Dems Nominate Throne-Holst, Fleming, Bender, Pell

The Southampton Town Democratic Committee on Monday night nominated its slate for the 2011 town election, with incumbent Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst leading the ticket.

Joining Throne-Holst are Councilwoman Bridget Fleming, Trustee Bill Pell, and first-time town council candidate Brad Bender. Fleming is a registered Democrat, but the rest of the ticket are members of the Independence Party.

If the town board incumbents are re-elected and Bender's run is successful, it would make for a dramatic shift in town government. Adding Bender to their line up would give Throne-Holst and Fleming the majority, which is currently held by the Republican-Conservative bloc of Nancy Graboski, Chris Nuzzi and Jim Malone. Graboski has served two four-year teams and is precluded from seeking a third due to term limits, and Nuzzi and Malone will not face re-election for two years.

The GOP will hold its nominating convention Wednesday.

The Working Families Party will screen candidates Wednesday in Water Mill and the Independence Party will nominate candidates last, Bender said.

Bender is a Northampton resident and past president of the Flanders, Riverside and Northampton Community Association. Fleming, of Noyac, is an attorney. Pell, who lives in Southampton, worked as a commercial boat captain and is a volunteer in the . Throne-Holst was the executive director of the before she was elected to the town board.