Town's GOP nominee: I need to think on it

Despite being chosen last week as the Republican nominee for the Southampton Town supervisor position, Councilman Christopher Nuzzi has not yet officially accepted, saying he needs time to decide whether to take on the job.

"I'm flattered and appreciate the support and confidence of the committee . . . but it requires some thought and reflection," Nuzzi said Friday afternoon at Town Hall, mentioning family and business considerations.

Nuzzi's selection was announced at the party's nominating convention last week. Councilwoman Nancy Graboski, the onetime presumptive candidate for the post, chose to retire instead of seeking office.

Earlier this month, the Southampton Town Democratic Committee chose incumbent Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst, a registered Independent, who ran on the Democratic line last election.

Throne-Holst, who was elected to the town board in 2007, won the supervisor post in 2009. She held her campaign kickoff, a "non-fundraiser" as described on campaign literature, Friday night.

Nuzzi was elected in 2005.

The Democrats also renominated incumbent Bridget Fleming, a Democrat, for her seat. Two other registered Independents -- William Pell, a Southampton trustee, and Brad Bender, the Flanders, Riverside and Northampton Community Association president -- were nominated by the Democratic Party to fill Nuzzi's seat and that of Graboski, who can't run again due to term limits.

"I think we have the best possible slate, and candidates, than we have had in a long time," said Gordon Herr, chairman of the Southampton Town Democratic Committee. "We feel they have the Democratic principles and values . . . and are very fiscally prepared."

The town's Republican party nominated former Assistant Southampton Town Attorney Christine Preston Scalera and retired Southampton Town Police Lt. William Hughes for the two other town board seats up for grabs this election cycle.

Southampton Town GOP chairman Ernest Wruck noted that Democrats had to go outside to Independence candidates to fill their positions. "We were able to fill every single position" with party members, he said.