Southampton Press ENDORSES Rick Martel for Town Council
“Martel served admirably on the Town Board”
“make no mistake: Martel is a dedicated public servant who worked hard behind the scenes and regularly across party lines”
“Our pick is Rick Martel”
We Mark Our Ballot: Southampton Town Council Special Election
Editorial Board on Mar 12, 2025
March 18 is such an odd date for a Southampton Town vote, and timing could be everything as voters go to the polls to temporarily fill a vacant seat on the Town Council, created by Tommy John Schiavoni’s election to the State Assembly in the fall. Snowbirds are away, people are heavily distracted by so many other things going on in the world, and the race could just as easily pass many town residents’ notice.
But it would be unfair to both Republican Rick Martel and Democrat John Leonard not to pay attention and, more importantly, not to show up (or vote early, or by absentee ballot) to cast a vote in this race. Both men have been out campaigning, taking part in numerous debates and discussions (including one last week sponsored by The Express News Group) — and, it must be said, both have presented compelling arguments for why they should be elected to the seat through November. (At which point both men will be on the ballot once again, in a wider town race, to fulfill a full term.)
Martel and Leonard both were articulate in charting their positions: They share some opinions, most notably on the affordable housing crisis and on supporting the town’s immigrant community during this fearful time, and they disagree on the specifics in a few instances, such as how to get to affordable housing goals and how to handle the ongoing legal fight with the Shinnecock Nation.
Voters have two strong options and a difficult choice to make. Our pick is Rick Martel, for three reasons.
First, Martel served admirably on the Town Board and, frankly, was a surprise casualty in the last election. Perhaps his soft-spoken, reserved demeanor, and his willingness to let others take the spotlight, backfired on him. But make no mistake: Martel is a dedicated public servant who worked hard behind the scenes (and, regularly, across party lines) and rarely sought accolades, which is something truly remarkable in today’s political climate. He should be rewarded, not castigated.
Second, on a few key issues, Martel’s answers are more substantive and less performative. For instance, when it comes to the ongoing legal fight with the Shinnecock Nation, he correctly maintains that a court decision on the underlying issues surrounding the Westwoods property is essential and must be part of any strategy moving forward. Like Leonard, he’s in favor of more conversation, more working together with the nation on its gas station project — but the reality is, until the courts rule, it’s all just talk.
Finally, it’s a nagging concern that Leonard’s passion for local issues — and it’s clearly sincere — too often comes with a toxic tinge. He’s smart and makes a strong advocate, not surprising for a talented attorney, but his track record working with others seems, at best, spotty. He seems prone to entrenchment on positions, and to grudges, and chaos seems to follow him. None of it would be particularly helpful at the Town Board dais.
Martel would join Cyndi McNamara as the two Republicans on the board; party politics are not a primary motivation, but it’s still preferable in a divided district to have a 3-2 board rather than a 4-1 board, especially when the minority members are not deeply partisan by nature. That said, the best public policy comes out of a fair amount of healthy friction, where the burrs are buffed away by hammering out compromise. Congress has abandoned that approach — there’s no reason the Southampton Town Board can’t demonstrate a better way forward, with friendly and meaningful debate.