Tuesday night’s Southold candidate forum —sponsored by the North Fork Civics of Southold — kicked off with the civic equivalent of speed dating. One by one, 23 hopefuls for nearly every town seat — from the Town Board to Trustees, Assessors, the Town Clerk and the Town Justice and County Legislator — stepped up to the mic for their two-minute opening statement pitch, aiming gamely to distill lifetimes of public and private service into the length of a latte order at Starbucks. And with no polling done on the town wide races, no one — least of all the candidates — knows who will emerge victorious when voters head to the polls on Nov. 4. Stay tuned to the North Fork Sun for upcoming stories on Tuesday night’s focused sessions on candidates for Town Board, Town Trustees and County Legislator.
Town Board
Republican Christopher Talbot, a lifelong Southold resident and former Town Board member, said his decades of public service — from firefighting to land preservation — reflect his deep commitment to the community. A senior building inspector for the Village of Southampton and longtime fire commissioner, Talbot said he hopes to return to the board to continue advancing housing, environmental protection and dark-sky preservation. He emphasized his hands-on approach to collaboration and problem-solving across town departments. “I’ve spent my life in service to this town — and if elected again, I’ll give my all to creating affordable housing and protecting the land we love,” he said.
Democratic incumbent Brian Mealy thanked voters for their trust and said he’s seeking reelection to continue tackling Southold’s most pressing challenges without delay. He cited progress on the zoning update, the town’s new housing plan and recently passed water-conservation legislation as proof that his team is delivering results. “I made a pledge four years ago not to kick the can down the road — and I’m proudly reporting, the can has not been kicked,” Mealy said.
Republican Nicholas Planamento, a longtime community volunteer and former business owner on Love Lane, said his decades of service on town boards and committees have given him a deep understanding of how Southold government works. He highlighted his experience on the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Suffolk County Planning Commission and other committees as preparation for helping guide the town’s upcoming zoning reforms. Planamento said he’s running to ensure that changes benefit the entire community through steady, informed leadership. “Zoning dictates how a community will function — and I want to help usher in the right changes for everyone in Southold,” he said.
Democrat Alexa Suess, a Greenport native and small-business owner, said she’s running for Town Council to give a stronger voice to young and working-class residents struggling to afford life on the North Fork. After leaving to build her career, she returned home to invest in her community through nonprofit work and local entrepreneurship. Suess said she wants to bring data-driven, inclusive leadership to housing, small-business and environmental challenges. “If we truly want a healthy, thriving community, we need to make sure everyone has a place at the table — from our seniors and immigrant neighbors to our oyster farmers and recent graduates.”
Republican Stephanie Hall, a longtime Fishers Island resident and candidate for Southold Town Board/Fishers Island Justice, said her decades of community service and scientific career have prepared her to be an advocate for the island. A clinical research scientist for Pfizer, she has also served as a school-board member, fire commissioner and co-chair of the Fishers Island Seagrass Management Coalition. Hall said she’s especially concerned about the island’s shrinking year-round population and hopes to help reverse that decline. “I want to be an advocate and a bridge for our communities — because both Fishers Island and Southold face the same challenge of losing young families,” she said.
Democrat Kate Stevens, a lifelong Fishers Islander and candidate for Southold Town Board/Fishers Island Justice, said her dual perspective as both a seasonal and year-round resident informs her work as a problem solver and bridge-builder. An architect and executive director of the Henry L. Ferguson Museum, she highlighted her leadership on sustainability projects, from composting initiatives to solar development on the island’s capped landfill. Stevens said she hopes to bring transparency, collaboration and a focus on housing, infrastructure and climate adaptation to the Town Board. “I’m a problem solver, a planner and a doer — and I want to be a bridge between our two islands,” she said
Trustees
Republican Nathan Andruski, a lifelong Southold resident, said his deep connection to the bays and creeks of his youth shaped both his livelihood and his love for the water. From fishing and clamming as a teenager to serving as president of the Southold Town Baymen’s Association, he said he’s devoted his life to the local marine environment and community. “For most of my life, I made a good living from our local creeks and bays — they gave me everything, and now it’s my turn to give back,” Andruski said.
Democrat Joe Finora said his lifelong connection to the bays and beaches of Southold inspired both his career and his candidacy for town trustee. A marine engineer, diver and co-founder of the Hampton Oyster Company, he said his experience protecting coastlines and improving water quality has given him the tools to address Southold’s challenges. “I’ve seen how coastlines change, how infrastructure fails, and what it takes to protect waterfront communities like ours,” Finora said.
Republican Pindar Damianos, a viticulturist and fire officer, introduced himself as a lifelong East Ender whose family founded Pindar Vineyards and helped preserve thousands of acres of farmland. A farmer and father, he said he’s running for Southold Town Trustee to protect the land and waterways that define the North Fork for future generations. “We’re here to protect what’s left — the land, the soils and the open spaces that keep the North Fork alive,” Damianos said.
Democratic incumbent Eric Sepenoski thanked first responders for their storm efforts before describing his hands-on approach to local governance. A fourth-generation farmer and educator, he said his work as trustee is rooted in stewardship and balancing interests while protecting the town’s waterways and coastline. “I’m there late into the night at Town Hall, balancing private and public interests, fighting for water quality and safeguarding our waterfront for the long term,” Sepenoski said.
Republican Terri Boyle Romanelli — through a statement read by a representative — said her lifelong ties to the North Fork, along with her experience in business, education and environmental advocacy, shape her vision for the Southold Board of Trustees. A longtime Cutchogue resident and realtor, she emphasized protecting clean water, preserving the working waterfront and educating the public about coastal regulations. “Southold’s environment and coastal resources are its most valuable assets — and I’ll work hard to keep our waters clean and our waterfront thriving,” Romanelli said. (She was unable to attend due to a professional commitment, according to the Southold GOP.)
