Letters

As we near the special election for Town Council on March 18, I encourage Southampton voters to support my candidacy. I have the right experience for the job, will approach the work on the Town Council in an even-handed and respectful manner, and am extremely hardworking for our community.

My work as a civil litigator over the past 25 years uniquely qualifies me to be a Town Council member. I routinely parse the language of complex statutory law, negotiate with adversaries in extremely contentious settlement negotiations, and find consensus between parties to resolve high-conflict legal disputes so that all involved can move beyond conflict. These are skills that a prospective Town Council member should possess.

My work on the Southampton Town Zoning Board of Appeals demonstrates how I will approach the work of the Town Council. I am extremely proud of the work I have done on the board and how the board currently deals with the variance applications before it. We are charged with balancing community interests against homeowners’ interests in using their property to their liking. In considering these applications, my fellow board members and I carefully weigh competing interests with respect and compassion and, at the same time, hold the line against the unmitigated expansion of private development, which would change our community forever.

I urge voters to watch the videos of our meetings on SeaTV’s YouTube channel to witness exactly how I and my colleagues comport ourselves with reason and rationality while addressing and managing challenging competing interests.

Finally, I am extremely hardworking for our community and intend to bring that level of dedication and determination to the Town Council. I provide countless hours of pro bono legal services to female victims and survivors of domestic violence and indigent litigants through such important charities as The Retreat, and through my own law firm. I volunteer with the town’s East End Regional Intervention Court helping criminal defendants obtain substance abuse treatment and long-lasting sobriety. I work on the Zoning Board of Appeals. I educate the public about community development, revitalization and affordable housing through the Hampton Bays Alliance.

I do all these things at the same time and while operating a thriving legal practice serving hundreds of clients. As I will not be able to continue my work in many of my outside endeavors when on the Town Council, I pledge to dedicate that time and more to helping our community make long-lasting progress and enacting real-world solutions for the benefit of our town and its residents.

All I ask is that you please give me your vote on March 18. I would be honored to work smart and hard for you every day.

John Leonard

Hampton Bays

Leonard is the Democratic candidate for Southampton Town Council — Ed.