Republican Richard Martel wins Southampton Town Board special election
Richard Martel said he hopes to tackle the affordable housing crisis on the East End. Credit: James Escher
Richard Martel will return to the Southampton Town Board after the former Republican councilman defeated Democrat John Leonard in a special election on Tuesday.
Martel succeeds Democrat Tommy John Schiavoni, who was elected to the New York State Assembly last year. Martel’s victory narrows Democrats' majority over Republicans on the town board to a margin of 3-2.
Martel leads Leonard by a margin of 53% to 47%, according to unofficial returns from the Suffolk County Board of Elections.
“I’m grateful to everybody that got out to vote,” Martel said in an interview with Newsday on Wednesday. “Both of us worked very hard with our parties … It just was people voting for who they felt was best.”
Martel is the owner of Skidmore's Sports & Styles in Hampton Bays and focused on affordable housing, development, traffic and other issues in his campaign for the seat.
Winning Tuesday's special election is a second chance for the 65-year-old who previously served one term on the town board before his defeat in the 2023 general election.
Martel said he’s eager to return to town hall and advance projects from his previous term. One issue he’s looking forward to tackling is the affordable housing crisis on the East End.
In 2022, Southampton voters approved a Community Housing Fund that generates revenue through a 0.5% tax on most real estate transactions for affordable housing projects.
“We'll have opportunities to try to keep young people and the elderly here,” he said. “We have a lot more tools in the toolbox now.”
He said he will work across party lines. “I think this board is very receptive to working together, and that’s my goal,” he said.
In recent months, a proposal to phase out sand mines has fueled division on the board as Republican Cyndi McNamara opposed the plan. Under that bill, mine owners would have seven years to finish mining their sites, a move advocates say is good for the environment.
Martel said Wednesday he agrees with the need to “do away with” sand mines, but wants the timeline extended to 10 years.
“The building trade is the greatest economy we have out here as far as keeping people at work,” he said. “You have to think about the small business owners too.”
An environmental review of the mining bill is underway before the town board votes on the proposal.
Martel will again face Leonard in the general election in November.
Unofficial results from the county showed Martel beat Leonard by 354 votes.
“It was not a blowout by any means,” said Gordon Herr, chair of the Southampton Town Democratic Committee, in an interview Wednesday. “Obviously we’re disappointed, but we’ll move forward to the November election.”
Leonard, 55, of Hampton Bays, is an attorney with a private practice in Hampton Bays. He currently serves on the town Zoning Board of Appeals and co-founded the Hampton Bays Alliance, a civic group that supports revitalization in the hamlet. In his campaign, Leonard called for new approaches to solving regional issues such as affordable housing, traffic congestion and environmental protection.
Richard Martel will return to the Southampton Town Board after the former Republican councilman defeated Democrat John Leonard in a special election on Tuesday.
Martel succeeds Democrat Tommy John Schiavoni, who was elected to the New York State Assembly last year. Martel’s victory narrows Democrats' majority over Republicans on the town board to a margin of 3-2.
Martel leads Leonard by a margin of 53% to 47%, according to unofficial returns from the Suffolk County Board of Elections.
“I’m grateful to everybody that got out to vote,” Martel said in an interview with Newsday on Wednesday. “Both of us worked very hard with our parties … It just was people voting for who they felt was best.”
Martel is the owner of Skidmore's Sports & Styles in Hampton Bays and focused on affordable housing, development, traffic and other issues in his campaign for the seat.
Winning Tuesday's special election is a second chance for the 65-year-old who previously served one term on the town board before his defeat in the 2023 general election.
Martel said he’s eager to return to town hall and advance projects from his previous term. One issue he’s looking forward to tackling is the affordable housing crisis on the East End.
In 2022, Southampton voters approved a Community Housing Fund that generates revenue through a 0.5% tax on most real estate transactions for affordable housing projects.
“We'll have opportunities to try to keep young people and the elderly here,” he said. “We have a lot more tools in the toolbox now.”
He said he will work across party lines. “I think this board is very receptive to working together, and that’s my goal,” he said.
In recent months, a proposal to phase out sand mines has fueled division on the board as Republican Cyndi McNamara opposed the plan. Under that bill, mine owners would have seven years to finish mining their sites, a move advocates say is good for the environment.
Martel said Wednesday he agrees with the need to “do away with” sand mines, but wants the timeline extended to 10 years.
“The building trade is the greatest economy we have out here as far as keeping people at work,” he said. “You have to think about the small business owners too.”
An environmental review of the mining bill is underway before the town board votes on the proposal.
Martel will again face Leonard in the general election in November.
Unofficial results from the county showed Martel beat Leonard by 354 votes.
“It was not a blowout by any means,” said Gordon Herr, chair of the Southampton Town Democratic Committee, in an interview Wednesday. “Obviously we’re disappointed, but we’ll move forward to the November election.”
Leonard, 55, of Hampton Bays, is an attorney with a private practice in Hampton Bays. He currently serves on the town Zoning Board of Appeals and co-founded the Hampton Bays Alliance, a civic group that supports revitalization in the hamlet. In his campaign, Leonard called for new approaches to solving regional issues such as affordable housing, traffic congestion and environmental protection.
NewsdayTV celebrates Women's History Month From a civil rights pioneer to history being made at the SCPD, NewsdayTV is celebrating Women's History Month with a look at changemakers and trailblazers with ties to LI.
NewsdayTV celebrates Women's History Month From a civil rights pioneer to history being made at the SCPD, NewsdayTV is celebrating Women's History Month with a look at changemakers and trailblazers with ties to LI.
