Letters

Southampton Town justice is not a political position, which is good, because I’m not, nor have I ever been, a politician. I am running for Southampton Town justice and respectfully ask for your vote in the upcoming election.

Why should you vote for me? I love the law, and I love this town. The public servants in Southampton have a responsibility to respect the law, and to respect its citizens. I promise that, should I be elected as your town justice, I will serve with the integrity and honesty that the residents of Southampton should expect from every single elected official.

I have more than 30 years of experience practicing law in Supreme, Family, Justice, County and Surrogates courts across Suffolk and Nassau counties. I graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree and from St. John’s University School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree. After being admitted to the 2nd Department of the State of New York in 1985, I practiced privately for several years, mainly in Family Court and District Court, and was also appointed to rule on Small Claims Court cases. I was a proud member of the Anti-Bias Task Force in Smithtown, where I worked to address issues of discrimination and promote diversity within the community.

I have dedicated my career to public service. I joined the New York State Mental Hygiene Legal Service of the Appellate Division, where I worked for 22 years. I represented some of the most vulnerable and marginalized people in New York. I listened to them, learned from them and made sure they had the legal representation every citizen deserves.

I was fortunate to serve as counsel or court evaluator in many cases and lead counsel in many guardianship cases, appearing regularly in courtrooms in both Suffolk and Nassau counties. I worked to ensure that the elderly or impaired had as much dignity, safety and self-determination that their circumstances would allow.

Twenty years ago, I moved to Southampton. My husband’s parents had built their home here in 1962. My father-in-law was a plumber, and my mother-in-law an amateur artist. With the help of friends and family, they built their small cottage on Cold Spring Pond.

After my father-in-law died, my mother-in-law stayed in the home they built together. My husband and I lived a mile away and spent many afternoons in her cottage, listening to stories of the life she and her family created in this beautiful community that I would be honored to serve.

To contact me directly or learn more about my campaign, please visit Oster4Justice.org. And, most importantly, don’t forget to vote starting with early voting October 23 through Election Day or by absentee ballot.

Shari Oster

Southampton