Cooke Ousts Hadix in Southampton Fire District Election

Former  Chief Brian Cooke defeated incumbent Michael Hadix for a seat on the  Board of Commissioners Tuesday in a close race, 57 to 44.

Cooke will complete the last two years of former Commissioner Fred Andrews' five-year term. Andrews stepped down last year when he moved to the North Fork and Hadix, the fire district treasurer at the time, was appointed to temporarily fill the position until an election could be held.

"I wish Brian and Buddy great success," Hadix said Wednesday. He thanked the residents of the district for allowing him to serve them from the founding of the Southampton Fire District in 2003, first as treasurer then as a commissioner.

Cooke is the vice president of operations for the Hampton Jitney. His new post with the fire district is an unpaid position.

Outgoing Southampton Fire Chief Roy "Buddy" Wines IV was elected to a fire-year term. He ran unopposed to fill the seat being vacated by Harald Steudte, who declined to seek a second term. However, Wines said Wednesday that of about 10o votes counted, he received 75 votes and 11 voters wrote in Joe Corr, who served as chief for two years between Cooke's tenure and Wines'.

Wines, a general contractor with his own business in Southampton Village, RLW4 Construction, said he is looking forward to serving on the board of commissioners, having worked with it for several years from the other side of the table as a fire chief.

Cooke said that it will be good for the board to have representation from the fire department. Wines and Cooke will be the second and third former Southampton fire chiefs on the five-member board. Commissioner David Price was also a chief.