John Rouse, Superintendent of Highways
John Rouse was first elected as Highway Superintendent in 2003. He has done more with less at the Highway Department, launching the most ambitious road-resurfacing program in Brookhaven history while severely understaffed. Rouse created a priority system for road resurfacing, based on input from Department Foremen, Town Council Members, and ordinary residents. The system allowed the Department to approach resurfacing in a systematic manner, giving precedence to roads most in need of repair.
Rouse convinced the Town Council to increase funding for Road resurfacing to 33 million dollars. He revitalized the Highway Department’s snow removal program, clearing our roads during the worst winter weather in decades. John significantly increased the number of contractors available for snow removal duty.
John Rouse has also modernized the Highway Department, bringing in computer technology and professional expertise to provide services more efficiently. He initiated the first inventory of Department materials in over twenty years, helping to save taxpayers’ dollars. Rouse replaced the Department’s outdated telephone switchboard with a computerized system, guiding constituents to the services they’re looking for.
In addition, John has brought accountability to the Department, treating constituents as valued customers and asking for input from all Brookhaven residents.
John Rouse is an attorney who worked in private practice with a concentration in criminal defense and general litigation. John was admitted to the New York Bar in 1988 and began his career as a Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney. For 2 years he was the top-performing attorney in the Major Crime Bureau.
He is a former Little League baseball and soccer coach as well as former CCD instructor at Infant Jesus Church in Port Jefferson. John also served as a volunteer fire fighter rising to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant with the Port Jefferson Fire Department before leaving for law school.
John has lived in the Town of Brookhaven since the age of 7 and currently resides in Miller Place.
Western New England College - School of Law in Springfield, Massachusetts