We Mark Our Ballot: Southampton Village

Southampton Village

Campaign season in Southampton Village has grown so disagreeable in recent years that some members of the community are pushing for longer terms on the Village Board, just to be spared the indignity of the frequent contentious political battles. Perhaps not the most democratic idea, but the venom on display at Village Hall can cause unusual symptoms once it gets absorbed into the bloodstream.

This year, the campaign for mayor has been mostly visible at public meetings of the Village Board. With Mayor Jesse Warren on one side, and his four Village Board colleagues on the other, both sides have traded acrimony face to face, and via legislation. In a village that has slipped into dysfunction at various points, it’s fair to call it something of a new low.

Change is in order. The way village elections go, with a slate of candidates often benefiting from the candidate at the top of the ballot, the result could well be a board that votes 5-0 — or one that votes 3-2 the other way. Either would be a change from the current 4-1 complexion.

There is no debating that Jesse Warren, in his four years as mayor, has accomplished some good things. He has poured attention, and money, into cleaning up Lake Agawam and other water bodies. He achieved an update of the master plan for the village (with the help of Bill Manger, who led the committee), was a visible resource during the pandemic, and created an arts and culture overlay district. He has been an energetic leader in a village that needed a spark.

Alas, that energy is too often misdirected. The long list of his worst critics and sworn enemies today is made up of men and women who were his supporters. He need only look around him at the dais — all four Village Board members started out as Warren’s allies. Over time, they all switched camps to become passionate detractors.

Meanwhile, the turnover at Village Hall has been frequent, and even Warren’s hires have turned adversaries — most notably, two women who have accused him of creating a hostile work environment and gender discrimination. It’s equally clear that the mayor has a track record of gathering support, then seeing it curdle. At a point, it becomes reasonable to draw conclusions from that.

Village Board member Roy Stevenson recently said at a public meeting, “You don’t want to be mayor — you want to be king.” A stinging rebuke, mostly because it can’t be easily dismissed.

Bill Manger has been part of the faction opposed to Warren that hasn’t behaved particularly nobly — the fractiousness hasn’t made anyone look good. But he is someone who doesn’t automatically see disagreement as hostility. There is reason to believe he would bring a new era to a village government that desperately needs it.

Manger is the choice in large part because he seeks solutions rather than conflict. The two candidates’ views of the village’s sewer solutions are telling: Warren is steadfastly committed to a site outside the village that upset neighbors so badly it sent town officials scrambling for cover — it’s “the only option,” he said. Manger, meanwhile, has already moved on and is focused on a new site that’s much more suitable and has the benefit of having town support.

Bill Manger is the choice, if only because the village so desperately needs a change at the top, and a change of tone.

The two challengers for the two seats on the Village Board, Palmer Hudson and Greg Centeno, both have the look of talented village citizens who should get more involved in village issues before rushing to run for Village Board. Hudson, in particular, is an impressive young man who brings a great deal to the table — but perhaps should take some time to learn more about village government before looking for a leadership role.

The incumbents, Roy Stevenson and Robin Brown, deserve another term, but both have some work to do. Stevenson, on paper, is the perfect Village Board member — a longtime resident, a business owner — and needs to speak more for himself, instead of always supporting one side or another. Brown, meanwhile, simply needs to speak more — period. She is soft-spoken to the point of anonymity; her strong performance in the recent debate shows she has it in her. We’d like to see more of it.

In fact, it’s time for all of the Village Board members, and perhaps others at Village Hall, to discard the petty squabbles and side-choosing. There are constant rumors, from all sides, about dark forces pulling strings behind the scene, with money and influence. That only works if you are willing to subjugate yourself to someone else.

It would be nice to see a Village Board, moving forward, with five strong individuals. They can agree or disagree from time to time — in fact, should do both — and be able to move forward without grudges. The village, with all its challenges, desperately needs leadership, and it doesn’t have to come from just one person.