Democratic incumbent Liz Gillooly thanked civic leaders for organizing the forum, saying such gatherings “remind me why I ran for office — because this community cares deeply about where we’re headed.” She described her four years as trustee as a period of practical problem-solving, from rewriting code and improving processes to making online forms fillable herself. “When I was told it couldn’t be done, I figured out how to do it — that’s the kind of worker I am,” Gillooly said. “The job isn’t about politics or slogans — it’s about showing up, listening and doing the work.”
County Legislature (1st District)
Democrat Greg Doroski, a current Southold Town Board member, cited his collaborative work with the board and his record as police commissioner. He emphasized his partnership with local law enforcement and his commitment to “real, meaningful change” for officers and residents alike. “We need a legislator who feels comfortable showing up to Town Board meetings and public hearings advocating for what’s right,” Doroski said. “I feel like there’s a leadership void in the Suffolk County Legislature.”
Republican Catherine Stark traced her 30-year career in county government from humble beginnings to public service. Starting as a secretary and single mother of three, she went back to school at night to finish her degree and steadily rose through the ranks to become a chief of staff and now legislator. “I’m most proud of the Working Waterfront Preservation Program — it will protect the lifeblood of our coastal communities just as farmland preservation did for our farms,” Stark said.
Assessors
Democrat Dana Forlenza, a Mattituck native and Stony Brook University alumna, is a licensed insurance agent with a decade of experience calculating property values. She said her professional background has prepared her to ensure assessments are applied accurately and fairly. “If you elect me, I promise to bring a sense of fairness and empathy to every assessment and every interaction with the public,” she said.
Republican incumbent Charles Sanders’ wife, Alina Sanders, spoke on behalf of her husband, who is serving as an Army reservist in the Middle East. She described him as a man defined by “loyalty, integrity and heart,” with a long record of service to veterans, students and his community. “Behind every assessment is a homeowner, a family, a neighbor who deserves respect and clear communication,” she said. (Lt. Col. Sanders is serving an 11-month deployment with the 42nd Infantry Division — his fourth deployment.)
Democrat Leah Tillman Sullivan, a lifelong North Fork resident and 1992 Mattituck High School graduate, is running for Southold Town Tax Assessor. Formerly a congressional aide to Rep. Tim Bishop and executive director of the North Fork Chamber of Commerce, she said her experience in government, real estate and small business has prepared her to serve with professionalism and fairness. “Government only works when qualified, dedicated individuals step up to serve,” she said, adding that she aims to bring “responsibility and integrity” to the assessor’s office.
Republican Ken Poliwoda, a third-generation Southold resident, is running on his record of public service and deep community roots. A SUNY Maritime graduate and former two-term town trustee, Poliwoda has spent the last two decades assessing property values while remaining active in volunteer roles from Little League and CYO basketball to the Southold Fire Department. “I grew up working hard on the family farms and fishing on our North Fork waters,” he said, “and I’ve always believed in giving back to the community that raised me.”
Town Clerk
Republican Denis Noncarrow, a lifelong Mattituck resident and 1981 graduate of Mattituck High School, said his commitment to public service was inspired by his late father’s example of community involvement. As Southold Town Clerk, he emphasizes accessibility, teamwork and innovation — from launching online systems for alarm and mooring permits to improving communication within his office. “You have to show this community your love and be there when they need you,” Noncarrow said.
Democrat Abigail Field, a Cutchogue resident and attorney, said she’s running to give back to the community that supported her family through crisis and to make town government more transparent and efficient. She previously served as legislative counsel for the Voting Rights Lab and helped lead a successful campaign in New Jersey to stop the privatization of toll roads. Field said she would expand office hours, summarize and publish Town Board work sessions, and review every process for potential savings. “Government works best when it’s transparent, efficient and accountable to the people it serves,” she said.
Highway Superintendent
Republican Greg Schlachter drew a straight line from heavy equipment to leadership. “I’m not a politician — I’m your neighbor, your co-worker and someone who’s been putting in the work for decades,” he said. Schlachter said he’s spent 40 years in construction and road maintenance, beginning at Latham Sand & Gravel. “This job isn’t just about filling potholes,” he said. “It’s about leadership — building a team that takes pride in their work, feels supported and understands that every task, no matter how small, makes the town safer and stronger.”
Democratic incumbent Dan Goodwin answered with numbers and planning. “For the first time in history, there’s a long-term capital plan in place,” he said of the town’s highway department. A lifelong Cutchogue resident, Goodwin said he was raised in a multigenerational family and now lives in town with his wife and two young children. “Over the last 15 years, I’ve put my engineering education to work on utility and infrastructure projects, industrial maintenance and emergency response,” he said. “I know how to stretch a dollar and get the job done right.”
Town Justice
Democrat Eileen Powers, who is running unopposed, framed the bench in nonpartisan terms. “There is one set of laws for everyone — that is the rule of law,” she said. The former Suffolk County prosecutor has lived in Southold for about 30 years with her husband, Larry Tuthill. The couple has three children, and Powers has run a private law practice for more than two decades.
The candidate forum was skillfully hosted by moderators Dave Bergen and Carol Lindley. The coalition that makes up the North Fork Civics of Southold includes the Orient Association; the East Marion Community Association; the Greenport Civic Association; the Southold–Peconic Civic Association; the Cutchogue Civic Association; the New Suffolk Civic Association; the Mattituck–Laurel Civic Association and the Fishers Island Community Board.