News

Horton pulls out of Greenport mayor’s race

Former Southold Town supervisor Josh Horton has dropped his candidacy for Greenport mayor.

“I am writing to inform you that due to professional and personal demands that were unknown to me at the time I declared my candidacy for mayor I am withdrawing my candidacy,” Mr. Horton said in an e-mail.

Mr. Horton entered the race at the 11th hour, just the weekend before the Feb. 8 deadline for filing nominating petitions with Village Clerk Sylvia Lazzari Pirillo. At the time, he said he respected the mayor, but believed he was more qualified to lead the village.

His withdrawal appears to secure a second four-year term for Mayor David Nyce, who now faces no opposition. But the mayor noted there could still be a write-in campaign.

“I’m not taking anything for granted,”the mayor said. “I will continue to campaign. I still need to get the message out as to what has been accomplished.”
The mayor added that, “I wish Josh well and I’m sorry he’s dropping out of the race. Competition makes us all stronger.”

There is still a race for village trustee seats with three candidates seeking two positions. Incumbent Trustee George Hubbard Jr. the only incumbent, is on the ballot with former Trustee Bill Swiskey and Historic Preservation Commission Chairman David Murray.
The election is Tuesday, March 15, with voting at the Third Street Firehouse from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

All candidates have been invited to participate in a public forum hosted by The Suffolk Times on Thursday, March 3, at the Greenport United Methodist Church at 7 p.m.

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