Dominick Thorne ran for public office in 2021, unseating presiding officer Rob Calarco for the 7th Legislative District seat. Since then, he has proven himself to be a dedicated and hardworking public official. Recent changes in the 7th district boundaries mean that Thorne’s jurisdiction now includes a significant portion of Fire Island.
Fire Island News (FIN): Can you tell me a little bit about how the redistricting affected the jurisdiction you represent?
Dominick Thorne (DT): My district now extends from Bellport to Blue Point, including Patchogue, and as far north as Medford and the Gorgon Heights community. Additionally, any part of Fire Island that falls within the Town of Brookhaven is also part of my district.
FIN: So, from Davis Park to the town line that bisects Seaview, correct?
DT: Yes, if it falls within the Town of Brookhaven, it’s part of the 7th legislative district.
FIN: What are your plans for touring the new parts of your district?
DT: Well, I’m in all of the mainland communities almost every day. However, Fire Island presents a unique situation. So, I’m trying to work out a plan with the Davis Park Fire Department to set up some mobile office hours there, then spend a day touring and meeting constituents, and find out the challenges you face living on the island, and see how we can make them less daunting.
FIN: You’re a Patchogue resident?
DT: I’ve lived in Patchogue for 27 years, working with the fire and EMS out here, as well as running a major retail store for automotive services.
FIN: I am aware of your dedicated service to EMS and your work with the auto company. That struck me as remarkable. In a government body known for being full of lawyers, you’re a regular guy!
DT: Thank you for that. I always strive to be that way. I never want to be that guy in a suit and tie. I’m like every other person, and when I’m out in the community, that’s reflected in how I introduce myself to people. I’m a public servant: The residents don’t work for me — I work for them. We strive to ensure that people know I’m here to assist.
FIN: How did you decide that you were going to seek public office?
DT: I wasn’t in love with the division of our country, nor our division in Suffolk County. I wasn’t happy with some of the rules and occasional over-regulations that were in place for our residents. I’m a passionate environmentalist; I believe in the importance of our environment. Over the last three years, I’ve secured almost 100 acres of open space in the 7th district alone; however, some of the bureaucracy has driven me to frustration, and I believe we need a more common-sense approach to these matters. That’s the long and short of it.
FIN: The first time we spoke, shortly after you were elected to office, you mentioned that you had been a widower who remarried. I was intrigued by that story. The last time we spoke, I heard your young children in the background. Could you please share more about that with me and our readers?
DT: I’ve been very blessed. I was married to a fine woman for 24 years. We had a strong marriage, but she was suddenly pulled away from me. So, I took time to heal and then met a wonderful woman. She is a language-and-speech pathologist, and we have two beautiful children. One just turned seven, and the other is four. It keeps me grounded in my day-to-day operations as a legislator; it helps me see things from a different perspective. So, I’m a blessed man.
FIN: I conducted research on some of the issues you’ve advocated for or supported in the past. Could you provide an update and explain to our readers what the ShotSpotter program is and why you support it?
DT: ShotSpotter, along with its technology, activates within five feet of where a firearm is fired, enabling a rapid response. It’s a program to help keep people safe. My primary responsibility is ensuring the safety of the residents, and I take it very seriously. The ShotsSpotter program will save lives and reduce crime simply by being present. It doesn’t rely on somebody picking up their phone and making a call. It’s a great tool to help reduce crime in our communities.
FIN: A few years back, I read about something called the Bianchi/Weiss Farm in East Patchogue, which you’re trying to turn into a nature preserve. What’s the present status of that?
DT: So that was a property from a DEC cleanup. Suffolk County has had that property for about 20 years. So, I set my sights on Bianchi/Weiss, as well as the Avery homestead property, to find out what was going on. We met with the Post-Morrow Foundation, who became our partners, and now it’s a beautiful preserve. People can walk around or sit on a bench and take a moment to relax. The Post-Morrow Foundation purchased the land, and now instead of having the unkempt, blighted property that we had for 20 years, we now have natural flowers and native plantings.
FIN: Dominick, this is your interview. Please let me know what else you would like to include in it.
DT: I’m incredibly honored and blessed to hold this position, but it’s constant work. The thing that I’m most proud of is that we have outreach into every committee. The Avery property, which I mentioned, dates back to the 1600s and almost became a condominium complex. Now it’s part of our historic park. We will be hosting a grand opening for it soon. We have some fantastic people in this district. I’m proud to be here as a legislator, helping to spearhead the hyperlocal issues that matter most to our residents.
