Meet the Candidate Forums / Debates

Click on the link below each date to watch the debate.

Thursday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m., Riley Avenue Elementary School, 374 Riley Avenue, Calverton, co-hosted by the Greater Calverton Civic Association and the Wading River Civic Association.

http://vimeo.com/867032915/fe5430c739

Saturday, Sept. 23, 2 p.m., Riverhead Free Library, 330 Court Street, Riverhead hosted by the Heart of Riverhead Civic Association.

http://vimeo.com/867719162/ca9237e811

Wednesday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m., Jamesport Meeting House, 1590 Main Road, Jamesport, hosted by the Greater Jamesport Civic Association

http://vimeo.com/869611666/7d00848104

Issues

No AIRPORT at EPCAL

As a resident of Wading River I am opposed to any airport opening at EPCAL.

Warehouses

I am opposed to massive logistic warehouses. I support following the Town’s Comprehensive Plan proposals regarding industrial development.

UNVETTED MIGRANTS

I will figtht for LOCAL control not Hocul Control by allowing local governments to stop unvetted migrants coming into our communities. Other jurisdictions should not impose health, safety, and financial burdens on our residents.

DEVELOPMENT of DOWNTOWN RIVERHEAD

I am in support of continued smart development of the downtown Riverhead area. This is an exciting time to be part of making Riverhead a thriving and vibrant destination.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

I will fully support our Police Department in keeping our town safe. I am opposed to the current bail reform laws which allow arrested criminals back on our streets. I will work to have these laws reversed.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney and Denise Merrifield, October 19th, 2023.

"I worked alongside of Ray in the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office and look forward to working with him again to help protect and serve Riverhead residents when I become your Councilwoman."

AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION

I will promote smart economic growth while maintaining agricultural preservation.

2024 Year in Review

Riverhead Town Councilwoman Denise Merrifield / 2024 Year in Review

What a pleasure and honor it has been to serve the residents of Riverhead this past year. My first year on the Town Board has been an exciting, productive year, filled with many accomplishments.

1. I am very proud to have participated in the adoption of the 2024 Town of Riverhead Comprehensive Plan.

Other actions I’ve taken during my first year on the Town Board include:

2. Promoting Lt. Edward Frost to Chief of Police of Riverhead Police Department.

3. Promoting Lt. Danielle Willsey as the first woman Police Captain of the Riverhead Police Department.

4. Permitting the installation of a much needed communication tower at the Wading River Fire Department to assist police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel to assist residents in an area which has lacked wireless communication for over two decades.

5. Assisted Riverhead Cornell Cooperative in their support of our local fisherman by participating in the Country Fair this year.

6. Working with the Recreation Department to provide free ice skating dates for town children during holiday vacations from school.

7. Working on the Personnel Committee to hire town employees for positions such as police officers, grounds keepers, accountants and cooks.

8. Working on the Environmental Advisory Committee to help local green initiatives such as the food scraps to compost program expansion and the recycling of oyster shells from our local restaurants back to the water for new oyster propagation.

9. Working on the Senior Citizen Committee to provide the Senior Guide and My Senior MAP (My Aging Plan) to town residents.

10. Working with the Inclusive Task Force to ensure the Town Square Playground has appropriate inclusion rides and activities for all children.

Being a Town Board member and liaison to committees is only one part of my responsibilities. Just as important to me, has been the opportunity to attend town events and talk with residents. Some of the events I have attended are: the Jamesport St. Patrick’s Day events, the Jamesport Firefighter Parade, the Memorial Day Parade and the Christmas Parade, the Riverhead Police Department PBA Installation dinner, the Three Kings / Housing Helps event, Heidi's Angels, Anti Bias Task Force events including movie night and food events, walking on CAP (Community Awareness Program) Day march and assisting in the CAP scan of vape shops with police, Opening Day Little League at Stotsky Park, the Mosaic Art Festival, Reflections Art events and Oktoberfest, the Wading River Duck Pond Day, the Jamesport Carnival, Paddle Battle, Polish Festival and Fair, the East End Arts Summer Soiree, the Cardboard Boat Race, 911 Memorial events, the Wading River Fall Festival at Eastwind, the Country Fair, Veteran’s Day WWI Memorial service, and the Christmas Parade, Tree and Menorah lighting.

The most surprising part of my first year on the Town Board is just how fast the year flew by.

In the upcoming year, I look forward to working on creating a Riverhead Seafood Festival, a Riverhead YMCA and the continued revitalization of downtown Riverhead and Town Square.