Former CNN anchor's new gig: chairman of Southampton Town Democrats

John Avlon, the former CNN commentator who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2024, has taken the reins of the Southampton Town Democratic Committee.

Avlon, of Sag Harbor, was appointed chair in October, succeeding longtime party leader Gordon Herr. Avlon was the 1st Congressional District candidate in 2024, losing to Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) by 10 points. The race drew national attention, and Avlon's campaign raised roughly $5.3 million, according to campaign filings. The district includes a large swath of Suffolk County, including the East End.

The vote was unanimous, following contested races in some Suffolk town committees sparked by the unsuccessful effort to oust Suffolk Democratic Committee chair Rich Schaffer. 

“I think that there were a large number of people from different aspects of the committee who felt that I could come in and help set a new tone and bridge the divides, and I think that's an important thing to do,“ Avlon said in an interview.

Herr, who served as chair for 20 years and works at the Suffolk County Board of Elections, said he decided last year not to seek a new term. The committee elects its leadership every two years.

Democrats hold most elected offices in the town, including supervisor and three of the four seats on the town council. Last year, the party swept all five town trustee seats, defeating two longtime Republican incumbents. The results marked a change from roughly 20 years ago, when Southampton Republicans had more of a footing and, in 2005, swept town elections.

Democrats hold an enrollment advantage over Republicans across the town, 35% to 28%. Roughly 32% of voters are not registered with a political party.

Last week, Democratic Supervisor Maria Moore defeated Republican challenger Rich Carozza with roughly 63% of votes, according to unofficial results. Democrat Chris Murray defeated State Sen. Anthony Palumbo, flipping the eastern Long Island seat held by Republicans since 1915.

Rep. Nick LaLota was reelected last week, but his opponent, Democrat Chris Gallant, carried most of Southampton Town's election districts, according to a Newsday map of unofficial election data.

Avlon called Democratic turnout "phenomenal."

Cross-endorsements

Avlon, an author and chairman of the government watchdog group Citizens Union, said he hopes to restructure with standing committees that would improve operations and give members more opportunities to participate.

The committee has cross-endorsed non-Democrats in the past, including longtime Town Clerk Sundy Schermeyer, a Republican, and Highway Superintendent Charles McArdle, a Conservative. Some committee members challenging Schaffer criticized the practice of cross-endorsements.

Avlon said cross-endorsements would be considered “on a case-by-case basis,” but emphasized that Democrats should field candidates to run for "open seats."

“If someone has done such an extraordinary job that there's general acclamation and a unique circumstance, that's one thing,” Avlon said. “But I don't think that's often the case, and I think there should be elections. Voters should have a choice.”

East Hampton race

The East Hampton Democratic Committee also elected new leadership. Michael Koegler, previously vice chairman, succeeded Anna Skrenta, the chairwoman since 2022. She did not run for reelection but backed Koegler.

“I'd like to really engage a broader section of the committee,“ said Koegler, of East Hampton, who works in financial services technology and owns his own firm, Market Alpha Advisors.

Koegler said he wants to help unite a committee that has some new members. A slate of committee candidates allied with East Hampton Mayor Jerry Larsen, who unsuccessfully challenged Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez in a Democratic primary, won 10 of the committee's 38 seats in June.

Koegler said he received 66% of the committee's vote, which is weighted according to registered voters in the town's election districts. East Hampton Town trustee Francis Bock, a Larsen ally, received 33%.

Bock, in an interview, criticized the committee as "complacent" and said it does not adequately challenge the town board. 

"I'm disappointed in the fact that they don't scrutinize the town board better, and they just seem to rubber-stamp everything that is put in front of them," he said.

Koegler said he wants to move beyond disagreements.

“We're all part of the same committee now. Regardless of how we got here, we're all in the foxhole together, and we're all trying to accomplish the same things … which is recruit, screen, endorse and campaign for good candidates, candidates that uphold Democratic values and principles,” he said.