Suffolk Times to host debates at Peconic Landing

The Suffolk Times will be hosting town political debates in the community center at Peconic Landing in Greenport next Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Scheduled to attend will be all four Town Board candidates and the six candidates running for the Board of Trustees in the Nov. 5 general election.

“We look forward to giving the residents of Southold Town the chance to get to know the candidates running for these two important offices,” said Times/Review Newsgroup publisher Andrew Olsen.

There will be two separate debates with the first featuring incumbent Republican Town Trustees John Bredemeyer and Mike Domino, Republican challenger Charles Sanders and Democratic challengers Geoffrey Wells, Joseph Finora and William Funke. The second debate will feature incumbent Conservative Town Board member Jim Dinizio, Republican challenger Bob Ghosio and Democratic challengers Mary Eisenstein and Ron Rothman.

Both debates will be moderated by Times/Review executive editor Grant Parpan.

“These debates are designed to give the public a chance to learn where the candidates stand on important local issues,” Mr. Parpan said. “We hope to get beyond the sound bites and allow for a true discourse on the issues that matter most to the people of the North Fork.”

Some questions for the debates will be written in advance by the newspaper staff, written questions can be submitted in writing from readers and the candidates will be given time to make closing statements. Readers can submit questions in advance to [email protected] with the subject line Suffolk Times Debate or in person prior to the start of the event. There will be no questions from the floor.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with the debates scheduled to run from 7 to 9 p.m.