Letters

Once I announced my intention to be the candidate for Suffolk County Legislature to replace Bridget Fleming, the outpouring of support has been humbling. As a lifelong East Hampton Town resident with many friends in Southampton and beyond, the outpouring of phone calls, texts and emails has been amazing.

I understand that Legislator Fleming has decided not to run for reelection and is entering the private sector, and I’d like to start by thanking Bridget for her public service.

As we look to the future, we first must look at the past. The South Fork of Long Island has undergone tremendous changes during my lifetime. Our town’s population growth has overwhelmed our community’s infrastructure. Our environment is now under pressures never imagined 50 years ago. The cost of living has placed stressors on local working families once unimaginable and driven them to leave communities they have lived in for generations.

We must think outside the box to build a bright, productive future, with opportunities for all residents. To accomplish this daunting task, your next legislator must understand government from the federal level through the state, county and town levels. We need a seasoned, experienced legislator with the skills beginning on day one.

I am an exempt volunteer fireman who served in the Springs and Montauk fire departments and was the last elected bay constable in East Hampton Town. Over the past 38 years, I served the public as a State Park Police sergeant with patrol supervision that ranged from Harlem to Montauk and have worked with many diverse communities.

I served over two decades in multiple police union positions, including the founding president of New York State’s fifth-biggest police union, the Police Benevolent Association of New York State.

In my union capacity, I have two decades advocating for my PBA members and public sector employees to governors, Assembly members, senators, a multitude of commissioners and their staffs from various state and local agencies.

As your legislator, I will bring you a career-long, in-depth knowledge of government, a long track record of public service, and a long list of accomplishments to both the communities I served through my PBA membership and the people of New York. I look forward to being your next legislator with a law enforcement and environmental protection background, and extensive government and labor relations experience.

I would love to hear from you and can be reached on my cell or by text at 631-324-0648 or by email at info@mannyvilar.com.

Over the next several months, I look forward to meeting each of you to humbly ask for your support so that I can address your concerns as your legislator in January.

Thank you for your consideration

Manny Vilar

Springs

Vilar is the Republican nominee for Suffolk County legislator from District 2 — Ed.