Background:
Flotteron, 55, of Brightwaters, is running in a Republican primary. He also has the Conservative and Independence lines in the general election. He has served on the Islip Town Board for 12 years and owns an insurance and investment agency. Flotteron received his bachelor’s degree in business from SUNY Fredonia in 1984. He’s a member of the Bay Shore Lions Club. He is married and has two children.

Issues:
Flotteron said the top issue is the “financial disaster” facing the county. He said the county needs to stop spending more than it takes in. To do that, he’d look at department spending. He cited what he said was a high cost to house the homeless in motels, compared to using that money for other accommodations and services. He called the county’s red light camera program “a hidden tax. They claim that it’s a safety issue. I don’t believe it anymore,” he said.

Background:
McElwee, 42, of West Islip, is running in a Republican primary. He owns three restaurants in the district. McElwee is a board member of the Bay Shore Chamber of Commerce and head of the chamber’s restaurant committee. He is also treasurer of the town of Islip’s Bay Shore business improvement district. He graduated from New York Institute of Technology in 1996 with a degree in hospitality management. He is married and has three children. He’s seeking the seat held by his father-in-law, Legis. Thomas Barraga (R-West Islip), who is leaving because of term limits.

Issues:
McElwee said the county “has to control spending” and fight against fee increases. “It’s strangling homeowners.” He said the county could raise additional money by renting underutilized county facilities, such as sports fields. He said he was sparked to run for county legislature over the installation of parking meters in downtown Bay Shore. While he didn’t oppose the meters as a concept, he said the town has poorly managed the program and not been responsive to homeowners.