July 3, 2023

Subject line: A Message from Mayor Sheprow

A quick message to all who live and work in the Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson on this, my first day as Mayor.

I first wanted to thank our employees for their service to the Village, working on behalf of Port Jeff residents. I look forward to meeting everyone in person. I will be touring each department and facility in person and look forward to meeting  everyone and getting a better understanding of how each department functions.

Also, in my first official action as Mayor, I appointed Drew Biondo as Trustee to fill the one year vacancy left open when I became Mayor — effective immediately upon his signing of the Oath of Office today.

Drew and his wife Courtney have been Port Jefferson Village residents since 1998. They have two adult children, Caroline and Reid, who are alumni of Port Jefferson schools. Drew is Director of Communications at Suffolk County Community College and has nearly 40 years of experience as a strategic communications executive and administrator in both the public and private sectors.

More about Drew — he was appointed to the Long Island Power Authority’s board of trustees in January 2018 by the NY State Senate Majority Leader and NY State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle and served for five years as a member of the Governance, Planning and Personnel Committee with responsibilities including setting appropriate governance priorities and implementing best practices in Board governance; ensuring that the Board’s policies provide strategic direction to the Chief Executive Officer and staff, among others. 

Prior to joining the community college staff, Drew was Director of Communications and Press Secretary for New York State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle, chair of the New York State Senate’s Select Committee on Higher Education, where he served as the Senator’s chief spokesperson and also as a policy advisor. Among other positions, he also served for more than a decade as an assistant and Director of Communications to the Suffolk County District Attorney where he served as the District Attorney’s spokesperson and directed communications and media relations.

I’ve known and worked with Drew in a variety of capacities for more than 20 years. I know him to be very strategic and purposeful in his approach. His time spent on the LIPA board, in higher education, as well as in Senator LaValle’s administration have prepared him well to be able to serve the residents of Port Jefferson as a Trustee.

Drew attended Marist College and is a graduate of LIU Post with a Bachelor’s degree in communications. He will be sworn in along with Trustees Bob Juliano and Stan Loucks at the annual swearing in ceremony tomorrow following the Port Jefferson Fire Department Parade. 

I hope you all have a happy and healthy Fourth of July.