Candidate says invitations at work were a mistake

John McGann, the Republican nominee for Southampton Town highway superintendent, acknowledged that some of his supporters made a “minor error in judgment” last week by distributing flyers for a meet-and-greet with him to highway department employees while they were at work.

Town Management Services Administrator Richard Blowes said he was informed by a highway department employee, who wished to remain anonymous, that Terry Flanagan, Mr. McGann’s campaign manager and vice chairman of the town’s Conservative Party, and Jen Stearns, a highway department employee who is Mr. Flanagan’s daughter, had handed out flyers to other highway department employees during the workday inviting them to a barbecue at Mr. Flanagan’s home. According to the flyer, the event was intended to provide department employees an opportunity to get to know the candidate and to discuss departmental issues with him.

According to the invitation, “Terry and Dawn Flanagan, parents of Jen Stearns (North Sea Barn) invite you and your guest to our home on Thursday, June 25th, to meet John McGann, Candidate for Highway Superintendent.”

The flyer clearly said that the get-together was “not a solicitation for donations” to Mr. McGann’s campaign.

Town Supervisor Linda Kabot—who issued a memo to Darlene Troge, the town’s workplace policies compliance director, instructing her to look into the matter—noted that Mr. Flanagan is an appointee to the Conservation Board, Ms. Flanagan is an employee of the Town Justice Court, and Mr. McGann is a former member of the town’s Ethics Board.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Flanagan did not return messages left on his answering machine or e-mail messages Mr. McGann said he had forwarded to Mr. Flanagan, seeking comment. Ms. Stearns did not respond to repeated messages left for her at Highway Superintendent Bill Masterson’s office, where all messages for department employees are typically left. Despite repeated calls to the North Sea Barn location, no one answered the phone.

Mr. McGann said he stood by his supporters who, “in good faith,” organized the gathering.

“This was not a fund-raiser, nor was it a campaign event,” Mr. McGann said. “There were no bumper stickers, buttons, lawn signs or any solicitation for funds or support.”

Ms. Kabot, however, said she was concerned about the distribution of the flyers to other department employees. Even though the event was not intended to solicit funds, Ms. Kabot said passing out the invitations appears to be a violation of town code, which prevents any sort of campaigning on town time and is geared toward ensuring a “partisan-free” work environment.

Mr. Blowes said once the appropriate department heads look into the matter they will make recommendations to the Town Board to take whatever action they deem necessary.

Mr. Masterson, who is stepping down at the end of this year after 20 years on the job, said he does not condone the actions of Mr. McGann’s supporters, although he agreed with Mr. McGann that their doing so was a legitimate error.

“I think this was just a little bit of ignorance as to town policy on the part of his supporters,” Mr. Masterson said. “However, I do not condone it, and when I found out about it I immediately sent a memo to all my employees indicating that this was against the town policy and that they should never feel pressured to go to such things.”

Democratic highway superintendent nominee Alex Gregor, Mr. McGann’s opponent, said the GOP is minimizing the issue.

“This is simply not supposed to be done,” Mr. Gregor said. “Anyone with any knowledge would know it’s improper. What level it rises to, I don’t know, but clearly Mr. McGann and Mr. Flanagan do not understand the proper ethics of running a campaign.”

Mr. Blowes said the town was taking the matter seriously. “We sent out a letter to all town employees informing them of town policy,” he said. “Workers have First Amendment rights, but there are some things that are not permitted on town time.”

Mr. McGann added that the campaign for highway superintendent should be “about the issues, not someone trying to make a mountain out of a molehill.”