MP Board of Ed Candidate Profile: Ann O'Brien

Ann O'Brien is the only incumbent running for the Miller Place Board of Education in 2011.

She has served four terms spanning over 12 years on the board, and with three seats on the board up for election, O'Brien said her expertise is valuable.

"One of the main reasons I'm running for the school board now is that I do have the knowledge and the expertise," she said. "I don’t think it’s good for the stability of the board to have three brand new school board members. I think it’s important to have a mix...it’s always good to have new ideas and it’s always good to have people who have been there a while to show new people the ropes."

O'Brien has lived in Miller Place for 20 years and has two daughters; one who graduated from MP in 2008 and is currently a junior at the University of Virginia and the other a sophomore at the . A former research meteorologist who switched careers and became a software product manager, she is also on the Nassau/Suffolk School Boards Association after being nominated for a seat on the executive committee, which consists of about 20-30 people. O'Brien is also on the board of directors for the MP Civic Association.

O'Brien on her work with the schools' finances:

"When I was first on the board our finances weren’t in such great order," she said. "We had no money in reserves, no fund balance. Essentially we were living paycheck to paycheck. Since that time, the boards I have been on have been responsible for getting our finances in order. We have a wonderful credit rating now, and when that is high you have lower costs for borrowing money, so that’s saved the district money over the years.

"Because we have reserves, this year in particular we were able to put them to good use. I know people aren’t always crazy about having money in the bank but the purpose of having those reserves is when you have years like this that are difficult financially it helps smooth the bumps on the tax rate and you can help save some of the programs in the district."

On her relationship with legislators:

"In 2002 I started the first regional legislative breakfast, which has become a staple," she said. "I’ve been involved meeting with legislators, I know them very well and can call them up and talk to them.

"We’re very involved with our legislature. This particular year it’s been very important. We’ve had a meeting with State Sen. John Flanagan, the chair of the state education committee, discussing mandate relief."

On what she would look to accomplish if re-elected:

"We’re looking to start a foundation, which benefits us because they provide additional monies. We can go to companies and alumni and ask for donations. There are a lot of creative people in Miller Place and I think with a good team of people on a foundation committee we could do well.

"With talk of a tax cap and all it’s critical to school districts to have mandate relief. If a property tax cap is to come through, it will cripple the school districts if there isn’t mandate relief. I’d like to be a part of that conversation because I have the knowledge and have the expertise.

"It’s very important for school districts in order to nagivate through the next few years that we have a voice in terms of what the mandates are that the state will relieve us of in order to reduce our costs and help the property tax payer locally."

Editor's Note: This is part of a series of profiles highlighting each candidate for Miller Place and Rocky Point's Board of Education. Be on the lookout for more candidate profiles in the coming days leading up the elections.