Government

Familiar name throwing hat in ring for Greenport trustee seat

Bill Swiskey states in front of Village Hall. (file photo)
Bill Swiskey states in front of Village Hall. (file photo)

A  longtime critic of the Greenport Village Board says he’s running in next month’s village election.

William Swiskey, a former trustee who also once served as the village’s utilities director, said Tuesday he’s running in an effort to help improve village infrastructure and finances. He has not yet submitted his petition, but said he plans to do so before the Feb. 10 deadline.

“I don’t like the way thing are going,” Mr. Swiskey said. “The infrastructure is falling apart … they have only fixed three roads in eight years.”

The Fifth Street resident was elected to the board in a 2008 special election against Dave Corwin following the death of longtime trustee George Hubbard Sr., but lost his seat in the 2009 elections. In 2013, he ran for trustee again, but lost out to current board members Mary Bess Phillips and Julia Robins.

He is one of four hopefuls vying for two open trustees seats in the March 18 election. Incumbent David Murray is running for his second four-year term and he is being challenged by Jack Martilotta, a science teacher and varsity football coach in Greenport, and Sixth Street resident and education consultant Douglas Roberts.

Incumbent trustee George Hubbard Jr. chose to give up his seat to run for mayor after David Nyce announced he would not seek re-election. Mr. Hubbard is currently running unopposed.

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Correction: The initial version of this story incorrectly reported that Mr. Swiskey had been appointed to the Village Board in 2008. He won his seat in a special election.