Email: jason.molinet@patch.com

Phone: 516-361-1367

Hometown: Northport, N.Y.

Birthday: June 28, 1973

Twitter: @LongIslandPatch

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LongIslandPatch

Bio: Jason Molinet is a Patch.com regional editor for Long Island's North Shore. He's a veteran journalist with a passion for community news. Molinet spent 11 years as a reporter at Newsday and has been a Press Club of Long Island award winner. A University of Miami graduate with a BA in History, Molinet celebrates his Cuban heritage, reads Ernest Hemingway and roots for the Miami Heat.

Your Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.

Politics 
How would you describe your political beliefs? The First Amendment is my friend and anyone who says otherwise best be prepared for dissent. Transparency equals democracy.

Are you registered with a certain party? I'm a registered Republican, but vote for the most promising, can-do candidate. 

Religion
How religious would you consider yourself? Baptized Catholic, attended Christian school, but ultimately non-religious.

Local Hot-Button Issue
What do you think is the most important issue facing the community? Long Islanders share a collective psyche and yet live in highly segregated communities, divided seemingly by political hedgerows. This division has created a monster in the form of small  -- and increasingly expensive -- school districts as well as special water, fire and police districts. It's time to cut the fat and consolidate. Education and essential services are the bedrock of a strong community, but not at the expense of fiscal responsibility.