Southold Election Slates Are Set
Southold Town Democrats announced Tuesday evening that their 2018 Town Supervisor candidate, Greg Doroski, and former Mattituck School Board member Brian Mealy will be their candidates for town board this November.
Incumbent town board members Republican Bob Ghosio and Conservative Jim Dinizio have declined to run again, and the Southold GOP ticket will be led by town board candidates Greg Williams, who owns Country Time Cycle in Mattituck, and Sannino Vineyard owner Anthony Sannino.
The Southold Democrats announced their slate after a Zoom convention on Tuesday, March 2, while the Southold Republicans announced their slate after a nominating meeting held at the Southold American Legion Feb. 23.
“I’m honored to have been nominated, and hope to have the opportunity to represent everyone in our incredibly special place we call Home
,” said Mr. Sannino on Facebook, echoing Mr. Williams’ statement that “I am honored to be selected by the Southold Town GOP for Town Board on this year’s election.”
Brian Mealy “is most proud of his leadership and service with the Mattituck-Cutchogue School Board, and ESBOCES Board. His kindness and respect for and by all people in Southold, regardless of party, is unmatched,” according to Southold Democrats.
If elected, Mr. Mealy would be the first African American to hold elected office in Southold Town.
Greg Doroski “blew the community away two years ago when, totally new to the local political landscape, he lost by a mere 117 votes to a 12-year incumbent for Town Supervisor,” according to Southold Democrats. “He has demonstrated bi-partisan support, is passionate about bringing needed change to Town Hall, and is an experienced, thoughtful, and dynamic leader.”
Incumbent Republican Town Supervisor Scott Russell is in year two of a four-year term.
Southold Town has long been a Republican stronghold, but by last fall, just before the 2020 election, after a years-long effort by town Democrats to increase their ranks, registered Democrats in the town edged out Republicans, with New York State Board of Elections data reporting active Democratic registrations at 6,124 people, versus 6,120 active Republicans in October of 2020.
A number of other long-time Republican representatives of town government are not seeking re-election, including Town Clerk Betty Neville and Town Trustees Mike Domino and John Bredemeyer.
Republicans have nominated the town’s government liaison, Denis Noncarrow, to run for Town Clerk. Southold Democrats are still interviewing prospective candidates for that post, according to Democratic Committee Chair Kathryn Casey.
Southold Republicans declined to nominate their incumbent Highway Superintendent, Vincent Orlando, for re-election, instead choosing Donald Grim, owner of Grim Towing of Cutchogue to run for highway superintendent. Democrats have chosen Dan Goodwin to run for the post.
“Dan Goodwin amazed us with his experience in management, engineering, and machinery,” according to the Southold Democrats. “A life-long resident of Southold, Dan is eager to serve this community and improve our town’s responsiveness and infrastructure as Superintendent of Highways.”
Republicans have chosen Jason Taggart, who works for Verizon; Kristina Gabrielsen of Gabrielsen’s Country Farm and Peter Johnstone Jr., a physical therapist to run for Town Trustee, while Democrats have chosen farmer Eric Sepenoski, real estate agent Liz Gillooly and Elizabeth Peeples of Little Ram Oyster Co. to run for Trustee posts. The Town Trustees are responsible for ensuring access to and protecting local waterways.
Election Day is Nov. 2.
