ÜBER DIESE EPISODE
Some results from east end elections yesterday include the race for south fork Suffolk County Legislator, 2nd District, where incumbent Democrat Ann E. Welker won reelection with nearly 70 percent of the votes.
In Southampton, Democratic Town Board candidate Tom Neely was the top vote-getter, followed by incumbent Republican Cyndi McNamara, in the three-way race for two seats. Incumbent Councilman Rick Martel will not return to the board. Democratic Town Supervisor Maria Moore was reelected, running unopposed. Overall turnout for the vote was low, with fewer than 12,000 voters casting ballots during early voting, with mail-in absentee ballots and at the polls on Tuesday. Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that in the most stunning results of the night, all five Democratic candidates for the Southampton Town Trustees cruised to easy victories over the five Republican candidates, unseating veteran incumbents Edward Warner Jr. and Scott Horowitz and Trustee Chip Maran. Warner Jr. is the longest serving member of the board, elected in 2005 to succeeded his father, who served as a Town Trustee for more than 30 years.
In East Hampton, Democratic Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez won, running unopposed, along with her town board running mates Ian Calder-Piedmonte and Cate Rogers. The 4 Trustee seats in East Hampton Town were also won by Democrats.
On the north fork in the Suffolk County Legislator race in the First Legislative District, Democrat Greg Doroski won an upset victory over Republican incumbent Catherine Stark, 52.09% to 47.88%, 11,219 votes to 10,311votes, according to the unofficial results.
Incumbent Southold Town Councilman Brian Mealy has been declared a winner by NEWSDAY.
***
Suffolk County voters approved a referendum yesterday to extend the length of terms for county legislators from two to four years in a rebuke to the state shifting local elections to even years. Joe Werkmeister reports in NEWSDAY that winners in the Suffolk races will serve a truncated three-year term and can run for reelection in 2028. If the referendum, Proposition 2, had failed, they would have had to run again in 2026, essentially restarting the campaign shortly after being sworn into office in January.
Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine signed the Term Limit Preservation Act in July after it was passed with bipartisan support through the legislature, allowing the measure to appear on the Election Day ballot.
The proposition also changes the county’s 12-year term limit law to allow a legislator who reaches a 12th year in the middle of a term to be extended. For example, Legis. Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset), who won Tuesday, reaches her 12th year in 2027. Kennedy can continue to serve through 2028.
Republicans, in campaign materials, have urged voters to pass the proposition. Mailers from the Suffolk County GOP Committee said "Vote yes to term limits," although the proposition does not change the current 12-year term limits.
The Suffolk Democratic Party did not mention the proposition in campaign materials, according to campaign manager Keith Davies.
Suffolk Democratic chairman Rich Schaffer said late yesterday that Democrats planned to challenge the legality of the referendum in an effort to invalidate it.
"I believe that it will be found unconstitutional, and that then the races would have to be run again next year," Schaffer said.
***
With all 22 Riverhead election districts reporting, a political newcomer, Democrat Jerry Halpin, a local church pastor, leads incumbent Republican Supervisor Tim Hubbard by a razor thin margin in the race for Riverhead Town supervisor. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that Halpin leads Hubbard by just 21 votes out of 7,761 votes cast, 3,891 to 3,870, according to unofficial results published by the Suffolk County Board of Elections early. this morning.
Halpin’s lead over Hubbard expanded with the tally from the two election districts that were very late in reporting returns last night.
In the four-way race for two council seats, incumbents Bob Kern and Ken Rothwell remain the two top vote-getters, even though challenger Mark Woolley came out on top in both of the late-reporting districts.
Kern won 3,907 votes and Rothwell 3,833 votes, according to the unofficial results.
Woolley is 74 votes behind Rothwell, with 3,759.
Challenger Kevin Shea is fourth with 3,452.
The vote tallies include early voting by mail ballots and absentee ballots received by Tuesday.
The results do not include mailed absentee ballots and military ballots postmarked received by the county board of elections after election day. Both types of mailed ballots must be postmarked no later than Nov. 4. Mailed absentee ballots must be received by the county board of elections no later than Nov. 12 and military ballots must be received by the county board of election by Nov. 17.
The official results of the election in the Town of Riverhead will not be known for weeks.
The other Riverhead Town races on the ballot, for highway superintendent and town assessor, were uncontested.
***
The New York State Department of Transportation announced yesterday that it has completed structural repairs to the Shinnecock Canal Bridge in Hampton Bays and late Tuesday afternoon re-opened both westbound lanes of Sunrise Highway in time for last evening’s trade parade. “Finishing work will continue at the site and will require the closure of the right westbound lane on Wednesday, November 5 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.,” says Southampton Town. “The right shoulder also remains closed at this time. Additional lane closures along Sunrise Highway and Canal Road underneath the bridge may be necessary in the coming days.” Motorists are encouraged to check 511NY for the latest traffic information regarding 27 westbound and roads around the Shinnecock Canal Bridge in Hampton Bays. The bridge was damaged during last Thursday night’s storm.
***
The Southampton History Museum invites the community to commemorate Veterans Day with “Voices of Valor: Stories From the Next Generation” this coming Saturday November 8, from noon to 1 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hall in Southampton Village. Presented as part of the museum’s ongoing exhibition “Homefront to Battlefront: Southampton During World War II,” the program brings together descendants of Southampton’s World War II servicemen and women to share memories, letters, photographs, and personal stories passed down through generations.
Through these intimate reflections, Voices of Valor honors the heroism, sacrifice, and resilience of those who served overseas and on the home front — and highlights how their legacy continues to shape the Southampton community today. This Saturday’s program is free, though seating is limited and RSVPs are encouraged. For more information or to RSVP, visit southamptonhistory.org.
***
First time home buyers can purchase a new condo in Westhampton Beach for less than half its price on the open market through a first-come, first-served application process run by Long Island Housing Partnership. Jonathan LaMantia reports in NEWSDAY that condos at the 45-unit The Gables at Westhampton Beach development on Depot Road are listed for about $1.4 million to $1.8 million. But the developer, Inlet Real Estate Capital, is offering the seven condos for $535,875 as part of a deal with the Village of Westhampton beach that allowed the company to build additional units on the 8-acre property. "This is a beautiful community, it’s located in a great spot if you have connections to the East End, and it’s a very affordable price compared to the market," said Jill Rosen-Nikoloff, senior vice president and general counsel at Long Island Housing Partnership, which is handling the application process. The housing nonprofit is accepting applications for the discounted condos after a housing lottery earlier this year yielded only two eligible purchasers out of 136 applicants. Some applicants hadn’t anticipated the additional expenses that come with ownership, including common charges and insurance costs, said Peter Elkowitz, the nonprofit’s president and CEO. To qualify, buyers can earn up to 130% of area median income. That translates into $150,050 for an individual, $171,500 for a couple or $192,950 for a family of three. The deals come with a caveat — future appreciation on the condos is limited to keep the units affordable in perpetuity. Westhampton Beach Village has the right of first refusal to buy back the condo before it is offered for sale. The buyer may not sell the condo at a profit for at least three years after closing. After the three years, the owner may sell for their purchase price plus the metropolitan area inflation rate since their purchase. The resale price also can reflect the cost of certain home improvements. "It’s designed to make sure the house remains affordable," said Elkowitz. "You can’t get a windfall." The median price among 40 condos sold on the South Fork during the third quarter was nearly $1.4 million, according to a recent market report from the brokerage Corcoran, which noted prices were lifted by sales at the new Watermill Crossing in Southampton. Meanwhile, the median price for a house in Westhampton Beach was almost $2.4 million during the July to September period.
