Sarah Anker, is a former Suffolk County Legislator, Mt. Sinai resident and mother of three children. Sarah is the daughter of a Navy Veteran and a longtime community advocate, public servant and working mom with a history of improving her community. She continues to be a strong voice on many issues including children’s health and safety, economic sustainability and environmental protection and preservation.

After Sarah's grandmother lost her battle to breast cancer, Sarah was compelled to take an active response to the staggeringly high breast cancer rates on Long Island. She founded Community Health and Environment Coalition (CHEC), and led the organization to raise awareness about how our environment directly impacts our health. Sarah’s advocacy was vital in advancing New York State Department of Health’s efforts in researching and investigating cancer cluster causes in our community.

Along with her friends and neighbors, she helped advocate to create a community park on property slated to be developed. Through this advocacy, today’s Heritage Park in Mount Sinai shines as a community jewel. http://www.msheritagetrust.org.  Using the Heritage model, Sarah is currently pursing the county acquisition of the old Kmart property in Middle Island to create a similar park, working with the Town of Brookhaven, the Middle Island Civic Association and Longwood Youth Sport Association.

Prior to being elected, Sarah helped spearhead the creation of Brookhaven Town’s first Energy Department. As Director of the department, she implemented the Green Homes Go Solar programs, which provided energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities and resources for Brookhaven Town residents. 

As a Legislator, Sarah was proud to serve as the Chairwoman of the Suffolk County’s Seniors and Human Services, Chairwoman of the Health Committee, Vice-Chair of the Veterans Committee, member of the Budget and Finance Committee, member of the Environment, Planning and Agriculture committee, Chairwoman of Suffolk County’s Addiction Prevention and Support Advisory Panel and Chairwomen of the School Traffic Safety Commission. Her legislative accomplishments include: the initiation of the SAVE Hotline (School Active Violence Emergency), an emergency notification system to improve school safety; increasing bullying awareness with the creation of Suffolk County’s first bullying awareness website www.SuffolkStopBullying.org; protecting our residents from scams by creating Suffolk’s scam alert website www.SCPDscamalert.org; facilitating the launch of a Suffolk County webpage dedicated to addiction and mental health resources www.SuffolkStopAddiction.org; enhancing the county’s efforts to keep young people on Long Island through the creation of the Jobs Opportunity Board (JOB) that connects our graduating seniors to local jobs; providing attainable housing for young adults through the Planned Young Adult Community (PYAC) concept that builds housing on or near college campuses; working with PSEG to create a rebate program that will provide up to $4,000 in energy efficiency measures for customers; facilitating the 10-mile Rails to Trails Recreational Path that will provide a safer alternative for biking; creating a Veteran’s Resource Guide; sponsoring legislation to require merchants to post an e-liquid/liquid nicotine warning; sponsoring a law to ban the intentional release of balloons to protect sea life and keep our beaches clean  and supporting thousands of acres of land acquisition for the preservation of Long Island’s open space and groundwater protection. 

Sarah’s leadership has been recognized by the Times-Beacon Newspaper, who named her as the newspaper’s Woman of the Year for Environment. She has been honored with the New York State Senate Woman of Distinction Award, Rotary Club Community Service Award, and citations from both the Town of Brookhaven and Suffolk County for community service. She has served on United States Congressman Tim Bishop’s Breast Cancer Advisory Board, New York State Senator Ken LaValle’s Environmental Roundtable, Suffolk County’s Cancer Awareness Taskforce, Brookhaven National Laboratory Community Advisory Committee, Mt. Sinai School Board and the Mt. Sinai Civic Association Board.

Additionally, Sarah is an advocate and supporter for many local non-profit organizations including historical societies, local children’s sport associations, school organizations, veteran’s support groups, business organizations, community service not for profits, civic associations, environmental organizations, senior services support groups, educational museums, cycling/sports clubs and health related support groups.