Letters

As the Southampton Village election is this week, I am asking for your support.

I was raised in a family that has been committed to public service for a long time. I remember when my grandmother was the representative from the International Red Cross to the United Nations. She was always busy traveling. My father, a medical doctor, donated his time one day a week to see patients at a clinic, free of charge.

I served as a village trustee for four years before spending a total of 10 years serving the American people in the federal government. Most recently, at the U.S. Small Business Administration, my team and I implemented the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that saved millions of small businesses, not-for-profits and jobs during the pandemic.

For the past nine months, I have chaired the Steering Committee overseeing the update of the Southampton Village Comprehensive Plan. Now that the plan is almost complete, I would like to serve on the Village Board again so that I can help implement the recommendations — important recommendations concerning traffic, the sewer system for the central business district, responsible development, affordable housing, and quality of life issues that affect us all.

I care deeply about serving Southampton Village and all who are part of our unique community. I have truly enjoyed going door to door and speaking to many of you on the issues that concern you. Aside from the usual issues of taxes, traffic and quality of life, some cited their concern with the cohesiveness of the community. If elected, I pledge to you that I will work hard to take on all the issues confronting the village while working to unite the village at the same time. As I said in my announcement letter to you last month, if we lose the charm and character of the village, we lose part of ourselves.

I am asking for your vote on Friday, June 17, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. at the Cultural Center on Pond Lane.

William (Bill) Manger Jr.

Southampton Village