Trustee Nancy McGann earned 522 votes as the second-highest vote-getter.

Southampton - Southampton village residents will see no change in leadership this year, as all village board incumbents - Mayor Mark Epley and Trustees Paul Robinson and Nancy McGann - have once again won seats on the village board. The trio, all members of the Citizens With Integrity Party, will be entering a third term in office.

"I'm just honored to be given another opportunity," Epley offered from his party's celebration at Southampton's Four Seasons Caterers on Friday night. "It's a big vote of confidence. It's very humbling."

As the highest vote-getter, Epley earned 603 votes during an election that many on hand at the Southampton Cultural Center voting polls predicted would have a low turnout. Trustee McGann retained her seat with 522 votes and Trustee Robinson garnered 507 votes for a third term. The sole challenger, Traditional Party candidate Chris Broich, who participated in his second bid for election, collected 277 votes.

"It seems like the two trustees should have the same amount of votes as Epley," Broich asserted after receiving the election's results via text message, noting that his second run for a spot on the village board made somewhat of a dent in the returns. "It's encouraging for next year."

Mayor Mark Epley, shown here exiting the voting booth, earned his third term as village mayor.

Although running unopposed, Epley's campaign to maintain his mayoral seat gained intrigue when speculation developed on Friday pointed to a potential bid from a write-in candidate representing members of the Southampton Association. In a conversation Friday morning, Trustee Robinson said that recent questions from members of the group, as well as calls to Village Hall, made village officials think that a write-in campaign for mayor might be afoot.

According to Village Administrator Jim Van Nostrand, five absentee ballots named Stevenson's Toys owner Roy Stevenson as a write-in candidate for the mayoral seat. Others receiving write-in votes for mayor were Southampton Board of Education President Donald King, Jackie Scerbinski and Kim Allen. It was also noted that former Trustee William Bates was named a write-in candidate for a trustee position, as well as Bill Hatrick and Regina Greeven.

"It's more of an honor than actually winning," Epley offered, referring to running unopposed this year. "People recognize that I'm doing a pretty good job."

Looking to the business of a third term, Epley said he is most excited to be finalizing the village master plan, creating architectural guidelines for the village business district and establishing "green" building codes during his next term, as well as identifying a future tenant for the Parrish Art Museum location once the museum vacates Jobs Lane and settles into its new expanded facility planned for Water Mill. "These are things I have to get done," he posed.

As for Broich, he is already looking to another run for village board. "I have money left over from this campaign," he mused. "I can start campaigning early. It doesn't look like anyone wants to run. I don't know why. I am also going to recruit a running mate."

Two-time challenger Chris Broich said he plans on running again next year, this time, with a running mate.

Westhampton Beach Results
In voting activity west of the canal, Westhampton Beach Village Trustees Hank Tucker and Joan Levan have secured their seats on the village board for another term. Tucker earned the most votes, at 380, while Levan earned 332.

Challenger Stephen Arrasate received 184 votes, and Elyse Richman received 140.