is in it for them?" But it isn't always that way. These people are genuinely concerned about their country and their community and they pour their hope into you, and as a candidate you've gotta run with it. It is flattering, but also a tremendous responsibility. So thank you to all of our volunteers who believed in me.
So IF and I stress IF I win, what will I be doing from now until January 1st? Well, most candidates hold a victory party to try to bail themselves out of the financial hole they got into towards the end of the campaign. Instead, I will focus my next fundraising efforts on someone very special in my life, and if you are so inclined to join us, I would be most appreciative. My sister Fionnuala (we're Irish) is 41 and is fighting a terrible form of cancer. She has three kids and a fabulous husband. We now have her in an experimental program and decided to hold a fundraiser for her on Sunday Nov. 8th 4-7pm at The Riverview in Oakdale. $60.00 pp. Food, Drinks, Raffles. After that, I will be exploring some of the revenue-generating programs that other municipalities are using during these difficult times, to generate money for the town. Research, research, research!
Lets hope for victory! Please get out the vote!
My Best,
Trish Bergin