Opinion

How should the Town Board fill its vacancy?

TIM KELLY FILE PHOTO | Suffolk County Legislator-elect Al Krupski at a debate hosted by Times/Review Newsgroup earlier this month.
TIM KELLY FILE PHOTO | Suffolk County Legislator-elect Al Krupski at a debate hosted by Times/Review Newsgroup earlier this month.

Al Krupski has been elected to the Suffolk County Legislator, leaving his seat on the Southold Town Board open until either a replacement is appointed or a vote is held to fill the vacancy.

So how will the Southold Town Board fill the vacancy?

Supervisor Scott Russell has said the position should be left open until the November elections, but new town GOP leader Peter McGreevy supports appointing a councilman, as Town Board did in naming Mike Domino as Town Trustee a year ago after Trustee Jill Doherty won a Town Board seat.

Not long after Mr. Krupski’s victory became clear, Town Democratic Leader Art Tillman called on the Town Board to appoint a Democrat to fill Mr. Krupski’s place.

In a letter to Mr. Russell, Mr. Tillman wrote, “Al Krupski was elected as a Democrat by the voters of Southold Town.” Selecting a Democrat would be fair “to the 4,419 registered Democrats, independents and Republicans who thought it wise not to have all members of the Town Board be of one party,” he added.

Mr. Russell said his Town Board had not discussed a contingency plan for Mr. Krupski’s departure. “The position does not belong to the Democratic Party, it does not belong to the Republican Party. It belongs to the people of Southold Town. It’s our responsibility to find the most qualified person for the position, regardless of party affi liation.”

He said the board will consider all its options, adding that there’s no shortage of qualified candidates available in either party.

“We have to look at the larger picture here and do what’s best for the people of the town,” Mr. Russell said.

We want to know how our readers think the town should proceed. Send us a letter to the editor for publication in this week’s paper or share a comment below.