Frederick Havemeyer gets group’s backing in Southampton

Environmentalists are backing Frederick Havemeyer, a former Southampton trustee, to challenge Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman in a Sept. 12 Democratic primary.

Richard Amper, president of the Environmental Voters Forum, said the group will seek to get the 1,000 petition signatures needed to get Havemeyer, 76, owner of a Bridgehampton horse farm, on the primary ballot.

Amper said Havemeyer has a good chance at the nomination because the public is angry that Schneiderman has not opposed the 600-acre Hills development in East Quogue. Schneiderman has said he has not come to a conclusion about the project.