Republican and longtime West Islip resident Thomas Barraga is seeking re-election in Suffolk County's 11th Legislative District, a position he’s held since 2005.   

Barraga, a fiscal conservative by nature and former state assemblyman, said he’s a true representative of middle class families set on maintaining the integrity of the communities he serves. 

"Many of them are struggling from a financial perspective," he said. "I think they're looking for a representative-- and what we've tried to do throughout the years sitting in that chamber voting on bills--that do not increase taxes and control our spending. 

"And for the last six years that I've been there, the county portion of the profiting tax bill has not gone up at all. There's been no increase."

Challenging Barraga is political newcomer Frank Dolan, owner of All 4 Sports located in Babylon Village (recently relocated from West Islip). Dolan, however, has been very quiet on the campaign trail. (Dolan didn't immediately return a Patch phone call by press time). 

"He's a nice fellow, I've met him once or twice, but he hasn't really done anything,” Barraga said. “But it's still a race, you have an opponent out there."

Entering his 23rd campaign, Barraga says he makes it one of his top priorities to be present throughout his district and to be there for all residents. The 11th District includes portions of Bay Shore, Brentwood, and Fire Island, and all of Brightwaters and West Islip.

"From day one, I've always been a full-time legislature," he said. "People come in to our office to discuss personal issues. They know if they come in and tell us their problems, we'll act on it." 

Recently, Barraga assisted the Town of Islip in having LIPA agree to remove 60-feet-tall telephone poles from residential properties on Pease Lane and Milligan Lane.  He went down to talk to the neighbors and said he was shocked to see the large structures, which he called “horrendous.”

"We got heavily involved, and within a week and a half, LIPA reconsidered their position on how they're going to route the poles,” he said. “And now they’re gone.”

He also insists on backing neighbors who are opposed to a 24-hour convenience store where the old Getty station was on the corner of Muncey Road and Udall Road.

The La Grange Inn is yet another property Barraga’s involved with and he said he’s heard of a number of people coming in with different proposals, some of which he’s not in favor of.  

“They know I do not support the complete tearing down of La Grange,” he said.  “As long as some of that business is retained, for historical identity.”

Barraga said he’d work hard to maintain the integrity of West Islip and that people should be confident voting for someone with such strong ties to the hamlet. 

“I’m not going to be spending money unless there is a real need, I don’t believe in all levels of government, and I’m very sensitive to the fact that many of the people I represent are having a hard time financially," he said.  “And they don’t want a representative who’s going to make their situation worse by increasing taxes.”