Voters Vs. Politicians On Peconic County

A lot of politicians in Suffolk County, especially Republican ones, are hoping that if the old movement to create Peconic County won't die it will just fade away.

Not so one of the East End's favorite Republicans, State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. Assemblyman Thiele has worked with a half dozen other attorneys, most of whom are Democrats, to prepare litigation against the state that, if successful, would require the State Legislature to provide a procedure for the creation of new counties. Mr. Thiele has been visiting the East End's town and village boards in an effort to have them sign on as plaintiffs.

So far, every village has done so, as have East Hampton and Shelter Island Towns. The Town of Riverhead, which had under former Republican leadership been the most skeptical about Peconic County, saw a change in its Town Board majority in November when a Democratic and Riverhead Party took over. It is expected to agree to join in the suit before long.

That leaves Southold Town, which voted unanimously last month against taking part in the lawsuit, and Southampton, which has yet to vote on whether to do so. Both towns have Town Boards with Republican majorities.

Something is at work here that should not be. In November of 1996, 71 percent of East End voters favored a ballot proposition calling for a binding referendum to be held on the creation of a new county from the five East End towns. Such a referendum requires an act of the State Legislature, but the Speaker of the State Assembly, Sheldon Silver, a Democrat concerned about whether Peconic County would set a precedent for Staten Island, has kept the issue from reaching the Assembly floor.

East End voters deserve more respect. However, since the Legislature doesn't seem about to respond to their wishes, it is appropriate for the organization pushing for Peconic County and the municipalities to take legal action.

Southampton and Riverhead should get on board as soon as possible and Southold should reconsider its negative vote. Although there have been several contradictory reports on the economic feasibility of the proposed new county, the time has come to put them all on the table and to let the voters decide.