SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Residents of the city of Southampton will soon be heading to the polls to elect local representatives.
The race is in the run-up to Election Day, which, this year, falls on Tuesday, November 7.
Patch asked those running for office to answer questions about their campaigns and will post candidate profiles in the days leading up to the election.
John A. Ortiz, a Democrat, faces Republican candidate Gary Weber in the Southampton Town Justice race.
Here is John A. Ortiz's Patch candidate profile.
How old will you be by election day?
65
Does your campaign have a website?
https://SouthamptonForward.org
What city or town do you live in?
Southampton, New York
Which office are you looking for?
Town Justice, Town of Southampton
Party membership
Democrat
Education
University of Pennsylvania, Bachelor of Arts ; University of San Francisco School of Law, Juris Doctor
What is your occupation?
Lawyer, 36 years old
You have family; If so, tell us about them.
Wife and two adult children
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
N/A
Have you ever held public office, either appointive or elective?
Planning Commission, Town of Mamaroneck, New York, 14 years
Now we'd like to ask a few questions about why you're running for office and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you looking for this office?
After a long and successful legal career, I believe I still have much to contribute to the benefit of my community.
What are the main differences between you and the other candidate seeking this position?
While I appreciate the ethical limits of judicial campaigning, the strengths of my candidacy for city justice are based on my 36-year career as a lawyer, both in the public and private sectors. My legal career and community involvement, along with my background, training and skills, position me to successfully face the future challenges of the city justice position. I will also be able to bring 'fresh eyes' to the current operation of the court and what innovations and improvements can and should be made for the benefit of the community.
What other issues do you plan to address during your campaign?
My core values and vision for this city justice position would simply be described as striving to ensure safety within the community, along with an emphasis on the fair and equal administration of justice to all who appear before the court, including those in the jurisdiction affected by the various matters brought before the court.
What past accomplishments would you cite as proof that you can handle this job?
During my career as a prosecutor and attorney, and while raising a family with my better half (who also had a full-time career), I was always involved in my community and trying to make it better. I served for many years on my town's planning commission, my local Little League board, on an ESL non-profit board, and helped many neighbors with legal issues. The city justice position will allow me to continue to serve and help my community, using all that I have learned both in and out of courtrooms and law offices.
What is the best advice someone has ever given you?
Hang in there, keep moving forward.
Is there anything else you'd like voters to know about you and your positions?
Although I didn't grow up locally, my family and I have chosen to live here and make it our forever home. I've always cared about what's going on in my community and what I can do to make things better.
