Letters

I am thrilled to be running for Southampton Village trustee as a team with Mayor Jesse Warren and Palmer Hudson. Our platform of teamwork, transparency, optimism, progress over politics, and togetherness aims to bring in a new era of village government for the people.

My goal is to support the mayor’s platform and agenda by building on the progress made on the revitalization of the downtown, the cleanup of Lake Agawam, preserving the character of the village and improving traffic conditions throughout the community. Additionally, I will continue to prioritize keeping the village safe by supporting our outstanding and essential police, fire and EMS workers, while also working collaboratively and recognizing all village employees.

I have a master’s in architecture from North Carolina State University and, before starting my own business, worked for a nationally recognized design firm. I designed residential, retail and museum projects using Participatory Design, a philosophy that highlights community involvement in the creation of their spaces.

My background in architecture and planning is tailor-made to help the village implement its comprehensive master plan and sewer district. Using creative thinking and technical expertise, I plan to work with village engineers, planners and grant writers to ensure that we can prepare for the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative, as well as earn funding from the recently passed bipartisan $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

I also wanted to address a question that was brought up at last week’s debate, which I greatly enjoyed [“Watch: Southampton Village 2023 Trustee and Mayoral Debates,” 27east.com, June 1]. If elected, at the organizational meeting in July 2023, I will be voting to eliminate lifetime benefits for current and future part-time elected officials who serve five years or more. It’s the right thing to do.

Having lived in Southampton Village for 25 years, I have a deep love for the community and look forward to giving back to the people who have given me so much. I would like to make sure that everyone’s voice is heard and that no one feels left out of our local government.

I hope to earn your trust and your vote in the upcoming election.

Greg Centeno

Southampton Village