Editorial: The year of never-ending elections

We seem to be caught in an election cycle that never ends. Although the protracted presidential campaign finally concluded in November with Mr. Obama’s re-election, County Legislator Ed Romaine’s Election Day victory as the new supervisor of Brookhaven kicked off what became the first of several out-of-season special elections, with one more yet to come.

Mr. Romaine’s election opened up a legislative seat, which former Southold Councilman Al Krupski took by defeating Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter in January.

On Election Day in November Brookhaven’s highway superintendent won a judgeship. That set up this week’s special election for the highway chief spot, won by North Fork Assemblyman Dan Losquadro, whose victory requires yet another special vote for the Assembly post.

If the person who wins that race currently holds a local elected position, the campaign carousel will continue to spin. There seems to be no precedent on the North Fork for selecting a county legislator and a state assemblyman in the same winter — and who knows what other seat could soon be vacant.

There’s an election in the Village of Greenport on Tuesday, March 19, but it has nothing to do with officeholders moving on or out. Greenporters choose their Village Board representatives every two years and this is one of those years.

Two seats are up this year but only one incumbent, Mary Bess Phillips, is running. Trustee Chris Kempner is not seeking a second four-year term. Former trustee Bill Swiskey is looking to get back on the board and real estate agent Julia Robins is making her first bid for public office.

To hear in their own words where they stand on the issues feel free to attend that campaign’s only debate, sponsored by The Suffolk Times, at the village’s Little Red Schoolhouse on Front Street next Monday, March 11, beginning at 7 p.m. Each candidate will get the opportunity to make opening and closing statements and face questions from moderator Tim Kelly, Suffolk Times editor, and audience members.

Is the village heading in the right direction or would the community benefit from a change of course?

They’ll decide that for themselves on March 19.