Letters

Congratulations to Rob Coburn on his election as Southampton Village trustee, and to Ed Simioni for running an impressive grassroots campaign that came close to victory. Despite being substantially outspent by Mayor Bill Manger’s well-funded war chest, Simioni’s message of open government, transparency and respect for all resonated with voters across the village.

Simioni’s campaign was powered not by billionaire donors or political insiders but by year-round residents and local first-time voters inspired by his energy and work ethic. That kind of authentic support made it clear that the community is ready for a change.

The final outcome revealed the fragility of Manger’s position. His campaign leaned heavily on absentee ballots from vacation homeowners, last-minute registrations from adult children “living” at LLC-owned properties, and deep-pocketed special interests. On election day, Manger was so desperate to cling to power that he spent the day frantically knocking on doors, behavior many residents noticed. One even recalled him running away from a puppy while canvassing.

Manger also didn’t hesitate to attack Rob Coburn during the campaign. But once the results were in, he rushed to celebrate alongside him, revealing just how quickly he was willing to discard his running mate Robin Brown when no longer politically useful.

In the end, the village took a small step forward with the election of Rob Coburn — but it also missed an opportunity for real, positive change.

David Rung

Southampton Village