Letters

This November, voters can elect three outstanding candidates for office: Sara Topping, Jimmy Mack and Hannah Pell-O’Farrell. These dynamic Southampton residents are extraordinarily prepared to serve on the Southampton Town Board of Trustees.

Multifaceted, Trustees are stewards of the town’s shoreline, waterways, marshes and bottomlands. These candidates bring commitment and strong resumes to protect this natural beauty.

An early climate activist, Sara participated in a group bike ride from New York City to Washington, D.C., aiming to raise awareness among government leaders about rising sea levels on Long Island. More recently, when The Press reported that some Town Trustees got wobbly in the face of a ban on the toxic CCA-treated wood for docks and bulkheads, Sara informed readers of the downside of rescinding the ban. Sara is already stepping up to protect our environment.

Sara co-founded the nonprofit East End Birth Network that focused on maternal and infant health, and during COVID she and her colleagues created a mother-and-baby pantry, the Stork Co-op. Sara runs a junior lifeguard program at Coopers Beach for 8-to-12-year-olds.

Jimmy Mack is a tireless advocate for the betterment of the East End. He serves on the boards of directors of the Southampton Volunteer Ambulance, STAR AquaCenter and the Moriches Bay Project. He has served this community as a volunteer emergency medical technician for two decades.

The mission of the MBP is to improve the water quality of Moriches Bay through oyster replenishment. Since 2012, it has added 2.5 million oysters to Moriches Bay, improving water quality.

Jimmy became involved with MBP 10 years ago as a member of their Benefit Committee, helping them raise funds and awareness of their cause. He secured a $10,000 donation from the band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Jimmy was asked to join MBP’s advisory board of directors and remains on it to this day.

Hannah Pell-O’Farrell has a lifelong connection to the community and its unique coastal heritage. A graduate of SUNY Maritime College, she has combined her love for the water with a strong sense of service and is a proven effective manager who can bring those skills to the Trustee mission.

A certified ocean lifeguard for half her life, she has dedicated countless hours to keeping Southampton beaches safe. Whether boating, fishing, swimming, or simply enjoying the shoreline, she understands the deep value Southampton’s waterways bring to residents and visitors alike. That passion drives her dedication to protecting these natural treasures and preserving them for future generations. One might say that it’s in Hannah’s blood to serve our precious environment.

Hardworking and dedicated to the community, these exemplary candidates would join Matt Parsons and Joseph McLoughlin to form an all-star Trustee board.

Mike Anthony

Westhampton

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