Political Briefs 10.19.17

Environmental Endorsements

The Long Island Environmental Voters Forum, a grassroots organization that identifies, recruits, endorses, and supports pro-environment candidates for public office, has announced its 2017 endorsements. 

In East Hampton, Democratic Councilman Peter Van Scoyoc, who is running to succeed Supervisor Larry Cantwell, won the group’s endorsement. The forum also endorsed Paul Giardina, a Republican, and Jeffrey Bragman, a Democrat, for seats on the town board. Both are making their first bid for elective office. 

Mr. Bragman “has a particularly impressive record as an environmental champion,” Richard Amper, the group’s president, said in a statement.

G.O.P. Listening Session

A Republican Party listening session will take place at the Montauk Firehouse tonight from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The candidates for East Hampton Town supervisor, Manny Vilar, and town board, Jerry Larsen and Paul Giardina, will be on hand to take questions and talk about their platform. Refreshments will be served. 

Giardina on Opioid Addiction

Paul Giardina issued a policy position on opioid addiction last week. The deaths of two adult children of town residents last month “are a reflection of national trends,” he said. 

If elected, Mr. Giardina pledged to evaluate current law enforcement programs and policies for interdiction and intervention; support 12-step programs for addiction recovery; double the number of children and teenagers involved in after-school and sports programs sponsored by schools and faith and community-based groups; establish mentorship, apprenticeship, and internship programs that link East Hampton’s youth with year-round homeowners and those who visit seasonally; create a volunteer program for those in recovery to be reintegrated into the job market; triple the number of police, firefighters, educators, and medical personnel trained to administer Narcan, and investigate the establishment of an easy-access residential treatment facility available as an alternative or supplement to incarceration. 

Mr. Giardina also proposed a volunteer-based opioid study and policy group comprising citizens, educators, drug treatment experts, addiction experts from 12-step programs, physicians, veterinarians, clergy, youth counselors, law enforcement, and attorneys. The group would monitor the extent and complications of opioid addiction; spread awareness of symptoms and aftereffects through seminars and workshops; monitor and assess the state of and improvements in treatment modalities; interface with manufacturers, retailers, and physicians offering products to treat pain; pressure the medical community to reduce availability of addictive analgesics and advocate for nonaddictive substitutes, and maintain an interface between treatment programs and similar programs targeted at youth, health care, aging, and housing. 

Another Zeldin Challenger

Kate Browning of Shirley, who is serving her sixth and final term on the Suffolk County Legislature, has announced her intention to seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Representative Lee Zeldin. 

Ms. Browning changed her voter registration from the Working Families Party to the Democratic Party in May, but has consistently won the Democratic nomination for her seat in the Legislature. 

Mr. Zeldin defeated Tim Bishop, a six-term incumbent, in 2014. Last year, he easily defended his seat, defeating his Democratic challenger, former Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst. 

Zeldin Has Over $1 Million for Campaign

Zeldin for Congress announced that it raised $612,000 in the third quarter toward the 2018 campaign to re-elect Representative Lee Zeldin, a Republican serving his second term in Congress. The figure represents the highest total raised by Zeldin for Congress in any quarter of a nonelection year. The campaign also announced cash on hand totaling more than $1.16 million as of Sept. 30.