Letters

I am excited to announce my candidacy for Southampton Village trustee alongside Josh Belury on the Common Sense Party ticket. My deep commitment to our village and community drives me to address the improvements we need.

I would like to start by sharing my background. I have served on the Southampton Village Planning Commission for almost two decades, working under three different administrations. During my tenure, I contributed to planning and zoning efforts, including the 2013 Southampton Village Center Zoning & Architectural Guidelines. I also collaborated on the 2018 zoning change and worked on policies to improve the health of Lake Agawam.

As a longtime resident, I have raised three children here, all of whom graduated from Southampton High School. The eldest, Adrian, and the youngest, Evan, both excelled on the cross country and track teams.

The current 5-0 supermajority on the board means many residents feel their voices are not heard. We need diversity in thought and representation to ensure that not every law and resolution passes with a 5-0 vote and without thorough consideration and input from the residents.

For instance, when plans for the Pond Lane closure were announced, many residents felt unheard, and we still remain uncertain about where the trustees stand. If elected, I will prioritize transparency and ensure residents are fully informed about all government actions while having more opportunities to participate.

I also will work to eliminate wasteful spending, including salary increases and ending lifetime health benefits for our part-time elected officials. To demonstrate my commitment to public service and volunteerism, I plan to donate my trustee salary back to the community.

Despite significant discussion, there has been little effective action to mitigate traffic flow, especially commercial traffic on Hill Street. I will engage residents, experts and law enforcement to develop practical solutions, leveraging technology to improve traffic management.

I care about our environment and water quality. Projects have been implemented to improve water quality, including reducing toxic algae in Lake Agawam. However, I believe more can be done.

I will prioritize safety and support our police, fire, emergency medical services and Southampton Village Ocean Rescue departments, as well as all village employees.

Lastly, the recent budget adopted by the village saw the largest spending increase in our history. A significant portion of this increase was due to debt issuance that the board could have put on the ballot. If elected, I will ensure every decision is transparent and includes community input.

I am dedicated to acting in the best interest of our village and community. I will ensure residents are informed, involved and heard. By introducing varying perspectives and common sense, we can create a more balanced and representative government for all.

Ed Simioni

Southampton Village