Arresta Joins Field Of Candidates For Southampton Village Board

Longtime Southampton Village resident Gina Arresta on Friday announced her candidacy for Village Board.

Four hopefuls, including Ms. Arresta, seek to fill two seats on the board, in an election that has been delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The three additional contenders are incumbent board member Kimberly Allan; Zach Epley, a one-time village Planning Board member and the son of former Mayor Mark Epley; and Joseph McLoughlin, who narrowly lost a bid for a board seat in 2019.

Current board member Rich Yastrzemski, whose term is up this year, has yet to make his plans known.

The pandemic changed the annual schedule for the village election, which is usually held in June, pushing it back to September 15.

To quell the spread of the highly contagious virus, candidates were initially forbidden to collect the signatures they traditionally need to file to win a place on the ballot. That prohibition was lifted June 30. Per another executive order issued by Governor Andrew Cuomo Tuesday night, candidates could begin collecting signatures on July 1, and file petitions between July 27 and July 30.

Comptroller for the North Sea Plumbing and Heating Company and a member of the village finance committee, Ms. Arresta feels her background in finance is an important asset as the municipality navigates a new world precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As a 30-year resident of this wonderful community, I believe now is the time for me to give back to Southampton by getting involved with our local government. Given the financial impact of the pandemic on our businesses and residents, the need for leaders with a business background and financial acumen is more crucial than ever. That is my area of expertise. I look forward to running as an independent voice that will serve our village with dignity, credibility, transparency, and demonstrated knowledge,” she said in a release declaring her candidacy.