The Southampton Town Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association announced its political endorsements this week, putting its support behind Town Board member Anna Throne-Holst, who is looking to unseat Town Supervisor Linda Kabot in November, and Town Board member Chris Nuzzi, who is seeking reelection to a second term.
According to PBA President Patrick Aube, the decision to support Ms. Throne-Holst, who is endorsed by the Democratic, Working Families and Independence parties, stems from her objection last year to a proposal that would have forced six police officers to retire. Mr. Aube added that Mr. Nuzzi, who has the Republican and Conservative lines on the November ballot, also stood solidly behind the officers during the heated debate.
As that discussion unfolded, with the PBA eventually winning the battle, association leaders and members made clear their opposition to the proposal.
Kevin Gwinn, one of the officers who was on the forced retirement list, summed up the PBA’s sentiments when he spoke directly to Ms. Kabot during the public hearing on the measure last August: “The harm of this resolution will be felt for years to come. You are failing your police officers and their families, and you are sending a great message to the criminals. And that’s going to be your legacy in your short time as town supervisor.”
Mr. Aube added that PBA support for Ms. Throne-Holst and Mr. Nuzzi went beyond the issue of forced retirement. Both also supported recent proposals by Ms. Throne-Holst that seeks to levy fines against the owners of cars driven by unlicensed drivers and impound their vehicles. Another proposal would require nuisance nightclubs, not taxpayers, to pay for extra police presence. Mr. Nuzzi supported the proposals as well and plans to co-sponsor them when they go before the Town Board.
Ms. Throne-Holst and Mr. Nuzzi have also been endorsed by the Suffolk County Police Conference, an organization that represents village and town police agencies across the county, including the Suffolk County Police Department, New York State Police Troop L, and the Southampton, Sag Harbor, Quogue, Westhampton Beach and East Hampton village police departments.
Ms. Throne-Holst said the PBA endorsement was very important to her.
“These are the men and women who put their lives on the line for us,” she said. “I have tremendous respect for the work they do.”
A Southampton native appears to have enough support to lead the New York State Republican Committee.
Ed Cox, a practicing attorney in Manhattan who has a home in Westhampton, is in the running to lead the state GOP committee, according to a press release issued by his supporters. Mr. Cox’s supporters also say they have enlisted the support of enough county leaders across to state to secure him the nomination at the party’s September convention.
Each county committee has a vote in the state committee, and each county’s representation is weighted. To date, Mr. Cox has earned the support of enough county leaders to give him better than 50 percent of the weighted votes, suggesting that he has all but secured the Republican Party’s top state seat.
In the press release, Southampton Town GOP Chairman Marcus Stinchi said: “I am very excited to work closely with Ed Cox and his team in bringing the governorship and State Senate back to a fiscally responsible Republican majority.”
Mr. Cox, a graduate of Harvard Law School, is well known for being the son-in-law of former President Richard M. Nixon. Mr. Cox also served in the Reagan Administration, from 1981 to 1983. After college, he worked with consumer advocate Ralph Nader.
Mr Cox is currently a lawyer in the Manhattan law firm of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP.
Supporters of U.S. Representative Tim Bishop rallied outside his Southampton Village office on August 19 in a show of solidarity for the congressman’s support of health care reform. The demonstration, which was led by the Southampton Town Democratic Committee, was in response to the vocal opposition Mr. Bishop received earlier this summer during a town hall-style meeting held in Setauket.
Town Board member Anna Throne-Holst, who is running for town supervisor on the Democratic ticket this fall, spoke at the rally and commented that the recent political discourse over the health care debate was not in keeping with democracy.
“No matter how much we may disagree, we should be able to have a courteous, intelligent debate,” she said after last week’s rally.
Southampton Town Board member Sally Pope, who is seeking reelection in November, is hosting a fund-raiser on Tuesday, September 1, at the La Ronde Beach Club on Dune Road in Westhampton Beach. The event runs from 5 to 8 p.m.
Tickets are $85 per person and includes wine, beer and soft drinks, and can be ordered by calling 288-7954 or e-mailing hamptonite2@gmail.com.
A resident of Remsenburg, Ms. Pope was elected to the Town Board last November to fill the seat left vacant when Linda Kabot was elected town supervisor.
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