Thanks to everyone for an amazing campaign. Last night, Bridget Fleming was the top vote-getter of the four Town Board candidates, receiving almost 500 more votes than the second-place finisher. Her statement on the win:

“First, to the people of Southampton: thank you. I am truly honored to have your support. I am so proud of what we have accomplished in the last two years, and I look forward to continuing that for the next for.

Second, we are hopeful and confident that Brad Bender will win the second seat on the Board, but to all of my opponents: many thanks for a great campaign; our town is stronger for your dedication.

And finally, to the dozens of people who have volunteered during this campaign: a very special thank you. We could not have done it without your amazing hard work!”

I know George posted this a few days ago, but I just wanted to reiterate what the Independent said in its endorsement of Bridget:

Beyond her obvious intelligence, there is a real compassion and enthusiasm she brings to the job. Fleming is tireless. Her work with a group of YouthBuild Long Island in Riverside teaches young people the building trade, provides a path for affordable housing, provides jobs, and teaches green, sustainable technology. It’s a program every municipality should have, but it takes commitment and work. That’s Fleming, going to meetings at night after working all day, and doing it without fanfare or chest thumping. In fact, much of her best work is done outside the public eye. Show us another politician that eschews publicity shots like she does.

Now that’s what I call an endorsement! Click here to email us and get involved in our final push for voters over the next few days — and don’t forget to tell your friends to vote on Tuesday!

In a two-pronged thrust, the unified team of Bridget Fleming, Anna Throne-Holst and Brad Bender has won the endorsement of  Dan’s Papers and the Sag Harbor Express.  Dan’s Paper’s, which also picked Janet Beck for Town Trustee, referred to Supervisor Throne-Holst’s “dedicated, innovative leadership and caring.”  Going on, the paper declared:

As for the Southampton Town Board candidates, we choose Brad Bender and Bridget Fleming because they are qualified and diligent.  Perthaps Throne-Holst, if given a majority on the board, will be capable of doing greater things for the future of Southampton.

This is the point that Bridget Fleming and her running mates have been making throughout the campaign.  Anna and Bridget have been able to accomplish much, but there is much in which they have been frustrated by the present majority on the Town Board.  Brad Bender will complete the equation and enable the team to go forward with a program that promotes people, not politics.

Following on the heels of the great endorsements George mentioned below, Assemblyman Fred Thiele recorded a terrific radio ad for the unified campaign team of Anna Throne-Holst, Bridget Fleming, and Brad Bender the other day. In it, he battles back against the Republicans’ latest lies and mistruths. I thought you’d like to hear it, so I grabbed a copy and posted it here. Click below to listen, and leave a comment to let us know what you think!

The Independent Newspaper, distributed throughout the East End, has wholeheartedly endorsed Southampton Town Councilwoman Bridget Fleming in her race for re-election.  Referring to Bridget’s taking office after winning a special election last year, the Independent declared:

She hit the ground running and has been a tireless worker, doing yeoman’s work in Flanders, the town’s forgotten district.  Her ability to weigh the issues independent of political pressure makes her a valuable asset, and in Southampton, a political rarity.  We’re impressed by how much work she puts into her job, and as an attorney she is versed in the legalities that sometimes accompany board decisions.  Beyond her obvious intelligence, there is a real compassion and enthusiasm she brings to the job.  Fleming is tireless.  Her work with a group of YouthBuild Long Island in Riverside teaches young people the building trade, provides a path for affordable housing, provides jobs, and teaches green, sustainable technology.  It’s a program every municipality should have, but it takes commitment and work.  That’s Fleming, going to meetings at night after working all day, and doing it without fanfare or chest thumping.  In fact, much of her best work is done outside the public eye.  Show us another politician thats eschews publicity shots like she does.

On a more practical note, her presence on the board tends to counterbalance the Republican majority and gives Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst a needed ally.

After only a year she is a seasoned veteran, has learned to maneuver her way around at town hall, and has garnered the respect of friend and foe, at times grudgingly.  Fleming has earned her seat on the board.

Just added a super new video to our Video page. It highlights the main difference between the candidates running for Town Board this year: two of them are focused on solving Southampton’s problems… and two of them are not. You can check it out below, then head over to our Video page for some other great stuff (including testimonials from other Southampton residents!).

In what its leadership reported was a unanimous decision, the Long Island Builders Institute announced its support of Bridget Fleming, who is running for re-election to the Southampton Town Board.  The Institute is an association of Nassau and Suffolk builders, developers and remodelers dedicated to, in the words of its mission statement, ”creating a balance between the economy, the environment and development opportunities for all our communities and  our residents.”  An important factor in this recognition by the Institute would have been Bridget’s consistent efforts to link environmental and economic health in Southampton.