Patch Candidate Profile: Maria Moore for Southampton Town Supervisor

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 is 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.

Maria Moore, Democrat and current Mayor of Westhampton Beach Village, is facing Republican candidate and current Southampton City Councilwoman Cynthia McNamara in the race for Southampton Town Supervisor, a position currently held by Jay Schneiderman.

Here's Patch's Maria Moore candidate profile:

How old will you be by election day?

63

Does your campaign have a website?

Home

What city or town do you live in?

Westhampton Beach

Which office are you looking for?

Southampton Town Supervisor

Party membership

Democrat and Conservative

Education

Juris Doctor

What is your occupation?

Mayor for nine years, lawyer for 35 years

You have family; If so, tell us about them.

Married to Tom for 33 years and have two daughters, Elizabeth (28) and Jacqueline (25).

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Have you ever held public office, either appointive or elective?

Currently the Mayor of Westhampton Beach, in his 10th year.

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?

I am seeking the office of city supervisor to bring my executive experience as a mayor and my skills as an attorney for 35 years to serve all residents of the city of Southampton.

Please complete this statement: The most pressing issue facing my constituents is _____, and this is what I plan to do about it.

The city needs an organized approach to planning to effectively address the interrelated challenges: protecting our water, mitigating traffic congestion. providing workforce housing opportunities; and ensuring the stability of our electric grid in preparation for green energy.

What needs to be done to address water quality issues in LI?

Authorize a county sales tax of 1/8 percent to fund water quality improvement projects, subject to a mandatory referendum.

What do you think can be done to improve our infrastructure, highways, etc.?

We must first prioritize repairing the infrastructure that is experiencing problems, and these repairs must bring our infrastructure up to current best standards. All levels of government must coordinate to work together to identify goals that satisfy our interconnected jurisdictions.

How would you plan to help local business owners who are struggling due to high rents, inflation and labor shortages?

Government must assess regulations and zoning as part of planning to ensure that these regulations and laws are not an unnecessary burden on business success. At the same time, the government must ensure that the valuable rules and laws are applied equally. High rents, inflation and labor shortages are not being solved by city government, but rather by a booming economy.

What is your position on the current immigrant situation affecting New York City? And the immigrants had to head to shelters on Long Island, how would you prepare/plan for that?

The immigration crisis is the product of federal government failure. We need to elect representatives who are ready to face the challenges of immigration.

What are the main differences between you and the other candidate seeking this position?

The main difference between me and the other candidate is experience. I have been mayor for nine years and a lawyer for 35 years and have successfully led the rebuilding of our business district, which included the provision of sewers. the other candidate had only served 1 year on the city council when she was nominated as her party's choice to be our next town supervisor.

What other issues do you plan to address during your campaign?

We need to restore trust with our constituents. Trust is essential in a representative government. Residents should never feel that they need to be protected by their government, but rather have confidence that they will be treated fairly. There is a natural tension between the preservation of open space funded by the Community Conservation Fund and the new Community Housing Fund (CHF). This tension must be resolved and the benefits and burdens must be equitably shared across the city and resolved by updating the 1999 Comprehensive Plan.

What past accomplishments would you cite as proof that you can handle this job?

As an attorney with 35 years of experience, I brought my legal skills to the mayor's office. For more than nine years as mayor of Westhampton Beach, I led my community in rebuilding and improving Main Street infrastructure through 2 major public works projects, paid for with $19 million in grant funding and prudent fiscal management.

Click here to read about the environmental and pedestrian safety features and other aspects of the revitalization projects for which the Village of Westhampton Beach received Smart Growth and Quality of Life awards.

All of this was accomplished while overseeing the daily operations of the Village which operates its own police department, building department, public works department, clerk/treasurer's office, courthouse, parks, public beaches and marina.

As the Village's chief financial officer, I delivered annual budgets that anticipated the community's public safety and infrastructure needs while never exceeding the state's 2 percent tax cap. In fact, the Village of Westhampton Beach tax rate is now lower than when I took office 9 years ago.

For more than 9 years I have led our village's team of dedicated public servants who have provided excellent government services at an affordable price and inspired private owners to improve their own properties. With all of us working together, Westhampton Beach has changed for the better.

What is the best advice someone has ever given you?

'The time is now.' With a two-year term, every day counts as an opportunity to work toward our shared goals.

Is there anything else you'd like voters to know about you and your positions?

We must protect what is great, fix what is broken, and prepare for the future. We are all in this together.