Letters

I read with more than passing interest 27east’s article “Republican Candidate Drops Out of Southampton Supervisor Race, Joining Democratic Turmoil” [April 7]. Since I am no longer an official member of the Southampton Democratic Committee, I do not write in any capacity that requires anybody to think I have full knowledge of events, but I am an active participant in local Democratic Party affairs and will work as hard as my advancing years allow me to help the Democratic slate win November’s election.

So, two things.

First, New York State is one of only a handful of states that permits fusion voting. Fusion voting, as defined by Ballotpedia, is this: “Fusion voting allows more than one political party to nominate the same candidate. Under this process, if a candidate receives multiple nominations, the candidate will appear on the general election ballot multiple times.”

Horse trading and deal making are built into New York State’s electoral process. I, for one, have had a hard time accepting the fact that our local candidates accept the Conservative Party’s nomination. (I assume, on the other side of the aisle, some would agree with me, for their own reasons.) But I’ve made peace with that — I am not the candidate; it is their decision to make. Besides, I imagine the Conservative Party recognizes Southampton Democratic supervisors’ budgeting acumen, going back to Anna Throne-Holst, and are, thus, awarding us for being so skilled.

In my imagined post-fusion world, though, the Conservative and Working Families parties would run their own candidates, or reregister in the party most aligned with their views.

Second, why do we have elections for town clerk and superintendent of highways? Continuing with my good government kick, I’d like to see an independent body select the best candidate possible for those positions. Human resources details could be worked out by smart people.

In the meantime, for those uninterested in my two cents, there are other options available to you if you’re really fired up about this return of events. I, on the other hand, will return to worrying about the national scene and worry about the future of my former employer if Medicaid is shredded by congressional Republicans and Donald Trump.

Mike Anthony

Westhampton

Anthony is a former chair of the Southampton Democratic Committee — Ed.