Letters

The special election for the Southampton Town Board is over, and Rick Martel won. No one seems to dispute that.

I also realize that it stings to put yourself out there, spending precious time, energy and money on the campaign, and then lose. Most losing candidates express disappointment and, probably with teeth gritted, wish their opponents well. Then they go home and prepare for the future. To run or not to run.

But the fallout from the John Leonard camp has been disturbing.

On election night, Leonard stated that Martel ran “one of the dirtiest campaigns I’ve ever seen anybody run.” Then Gordon Herr, the Democratic Party chair, said, “With all due respect, he didn’t run a dirty campaign — the Republican Party did.” John Leonard couldn’t drop it and proceeded to disagree with Herr, in front of a reporter, no less.

As if that weren’t enough, he then proceeded to blast The Southampton Press as enablers to the Martel victory, and then accused Martel of being someone who “really hasn’t done anything for us.”

Martel hasn’t done anything for us? Who is “us”? Curious use of a word. Granted, Martel has been a Hampton Bays and town resident for much of his life, and Leonard is a relative newcomer. But certainly both candidates recognized that their responsibilities went well beyond their hamlet. So, again, who is the “us” of whom Leonard speaks?

An effective elected official needs to be able to work respectfully with the residents, other elected officials and employees of the town. I believe Rick Martel has already proven he can do this — and John Leonard’s recent behavior indicates that he would fall short.

The voters of Hampton Bays, who have had the opportunity to observe both men more closely than many in the rest of the town, apparently more easily recognized this and voted accordingly.

And, finally, I submit that John Leonard’s verbal disrespect of his opponent, of his own party chair and of The Southampton Press is further indication of his unsuitability for elected office.

Marion Boden

Hampton Bays