Letters

I want to thank The Southampton Press for giving John Leonard the opportunity to explain his abhorrent behavior as an attorney during the middle of his career [“Democratic Candidate Acknowledges Past Law License Suspensions,” 27east.com, January 24]. Although his mea culpa was admirable, I wish he had volunteered that information to voters instead of being prompted to come clean by my letter [“Storied Past, Letters, January 23].

Leonard hopes to convince town voters that he hit a rough patch 10 years ago. We all have — that’s relatable, and being relatable wins votes. I’ll even accept John Leonard’s bouts of past depression as an excuse for the California Bar finding that “Leonard intentionally, recklessly and repeatedly failed to perform legal services with competence in willful violation of the law.”

Here’s my problem with his interview. As George Lynch [“Outstanding Choice,” Letters, January 23] and Andrea Klausner [“Rare Individual,” Letters, January 23] pointed out in their letters converting his resume into long-form prose, John Leonard is known all over town. He is a sitting member of the Zoning Board of Appeals; why would they think it appropriate for him to create and preside over a civic association that weighs in on proposals that ultimately go before the ZBA he sits on? Is he advocating for developers to himself? Where is the impartiality, and how has no one flagged this as a blatant conflict?

Leaving aside the fact that Mr. Lynch and Ms. Klausner would endorse a rock if it were running as a Democrat, did either one of you bother to speak to anyone who served on the boards of the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce or Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center with Mr. Leonard?

This is not the guy we need representing us in Town Hall.

In that same article, Gordon Herr mentioned that the committee was aware of his past and supported him in spite of it. Perhaps the interviewing committee was aware. This crucial piece of information — that he was suspended for incompetence — was withheld from the 82 members of the town’s Democratic Committee that was asked to support this man.

Jose Reyes

Hampton Bays