Letters

I write to you in the closing days of this year’s Southampton Village election to humbly ask for your support in reelecting me as your mayor.

I remain totally committed to serving you. For almost a third of my life, I have been a dedicated public servant. I served the American people for 10 years, first at the U.S. Department of Transportation and then at the U.S. Small Business Administration, where I rose to the No. 2 position during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I have served the village for almost seven years, first as a trustee for two and a half terms, from 1997 to 2001 and 2022 to 2023, and then as your mayor for almost the past two years.

It has been my honor and privilege to represent and serve our entire community. I am especially proud of the much-improved relationships with our important first responders. I have put in the time to rebuild strong, respectful connections with Village Hall. The village has provided our first responders with the necessary tools they need to do their job effectively for all of us. The result is that I believe we have the best first responders of any village in New York State.

I have enjoyed going door to door and hearing what’s on your mind. Residents talk about taxes, traffic and quality-of-life issues that affect us all. I am pleased that we have not pierced the tax cap and will keep taxes flat this year. We have addressed and will continue to address traffic mitigation efforts and enforcement.

I pledge to protect the character of our village as we embrace progress. I will continue to restore our neglected infrastructure, enhance our parks and continue to plant over 200 trees a year.

The village is being run in an efficient and effective manner. We are streamlining operations by bundling contracts and adding new software platforms in our clerk’s office and the Building Department.

We have delivered on fiscal responsibility. Our triple A bond rating from Moody’s is higher than that of the United States right now.

I am totally committed to this village and all of its residents. I am beholden to nobody but you. Anyone who knows me knows that I am my own person. I listen to all sides and then, only after careful consideration, make the best decision for the village.

I humbly ask for your vote this Friday, June 20, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. at the Cultural Center on Pond Lane. I know that together we can get the job done.

Bill Manger Jr.

Mayor

Village of Southampton