Letters

This year, I got to march in my first-ever Fourth of July parade as a candidate for Southampton Town Council. The sun was shining through the scattered clouds in Southampton Village while the humidity took hold. While it was a scorcher, that day provided me with such a deep sense of purpose that I find it worth reflecting upon.

It just so happened that I walked with Mayor Maria Moore, candidate for Southampton Town supervisor. As we turned onto North Main Street, the music rang a little louder. Folks were waving back at us and some even giving us a thumbs-up. Kids were dancing around their moms and dads.

At some point, however, there was a group of folks booing us and shouting, “Boo, Democrats! Go, Trump!”

While they might have anticipated that I would keep my eyes forward or retort with a snarky comment, I kindly shouted to them, “I still love you guys and will fight for you!” A couple of them stopped booing and looked puzzled, while a few others continued on with their chants.

As the parade went on, I continued to swelter from the heat. I ended up walking back where I saw some folks handing out water. As I reached for a water, one of the women from the group that booed us came up to me and said, “I thought that was pretty cool what you said.”

We shook hands. My response was, “Look, I think we have more in common than what you might think.” Moreover, I discussed with her some of my work in local government, from serving on a task force focused on special needs advocacy, to constituent services in the legislature. She was particularly intrigued with my work organizing Narcan trainings with our legislative office and local law enforcement. Also, how my work helping Legislator Bridget Fleming will establish guidelines on how we can keep green energy jobs here in New York.

She was receptive to my comments and told me she liked what she was hearing. “I think that’s great, but I feel Democrats are out of touch,” she commented. Before she got dragged back into the celebration of the parade, I told her, “But Southampton isn’t Washington. I am running for ordinary working people!”

As her friend pulled her back to the festivities, she shouted, “You gotta work on the traffic out here!” I shouted back, “I got a plan!” As she walked away, she smiled, and gave me a thumbs-up.

We are a community of good people, folks who care — whether in support of Trump or not. It’s time we move forward together and focus on what unites us.

That’s what I plan to do.

Michael Anthony Iasilli

Sag Harbor