Election 2015

Election 2015: Meet Your Southold Town Candidates

Town Supervisor, four-year term

Candidates:

T1029_Super_Rallis_C.jpgDamon Rallis

Hamlet: Mattituck

Occupation: Plans examiner in the Southold Town building department

Party Lines: Democrat, Working Families, Women’s Equality

About him: Mr. Rallis, 41, is a Greenport native who currently lives in Mattituck with his wife and two sons. He noted that he’s a descendant of a founding North Fork family. He is a graduate of Greenport High School and Franklin Pierce University, where he majored in mass communication. He previously worked as a reporter and editor for community newspapers in New Hampshire and on the North Fork. He volunteers as a Scout leader and is an active member of Mattituck Presbyterian Church.

His pitch: A 15-year employee of the Town of Southold, he touts his experience as a plans examiner and code enforcement officer as giving him a strong knowledge in planning, zoning and building issues, as well as both local and state codes. He said his public service career has also given him experience in creating policy and town code.

Mr. Rallis said a priority of his administration would be striking a balance among residents’ quality of life, the needs of the business community and the protection of natural resources. He would call upon fellow board members and department heads to work with him to enforce codes and to apply policies and procedures fairly and equally, he said.

In his words: “I will remain in close contact with town staff, including our police department and Justice Court employees, so that town government not only has a finger on the pulse of our community, but to provide the best possible service to the people of Southold.”

T1029_Super_Russell_C.jpgScott Russell

Hamlet: Cutchogue

Occupation: Town supervisor

Party lines: Republican, Conservative, Independence, Reform

About him: Mr. Russell, 51, is a native North Fork resident and a graduate of Mattituck High School. He holds a degree from George Washington University, which he attended on scholarship. He served briefly as a legal assistant for a law firm in New York City, began his public service career as an aide to former congressman William Carney and later was an elected town assessor for 15 years. He is the father of a son and a daughter.

His pitch: In his 10 years as supervisor, Mr. Russell said Southold Town has managed to contend with an economic crisis by making difficult decisions that have put the town in a sound financial position today. He notes the recent upgrade of the town’s bond rating by Moody’s, which he says is the highest it’s ever been.

Mr. Russell points to action taken on Plum Island and with regard to ground and surface waters, as well as code amendments that have promoted alternative and renewable energy, as reasons he has earned the support of local environmental groups this campaign season. Short-term rentals and deer management are quality-of-life issues he said the Town Board has tackled in his latest term in office in a manner that wasn’t always popular but was in the best interest of the town. He noted that he has been honored twice in the past five years among The Suffolk Times’ People of the Year.

In his words: “The people of Southold have placed their trust and confidence in me in the past and Election Day will determine if I have earned it.”