Contentious Campaign In Southampton Village Reached A Fevered Pitch

As the campaign for Southampton Village Board approached its dramatic denouement, the two opposing slates of candidates offered fevered dispatches, including an accusation of impropriety involving a village employee, and news of a move that might have impacted the counting of ballots.

On Monday afternoon, news began to circulate that running mates Joe McLoughlin and Gina Arresta were filing a legal petition that, if approved by a judge, would take control of ballot counting out of the hands of local authorities.

It turned out that the draft court papers circulated were boilerplate petitions typically filed to allow ballots in close races to be “re-canvassed,” i.e. double-checked and recounted by candidates’ legal representatives.

As of Monday evening, the papers had not been filed, and they were withdrawn on Tuesday night.

The theft of political lawn signs has likely been a campaign complaint since the first supporter plunged a placard into grass. In Southampton Village, a video of Gary Goleski, superintendent of the Department of Public Works, plucking a sign endorsing candidates Ms. Arresta and Mr. McLoughlin from the edge of a farm field on Halsey Neck Lane, ratcheted campaign fever and drew harsh words from the pair toward their opponents, Kimberly Allan and Zach Epley.

Mr. McLoughlin and Ms. Arresta issued a statement about the video: “We’re obviously very disappointed. As we’ve said, our signs have been disappearing for weeks, which is unfortunately emblematic of the campaign that’s being run against us, including blatant lies, personal attacks and bullying legal threats. Sadly, this is how village business has been conducted for the past 15 years, and it’s exactly why a change in leadership is needed.”

Mr. Goleski said on Monday that he had previously sent emails to each campaign outlining the DPW’s policies regarding political signs. The Press obtained a copy of the email, dated August 19. It reminds candidates that, under Chapter 116 of the village code, political signs are not allowed in the village right of way, which extends approximately 8 to 10 feet from the edge of the roadway pavement.

That distance appears to comport with the distance the sign was from the road’s end, as shown on the video shared with The Press by Mr. McLoughlin.

“Every election, we go out and pull signs,” Mr. Goleski said, reporting that the DPW picks up signs “every single day” during campaign season. Beyond the aesthetics of multiple signs marring the village’s bucolic vistas, Mr. Goleski explained that during windy storms they can end up in the street, or blocking catch basins.

Stating that he knows all the candidates and wishes them all well, Mr. Goleski said the signs are stored at the central garage, where members of the campaigns may retrieve them.

On Monday, The Press found 28 signs stored alongside a dumpster at the DPW site on Willow Street. Ten endorsed the Epley/Allan campaign, while 18 called for support for Mr. McLoughlin and Ms. Arresta.

Mr. Goleski said the department’s policy is to move signs from the village right of way to a place deeper into properties.

However, Melissa Hackett, who owns the Halsey Neck Lane field with Jessica Mezzacappa, said her signs were simply taken and subsequently replaced with signs for the other side. Ms. Mezzacappa said they have photos but declined several requests to share them.

Asked whether the sign thefts — which Ms. Mezzacappa said occurred on three different occasions — had been reported to police, the two property owners did not respond.

A spokesman for Southampton Village Police, Detective Sergeant Herman Lamison, said he did not recall seeing any calls related to sign theft on Halsey Neck Lane in the village blotter.

On Monday morning, Village Board member Andrew Pilaro entered the fray. He reported the village had “confiscated” a video camera that had been placed on a village-owned tree near the field. Ms. Hackett said the camera was a “nature camera” placed by Ms. Mezzacppa’s husband, John.

“Gary Goleski is a long-term employee of Southampton Village — he’s not going to jeopardize his career doing something illegal,” Mr. Pilaro asserted. “Gary knows his job. It is his job to keep the village right of way clear of all litter and debris. There’s nothing nefarious going on. Gary was just doing his job.”

Mr. Epley said he could offer no comment on the issue, as his family had threatened legal action against his opponents for an attack ad they placed in The Press and in mailers sent to village homes. The Express News Group has also received a letter from attorneys for the Epley family asking the group to cease publishing ads by the Village First Coalition and publish a retraction of what they describe as “libelous statements.”

Ms. Allan noted many village residents erroneously assume that their property line goes to the curb. Like her colleague on the Village Board, she said, “Gary was simply doing his job.”