Candidate Profile: Ann Welker, Suffolk County 2nd Legislative District

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Southampton Town residents will be hitting the polls soon to elect local representatives.

The race is on leading up to Election Day, which, this year, falls on Tuesday, November 7.

Patch asked those running for office to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles in the days leading up to the election.

Ann Welker, a Democrat, is facing off against Republican candidate Manuel Vilar for the Suffolk County 2nd Legislative District seat currently held by Bridget Fleming.

Suffolk County's 2nd Legislative District is comprised of the entire South Fork and includes the Towns of Southampton and East Hampton, as well as Shelter Island and parts of Brookhaven Town’s East Moriches and Eastport.

Here is Patch's candidate profile of Ann Welker:

Name

Ann Welker

How old will you be as of Election Day?

60

Does your campaign have a website?

https://suffolkcountydems.com/...

What city or town do you live in?

Southampton

What office are you seeking?

Suffolk County Legislature

If you are running in a district, you can specify the district here.

District #2

Party affiliation

Democrat, Working Families Party

Education

MA - Adelphi University Exercise Physiology, BA- Adelphi University -Business/Finance

What is your occupation?

Exercise physiologist, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation department, 7 years

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

Southampton Town Trustee, 2017 to present.

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

Having had the honor of serving as a Southampton Town Trustee for the past six years, I have become increasingly frustrated with working to protect our water quality. The jurisdiction of the trustees ends at mean high water, the shoreline, but the decisions that affect water quality are all land use decisions about which the trustees have no say. The use of fertilizers and pesticides, irrigation, storm water management and most critically important, the upgrading of over 350,000 aging septic systems in Suffolk County, the largest un-sewered county in the entire US, does not fall within the purview of the trustees. If I am fortunate enough to be elected to the position of Suffolk County legislator, I am committed to advancing the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act, which would create a sustainable stream of funding for upgrading our septic and sewer systems. I am also committed to protecting public health, building a clean energy future, and mitigating climate change.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Water quality, as well as water quantity. As stated previously, I am committed to advancing the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act, as well as Intro Resolution No. 1666-2023, a Suffolk County law to establish requirements for automatic irrigation systems, introduced by Legislator Al Krupski of Legislative District #1. This would require rain controllers and rain sensors for irrigation, so that sprinkler systems could not operate while it is raining or if the soil is already sufficiently damp. Both of these initiatives focus on water conservation and preservation.

What needs to be done to address water quality issues on LI?

As stated previously, advance Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act, upgrade septic systems, investigate sewers for high-density areas.

What do you think can be done to help improve our infrastructure, highways, etc.?

Connect funding from the federal and state level, to that of the county and towns.

How would you plan to help local business owners, who are struggling because of high rents, inflation and labor shortages?

I would help small bushiness access the Capital Readiness Program , funded by the American Rescue Plan.

What is your stance on the current migrant situation affecting New York? And migrants were to be directed to shelters on Long Island, how would you prepare/plan for that?

New York City is a sanctuary city. Suffolk Count is not. The migrant situation is a federal and state issue. Governor Hochul has announced that counties will not be forced to accept migrants. However, with that being said, the US is a country of immigrants.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidate seeking this post?

I am an experienced leader, having served in elected office for six years. I am committed to fighting climate change and promoting smart environmental policies. I will be a strong voice for the East End, my knowledge of and commitment to local issues is deep.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Waste management; coastal resiliency; mental health, particularly of our youth.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

While serving as a Southampton Town trustee, working together as a united board, we settled a 16-year-old lawsuit; acquired a NYS DEC and Army Corps of Engineers permit for inlet management of Mecox Bay that had expired in 2016; and performed a long dredge of Mecox Bay that had not been done since 2014, which greatly improved water quality in the bay due to increased tidal flow. I can work across the table to get the important work of government accomplished.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Women govern in a responsible, bi-partisan way.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I will leverage the lessons learned, skills gained and relationships built during my time in elected office as a Southampton Town trustee and, following in the footsteps of Legislator Bridget Fleming, continue the exemplary work she has accomplished for the East End. There are 18 Suffolk County legislators, representing 18 districts within the county. Two of those legislators are on the East End, one on the North Fork and one on the South Fork. If fortunate enough to be elected, I will be a strong voice advocating to retain the quality of life and character of our community that we value so highly on the East End.