Hahn, Viloria-Fisher Set Sights on 2011 Election

Ballots are still being counted in a handful of Long Island races, but some in Three Village are already looking ahead to November of 2011.

A local civic leader has announced plans to run for the county legislature seat which will be vacated by Vivian Viloria-Fisher, D-Setauket, who is unable to run again due to term limits. Viloria-Fisher herself has already stated her intent to run for county executive in 2011.

Kara Hahn, president of the  and spokeswoman for the Suffolk Legislature's Democratic majority, has launched a website announcing her intent to run in 2011 for Viloria-Fisher's seat. She has also scheduled a fundraiser kickoff party for Dec. 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Setauket Neighborhood House.

"I really have always wanted to make a diference in the community, and I see this as another opportunity to serve," Hahn said. "I'm very familiar with the legislature and how it operates, and the county government. I think I can use that experience to benefit our area."

Hahn's term as president of the civic association ends in May. She said she will not seek re-election to that post to focus on her campaign, and would consider stepping down sooner if a conflict arose.

On Thursday, Viloria-Fisher called Hahn an "appropriate candidate" for the seat she will vacate after serving six two-year terms beginning in 1999. Hahn even worked on Viloria-Fisher's initial campaign.

"She certainly knows the community," Viloria-Fisher said. "She is well-educated and articulate, so I think she would be a great candidate."

Viloria-Fisher herself has already had two parties to support her run for county executive, with a third scheduled for this weekend. 

"I have thrown my hat in the ring and I will be ramping up my campaign," she said.

She has recently been critical of County Executive Steve Levy, telling a political blogger this past September that Levy has been an "incendiary" and "polarizing" county leader. The two also at Ward Melville High School in June, which prompted a weeks-long exchange of letters published in a local newspaper this past summer.

One Levy insider responded to a request for comment by offering a critical preview of what the race between Levy and Viloria-Fisher might look like.

"It would make a great choice between a fiscally conservative executive who has never raised general fund property taxes and who opposes illegal immigration, against a big spending legislator who talks cavalierly about raising taxes and fees while battling every sane effort to stop illegal immigration," county executive assistant Brendan Stanton said Friday.