Government

Greenport resident announces bid for trustee seat in 2015

Sixth Street resident Doug Roberts said he hopes to improve communication with the public if elected village trustee. (Cyndi Murray photo)
Sixth Street resident Doug Roberts says he hopes to improve communication between village government and the public if he’s elected village trustee. (Cyndi Murray photo)

A Greenport resident publicly announced his run for trustee in the 2015 village election Monday night.

Doug Roberts of Sixth Street said during the public portion of Monday night’s Village Board meeting that he hopes to improve communication between village government and the public if he is elected trustee.

He’d also look to add more educational programs at the village recreation center.

“I love Greenport,” Mr Roberts said. “I think this place deserves leadership that solves problems in creative ways. I am raising my family here. I want it to be 10 times better than it is today when my daughter is old enough to vote.”

A former teacher, Mr. Roberts describes himself as an “entrepreneur” who leads a consulting practice in educational technology. He has lived in Greenport for eight years and recently organized a community forum with the public and the Guardian Angels to deter gang violence. He’s also had guest columns and letters to the editor published in The Suffolk Times.

During the meeting, board members scheduled the village election for March 18.

On the ballot is the mayoral position, currently held by David Nyce.

The seats of trustees David Murray and George Hubbard, who also serves as deputy mayor, are up in 2015.

Now serving out his second four-year term, Mr. Nyce has hinted strongly he will not run for re-election in 2015. Local businessman Marc LaMaina, who owns Lucharitos on Main Street, expressed interest in running for mayor earlier this year but then decided against it.

Mr. LaMaina had been the first and only person to voice interest in running for mayor so far.

Trustees Mary Bess Phillips and Trustee Hubbard both said Monday they haven’t made a decision on whether they would run for mayor, should Mr. Nyce step aside, as is expected.

Trustee David Murray was not at Monday’s meeting and could not be immediately reached for comment.

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