*** COUNTDOWN TO ELECTION '07 ***

Candidates Running for Southampton Town Supervisor:
Conservative Party - Hon. Patrick A. Heany
Republican Party - Linda Kabot
Democratic Party - Jim Henry

The Questions:
1) What is your position on LIPA's proposal to run the 60-foot power lines above ground throughout the Town of Southampton and why?
2) If you are elected as Town Supervisor of Southampton, which local issue do you feel is the most important to address first?
3) How will your influence differ from the rest of the candidates?

Hon. Patrick A. Heaney - Conservative Party Candidate, Town Supervisor

1) As the supervisor of the Town of Southampton, I have recognized LIPAs plan to upgrade its transmission as an opportunity to advocate for direct burial of 100% of the new lines. I have written to Richard Kessel twice on behalf of residents whose homes are situated along the current route in Southampton Village, Water Mill, and Bridgehampton. I have met with residents who have formed an effective citizens lobby and assured them of my unwavering support for their position. Here in Southampton, we have placed a great emphasis on emergency preparedness in the event of a major storm or hurricane. In the interest of general welfare of our residents, I have expressed my concern that, public safety and emergency evacuation or post storm recovery plans can be hampered (fallen cables, trees, storm litter blocking roadways) or helped by their decision (buried) on a preferred plan going forward. I am a primary sponsor of a town board action authorizing the hiring legal representation (co-counsel with Village of Southampton) to represent the interests of our residents during the SEQRA review process.

2) The most important issue is taxes and the cost of public services. Even though Southampton has, under my administration, achieved the lowest tax rate in all of Suffolk County, it is necessary to address quality of life issues that left unattended, aggregate into higher taxes and a lower quality of life for residents. Number one on my agenda will always be controlling the cost of government and finding creative ways to provide our residents with property tax relief through limits to increases in the tax rate, thus placing a limiting effect on the principal cause of high taxes -school district spending, which can account for as much as 80% of a tax bill. Integral to this, residents are deeply concerned with, are the multiple impacts to neighborhoods, resulting from non-owner occupied, single family homes being rented for prom houses, share houses, unruly seasonal rentals, or the warehousing of people in often times substandard, unsafe conditions where over twenty people, including children occupy a home intended for a family of five. Ultimately, these housing issues lead to demands for additional public services for police, code enforcement, ambulance services and especially school taxes.

3) No other candidate has the depth of experience or the record of achievement, or tested leadership ability required of me during the six years that I have worked as the town supervisor. In addition to my work to improve services, save more than 2,500 acres of natural resources, the establishment of tax stabilization policies and controls on spending, I have developed numerous bi-partisan working partnerships with officials at all levels of government to attract funding or assistance for complex local and regional issues that cannot be addressed at the town level alone. Examples include zoning work to assist Senator Ken LaValle and Assemblyman Fred Thiele to ensure that Stony Brook University would replace LIU Southampton, instead of being carved into residential subdivisions; participating in successful efforts to preserve the presence of the 106th ANG Air Rescue Unit at Grabeski Airport; working with County Executive Steve Levy to provide the local law needed to develop a Hamptons Business and Technology Park; a temporary 4th lane program and permanent road widening along CR39; working with Congressman Tim Bishop on transportation and coastal issues.

Linda Kabot - Republican Party Candidate, Town Councilwoman for Southampton

1) My position is that LIPA should absolutely bury the lines if they are following the scenic roadways route. This project currently proposes new huge utility poles (both in girth and height) in addition to the existing ones are currently located along the roadway holding up the telephone and cable lines and existing electric lines.
Ideally - the transmission line would instead be completed along the existing high-tension line route through the moraine and in such case not have to be underground. LIPA has not identified what the specific impediments to this route really are - they cite difficulty with negotiating changes to easement language.

2) Having heard from many people during my campaign over the summer (and as a current Town Official), it is my belief that the most important issues in the minds of Town residents are (not in any particular order):
Counter-measures to address increasing property taxes (particularly with all the population growth and need for upgraded school facilities, fire district facilities, ambulance barns, etc.) and the need to control Town spending, provide tax relief, and reduce patronage and wasteful spending. In addition, continued efforts to improve communication to Town residents and taxpayers - the re-assessment process and perceived inefficiencies in Town Hall, lack of accountability, has many blaming the current administration for mismanagement due to Supervisor Heaney's overzealous drive to increase the tax base to be able to say that the tax rate when down - meanwhile Town spending has been steadily increasing (from approx. $53 million to $74 million inclusive of debt service over the past six years.) Ensuring that commercial properties pay their fair share of property taxes is a key campaign pledge for me (since the Assessment Update did not include them). Strengthening administrative policies over government resources is also a goal, such as the severely eroded Town Vehicle Policy.

3) However, since the question specifies ONE LOCAL ISSUE that needs to be addressed first - it is my viewpoint that restoring the public trust is that issue. New leadership is necessary. I have provided proven leadership that voters can count on. I can hit the ground running to bring about positive change. Unlike my challenger on the Democratic Party, I have a plan of action to address that needs to be addressed. (Check out my Democratic opponent's Jim Henry's website - he lists no issues, he spells Southampton incorrectly "South Hampton" - he seems to be engaging in simplistic sloganeering in his literature, offering criticism but no action plan.) Unlike my challenger on the Conservative Party (Skip Heaney), I have earned a reputation for people before politics. Voters know that they can count on Kabot to work hard and deliver results. I broke ranks with the current Town Supervisor over issues associated with the Town budget, ethics, affordable housing, and other topics. Although he has been effective on a number of fronts, the voters want to have new leadership on the Town Board to ensure Southampton is headed in the right direction. My 12 years of experience at the executive and legislative level provides me with an edge over the candidates and the influence necessary to effectively achieve my campaign pledges.

Jim Henry - Democratic Party Candidate, Sag Harbor attorney

1) I am going to come out clearly in favor of the poles and the Town should negotiate more forcefully with LIPA in order to get it done. With a combination of Town resources and better cost analysis with LIPA and a broader view - we should be anticipating town-wide the need for transmission lines
The other side of the LIPA issue is that the reason the poles are necessary is because they have experienced 6-8 percent load growth due to new residential construction and the Town is not taking the leadership on the conservation of new construction. We need to adopt a green code in the Town and Southampton is way behind in sponsoring and setting targets for its own emissions. In a sense, the Town of Southampton sorta got caught napping - we should have energy advisory board and engage in sustainable energy products like onshore wind turbines that will generate much more wind power.

2) There is no one issue that we can really attack first. In a sense, there is a nexus of issues that reinforce each other. The Town's failure to not adopt any affordable housing plans is terrible. Instead they are handling the builders that have "for profit" projects and as a result, they've allowed the housing authorities to collapse - there isn't even budget for housing projects. Compared with East Hampton, the Town of Southampton has done an abysmal job. The Town of East Hampton seems very successful with their affordable housing project while Southampton has barely produced 62 units. The Town of Southampton is three times the population and this is unacceptable. The open spaces issue is another fundamental issue that we face and because of the pro-development bias we have neglected the preservation of open spaces. The Town of Southampton only preserved 176 acres we should be doing at least 10 times that - we should to conserve at least 1000 acres a year.

3) The Town seems to exercise very weak controls over the Town budget while another fundamental problem is the "closed door" insider autocratic style. My approach would be much more open and I would attempt to sit down with people as a business person working through the problems and both of my opponents are lifelong politicians and have had no professional business career at all. My role model is Senator Bill Bradley who is a courageous leader and has endorsed me and I have am very excited and honored to have his support.

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