Letters

Now that the long knives have been sheathed, and the filth and dirt is settling, and Robert Rubin’s political checkbook is in remission [“Political Support for Maria Moore Traced to Robert Rubin; Nonprofit Says Ads ‘Impersonated’ Group,” 27east.com, November 8], it is time to look at the disgusting campaign they produced.

First, there is the New Hampshire not-for-profit that has publicly accused Rubin of trying to hide his identity and his donations by misappropriating their name and logo. They called for an investigation. Rubin’s response? “I don’t have any comment to make on it other than the results of the election speak for themselves.”

Indeed they do, but perhaps the attorney general will have the last word.

Maria Moore, the scarcely known, scarcely qualified candidate, “stressed that she didn’t have anything to do with the contributions,” but she neither refused nor questioned them, nor distanced herself from them. Which means she gave tacit approval to lurid mailings that vilified Cyndi McNamara as part of a political menage a trois with Donald Trump and Jim Jordan. All the better to hide Rubin’s bedfellows?

Running on “clean water” and “protecting quality of life,” she floated to the top of the polluted stream sluicing through Town Hall. And the rhetoric and ugly practices of her campaign represent a new low.

But, in reality, she is only a place-holder. The focus should be on Jay Schneiderman. Shouting on election night, “We have a supermajority! We have a supermajority!” he clearly extends that “we” to himself and his cronies. And, untapped as he was for any other public office, clearly he wants back in.

And he could run again for town supervisor in two years, if a proposed change to the law on term limits is approved.

On Tuesday, November 28, at 6 p.m., there will be a public hearing at Town Hall to consider amending the law on term limits. It is essential that the public attend to raise questions and voice their concerns.

In the odd symmetry of this past election, two “strong women” (as The Press described them [“We Mark Our Ballot: Southampton Town,” Editorial, November 2]) ran, and each has two daughters. McNamara, in deference to truth, fair play and her daughters, ran a clean campaign. Moore, dousing herself in dirty waters and ugly smears, linked up to the money and gave deference to what to win?

With Moore keeping the seat warm for Schneiderman, we can look forward to empty platitudes and bright-eyed enthusiasms that go nowhere unless they are anointed behind closed doors. Then, in my opinion, Moore will be packed back to Westhampton Beach, and we will have Schneiderman back banging his drums — if the law is amended to allow it.

That is what is at stake and on the table. Please attend.

Frances Genovese

Southampton