2025 Elections

Jerry Halpin (left) and Tim Hubbard (right) at the Greater Calverton Civic Association's October debate — the only debate Republican candidates agreed to participate in.
2025 Elections News Analysis Opinion Recent

News Analysis: East Enders Continue to Vote for the Person

East End Beacon
The nationwide blue wave that hit the East End election night was a forceful reminder that, in the strange new world of 21st Century politics, former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill’s tried and true advice that all elections are local does not apply right now.  Pictured Above: Jerry Halpin (left) and Tim Hubbard (right) at the Greater Calverton Civic Association's October debate — the only debate Republican candidates agreed
Read More
riverhead town board
2025 Elections

With Recount Complete, Riverhead Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard Concedes

Beth Young
The results of this week's manual recount of the Riverhead Town Supervisor race are in, and it's official — Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard has been defeated by political newcomer Jerry Halpin, a local pastor, by 37 votes. The Suffolk County Board of Elections announced the results of the tally, which began Monday morning, on Tuesday afternoon. The recount picked up a total of four more votes than the machine count,
Read More
jerry and kristen halpin web
2025 Elections Riverhead Top Stories

Riverhead Democrats Declare Victory for Jerry Halpin in Town Supervisor Race

Beth Young
More than two weeks after a nail-biter election night that saw him up by six votes for much of the evening, Riverhead Democrats declared Friday afternoon that their Town Supervisor candidate, Jerry Halpin, will be the next Town Supervisor. Pictured Above: Jerry and Kristen Halpin on Election Night. As of Friday afternoon, with all absentee and military ballots counted, Mr. Halpin had received just 37 more votes than incumbent one-term
Read More
Alexa Suess
2025 Elections Southold

With Vote Soon to be Certified, Suess Declares Victory in Southold Council Race

Beth Young
Democratic Southold Town Board candidate Alexa Suess declared victory in her race Friday evening, as her lead over her closest Republican competitor, Chris Talbot, increased to 147 votes in the Friday afternoon tally including absentee ballots from the Suffolk County Board of Elections. Her lead had been 81 votes on Election Night. Pictured Above: Alexa Suess at a North Fork Chamber of Commerce candidate forum in October. The Board of
Read More
Southold Democratic Town Board candidates Alexa Suess, Brian Mealy and Kate Stevens.
2025 Elections Photos Top Stories

A Good Night for Southold Democrats, Riverhead Supervisor Race Too Close to Call

Beth Young
Update 11/5, 8 a.m. Riverhead Democratic Town Supervisor candidate Jerry Halpin has expanded his lead from six to 21 votes over incumbent Supervisor Tim Hubbard. “I’m extremely thankful for everyone who made it a priority to vote. I am excited about the current standings and I am patiently optimistic as we wait for a final decision," said Mr. Halpin Wednesday morning. According to New York State law, a race this
Read More
southold town board candidates
2025 Elections Editorial Featured Opinion

Editorial: Civil Elections. How About That.

East End Beacon
From the crowds we’ve seen at this fall’s debates for town and county offices, it’s clear to us that our community is super-engaged and excited to be participating in local civic life. That is truly heartening, at a time when the national conversation has devolved into a shouting match. And it says great things about the future resilience of our region. Pictured Above: Southold Town Board candidates (l-r) Brian Mealy
Read More
Mark Woolley
2025 Elections Letters Opinion

Featured Letter: On Voting for Change in Riverhead

East End Beacon
To the Editor, I’m Mark Woolley, your hometown candidate for Riverhead Town Board. Early voting begins this Saturday, October 25 at Riverhead Town Hall on Second Street and runs through Sunday, November 2. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, when you will vote at your normal polling station. My name is located on Row E, Taxpayers First, and on Row A, Democrat Party. This allows registered voters of all political
Read More
Southold is the only town on the East End that has not yet pledged to become a New York State-designated Pro-Housing Community. (Communities in blue have submitted letters of intent to become Pro-Housing Communities, and those in green have already been certified by the state.)
2025 Elections Housing Letters Opinion

Featured Letter: On Becoming a Pro-Housing Community

East End Beacon
To the Editor: First, I would like to commend our local elected officials for their ongoing work on the Community Housing Plan and their efforts to address the affordability challenges facing our town. The plan represents a meaningful step forward, and I am optimistic about the progress that our newly appointed Housing Plan Supervisor will help us achieve. Southold is fortunate to have community members and public servants who care
Read More
southold gop web
2025 Elections Letters Opinion

Featured Letter: Supporting Southold Republican Candidates

East End Beacon
To the Editor: For more than thirty years, I have worked in and around Southold Town Hall. I have seen what it takes to move a good idea from a meeting agenda to a result you can see on your street. The truth is simple. Progress depends on capable partners who know how local government works and who are willing to roll up their sleeves. That is why I am
Read More
league of women voters Southold
2025 Elections Southold Top Stories

Southold Candidates Meet The League

Beth Young
By the time the League of Women Voters of The Hamptons, Shelter Island & The North Fork held their Southold Town Board Candidate Debate Thursday evening — the third and final Southold debate of this campaign season — most of the voters in the room had already heard the candidates' pitches for why they should be elected to town office, and most already seemed to have made up their minds
Read More
Abigail Field
2025 Elections Letters Opinion

Featured Letter: About the Job of Southold Town Clerk

East End Beacon
To the Editor: The upcoming election for Town Clerk is different in kind than the election for policy jobs like Town Board or Town Trustee. It’s an election to hire a non-political employee with significant operational responsibilities. As a result, it’s important to consider the job duties, and which candidate can perform them more effectively.  People are aware that issuing permits and assisting with forms are part of the Clerk’s
Read More