Two Sag Harbor Village Board Seats Up

Those up for re-election in the Village of Sag Harbor hope to stay put come June. While it will be James L. Larocca’s first go-around in a village election, having been appointed to fill a vacancy last year, he has held various positions in government. Meanwhile, Robby Stein is looking for re-election for a third full term on the board.

No other candidates for the June 21 election have come forward, although there are still two weeks until nominating petitions are due. Both seats come with a two-year term.

This time last year, Mr. Stein made a bid for village mayor, falling short to Sandra Schroeder. Both had a year left on their terms as board members. Mr. Stein kept his seat, and Mayor Schroeder appointed Mr. Larocca, who had been on the planning board for about a year, to take over hers.

“I look forward to running in my own right,” Mr. Larocca said. “I’ve enjoyed it enormously.”

Since Mr. Larocca brings experience working at different levels of government, there was no learning curve, Mayor Schroeder said. A lawyer, he served as Gov. Hugh Carey’s deputy secretary of federal affairs in Washington, D.C., and under Gov. Mario Cuomo he was commissioner of transportation. He ran for the Democratic Party’s nomination for governor in 1998, before becoming a dean at Southampton College. 

“Mostly retired,” he said with a laugh, he is also a playwright, “always chasing a project.” 

His first year on the board has been a busy one, between the residential code revisions, approved on Friday, and plans being made for a waterfront park on privately owned land near the bridge to North Haven. Mr. Larocca has taken the lead on the park project. Although he was mum on any news about whether the village was ready to move forward with condemnation, after hiring an attorney to look into its feasibility, he said, “I’m very committed to that. We are forging ahead.” 

Mr. Stein, a clinical child psychologist with a practice in the village, was appointed to the board seven years ago to fill a vacancy when Brian Gilbride, then a board member, was elected mayor. Mr. Stein later won two elections for full terms. He has been the village’s representative to the Peconic Estuary Program. Outside of the Municipal Building, he serves on the boards of Bay Street Theater and Mashashimuet Park. He said he is running to continue the work he has done on environmental issues and other special projects.

Nominating petitions have been available from the village clerk’s office since April 5, according to the election schedule. Beth Kamper, the clerk, can accept signed petitions starting May 10 and until the 17th. 

Those wishing to vote must register with the Suffolk County Board of Elections no later than June 10. Applications for absentee ballots have to be sent to the village clerk’s office by June 14. 

The election will be held at the Sag Harbor Firehouse on Brick Kiln Road from noon to 9 p.m.