PTO Executive Council Hosts "Meet the Candidates"
for Board of Education



PTO Executive Council President Laurie Downs (far left) asks a question of the four candidates, (L-R) Angela DeVito, Jim Senatore, Marie Tooker and Tim Griffing, at the "Meet the Candidates" forum held on May 3 in the RHS Library.

The forum will be broadcast on Channel 22 after the Board of Ed. meeting beginning with the first airing on Saturday, May 6, at 11:00 A.M.

The four candidates are running for two open seats on the Board of Education.
The Budget Hearing and introduction of candidates is scheduled for
Tuesday, May 9, 7:30 P.M. at the RHS auditorium.

The Budget Vote and Board of Education Election is scheduled for
Tuesday, May 16, 6:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M., RHS gymnasium.

 Angela DeVito

Angela DeVito is an associate director for apprenticeship programs for the Building and Construction Trade Council of Nassau and Suffolk County, and is active in the Greater Jamesport Civic Association. She has an M.S. in public health, specializing in industrial hygiene from the University of Utah. She worked with Governor Cuomo's commission on infectious diseases, while also serving on his Asbestos Licensing Board and has "worked directly within the public sector for 32 years either through employment or as a developer of programs." (See the News Review Interview link on the left panel for more information.)

 Jim Senatore

James Senatore is a senior vice president and program director of investment and insurance services for Independent Financial Marketing Group (IFMG), located at Astoria Federal Savings in Lake Success. He has been managing investment and insurance programs for the last 14 years (two years at IFMG). Mr. Senatore was raised on the East End and graduated from Mattituck High School. He has two children at RHS. (See the News Review Interview link on the left panel for more information.)

 Marie Tooker

Marie Tooker owns Abbess Farm in Riverhead. She grew up in a family of builders in North Babylon. While attending college, she was employed by the U.S. government as an independent contractor designing and building prototypes for the military in the areas of electronics and aeronautics. In 2001, she and her two children became Riverhead residents when she purchased a 134-acre horse farm. (See the News Review Interview link on the left panel for more information.)

 Tim Griffing

Tim Griffing is a lifelong Riverhead resident, a 1980 graduate of Riverhead High School and has a son in 8th grade and a daughter in 7th grade at the Middle School. He has been a school board member since 2003, and is employed by Coldwell Banker Bagshaw Realty. He also owns Riverhead Landscaping Services LLC, and operates a nursery in Calverton. (See the News Review Interview link on the left panel for more information.)