Southampton GOP Seeks Candidates for Town Election

The Southampton Town Republican Committee is asking qualified residents to put their names forward as possible candidates in the 2013 town elections.

Not only is control of the Town Board at stake, but the town clerk and highway superintendent elections fall this year. Additionally, all five Town Trustee seats are up for election.

The Republicans will screen candidates to name their nominees for the posts — though if two Republicans insist on running for the same seat on the GOP line, there could be a primary challenge.

While most seats will be defended by an incumbent, one town trustee has said he will not be seeking re-election and at least one town council seat will be a toss-up, as Councilman Chris Nuzzi must step aside due to term limits. Councilman Jim Malone, a Conservative Party member, who was elected with Republican support, is eligible to run for a second four-year term.

The GOP Committee is hoping to field a candidate for supervisor this election cycle, after failing to find a willing candidate in 2011 to challenge incumbent Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst. Nuzzi was offered the nomination in 2011, but turned it down. Now, because he is confronted with a term limit, Nuzzi must run for supervisor is he wishes to stay on the Town Board.

Sundy Schermeyer, a Republican, holds the post of town clerk, and she will run for another four-year term.

Highway Superintendent Alex Gregor, a member of the Independence Party, was elected four years ago with the backing of the Democrats, and he is eligible for a second term.

Throne-Holst is also a member of the Independence Party, and she has historically run on the Democratic line as well.

The incumbent Town Trustees are Frederick Havemeyer, Ed Warner Jr., Jon Semlear and Bill Pell — though Semlear told 27east in 2012 that this, his 10th two-year term, will be his last.

Havemeyer and Shultz ran on both the Republican and Democratic lines in 2011, but they were shunned by GOP leadership for accepting the Democratic nomination. Warner and Semlear ran under the GOP banner, and Pell is an Independence Party member who was also backed by the Democrats.

To be considered for the Republican nomination in 2013 for any of the posts, interested town residents are asked to email resumes to Southampton Town Republican Committee Chairman William Wright at bwright16@gmail.com before March 15.

Who do you think should run for office? Post your thoughts in the comment section below.