Throne-Holst Prevails Over Write-In Challenge Nearly 2-1

Southampton Town Supervisor was re-elected by a more-than-comfortable margin Tuesday, beating back a write-in challenge from her predecessor, .

Throne-Holst, an Independence Party member also carrying the endorsements of the Democratic and Working Families parties, was running unopposed after the Republicans failed to field a candidate; their nominee, Councilman Chris Nuzzi, . But Kabot, a former Republican supervisor who lost her re-election bid to Throne-Holst in 2007, .

Throne-Holst took 6,249 votes, 63 percent of the total. There were 3,206 write-in votes cast, and presumably nearly all of them were for Kabot.

"This is not your typical write-in versus nominated candidate," Throne-Holst told Patch as the Democrats' election night headquarters was clearing out for the night Tuesday. "[Kabot] was given as much airtime, if not more." She also took advantage of social media and blogs, and the Republicans eventually backed her as their candidate, Throne-Holst said.

"I'm very pleased with my margin and I think it reflects the sentiment of the town of Southampton," she said.

“To not even be on the ballot and get 3,602 votes is great," said Kabot. "It was an honor and a privilege to be a candidate."

Kabot said the republican's ran a great campaign that focused on honesty and integrity.

Throne-Holst said that her focus during the election had been on the town council race for two seats, which her ally Councilwoman Bridget Fleming topped. The second available seat is tentatively leaning toward Republican Christine Preston Scalera, but 791 absentee ballots are still to be counted and Independence Party member Brad Bender, another of Throne-Holst's allies, is just 85 votes behind.

"I'm very hopeful and confidant that the absentees will put Brad where he belongs," Throne-Holst said. '"Brad deserves that seat."