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Russell to lead GOP ticket in fall

BETH YOUNG PHOTO | Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell

The town’s Republican Committee will meet next week to pick candidates for the fall elections, and it could be a quick evening.

Absent an unscripted floor fight or two during the April 4 convention, the party need only renominate the GOP incumbents who hold all eight of the seats on the November ballot. Each officeholder is seeking re-election, said Southold GOP chairman Denis Noncarrow.

Running this year are Supervisor Scott Russell, Councilmen Bill Ruland and Vincent Orlando, Judge Rudy Bruer,

Trustees Jimmy King and Bob Ghosio, Assessor Darlene Duffy and Tax Receiver George Sullivan. This is an off-year for Councilman Al Krupski and Highway Superintendent Pete Harris, the town’s only two elected Democrats.

“I think this group is doing a great job, I really do,” Mr. Noncarrow said. “There are a lot of communities that have gotten into trouble with spending, but these guys are working hard at controlling and reducing the size of government.”
Mr. Russell, who until this week had been mum on his political plans, told The Suffolk Times that “after thinking long and hard about it, I’d like to seek another term.”

He said he’d like to continue to work on the town’s comprehensive plan. “We’re about a year to 18 months away from dealing with zoning and land use issues,” the supervisor said.

After 15 years as an assessor, Mr. Russell was first elected supervisor in 2005. With his victory in 2007, he became the first Southold supervisor elected to a four-year term. He won that year with an unprecedented 83 percent of the vote.
“I think we’ve done a good job,” he said. “Priorities have shifted with the economy, but I think we’ve handled them well. We have our economic house in order.”

As for aspirations to higher office, Mr. Russell said he has none.

“I really, really enjoy Southold,” he said. “People keep asking me what my next step is and I don’t envision a next step. I enjoy working with the Town Board. We’ve been operating in a very straightforward, non-partisan manner and the public has been responding to that.”

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