Government

Football coach announces trustee run, so races will be contested

Greenport coach Jack Martilotta is running for Village Board trustee. (Credit: file photo)
Greenport coach Jack Martilotta is running for Village Board trustee. (Credit: file photo)

Another hopeful is vying for a spot on the Village Board in the upcoming March elections, ensuring the races for two trustee seats will be contested.

Jack Martilotta, a science teacher and football coach in Greenport, said he is running to help improve the village’s infrastructure and to do his part to keep the community vibrant.

“I think it’s important for people to participate; that is one of the things that makes our democracy strong,” he said. “There are things the village can do better and I want to be a part of it.”

Among his goals, if elected, would be to improve the village’s roadways and to keep Mitchell Park  open for events, he said.

While the current Village Board is hammering out new legislation that would prevent the issuance of mass assembly permits for the use of Mitchell Park, Mr. Martilotta is taking the opposite stance in his campaign.

Without such events drawing crowds to the area, small businesses will suffer, he said.

“That park helps drive downtown business,” he said.

Mr. Martilotta is a National Guardsman and 14-year veteran of the U.S. Army who has lived in the village for seven years with his wife, Jamie, and their three young children. This is his second run for trustee following an unsuccessful run in 2009.

Mr. Martilotta is running for one of two trustee seats up for grabs in March’s election. Also on the ballot is the mayoral position, currently held by David Nyce, who said he would not seek re-election.

Incumbent trustee  George Hubbard said he is giving up his trustee position to run mayor. Another incumbent trustee, David Murray,  said he is running to keep his seat.

Sixth Street resident and eduction consultant Doug Roberts is also running for trustee, making it three candidates so far who’ve publicly announced they would be running for the two open trustee seats in the at-large election.

The Greenport Village elections are March 18.

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