Meet The Candidates: Elizabeth Peeples For Southold Trustee

SOUTHOLD, NY — Suffolk County residents will be heading to the polls Tuesday to elect local representatives and make their voices heard.

Residents will weigh in on the race to represent one of the 18 legislative districts in Suffolk County, vote for Suffolk County District Attorney and Sheriff — and choose their local town elected officials.

In advance of the election, Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaign — and the results will be published as candidate profiles in the days leading up to the vote.

Elizabeth Peeples is running on the Democratic and Working Families lines, alongside Eric Sepenoski and Liz Gillooly, for one of three open seats on the Southold board of trustees. Peeples is facing off against Republican and Conservative candidates Jason Taggert, Kristina Gabrielsen and Peter Johnstone, Jr.

Following is Patch's full Q&A with Elizabeth Peeples:

<b> Name <b>

Elizabeth Peeples

<b>Age (as of Election Day)</b>

40

<b>Position Sought</b>

Town Trustee

<b>Party Affiliation</b>

Democrat

<b>Family</b>

Stefanie - wife, Finn - son 22 months old

<b>Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?</b>

No

<b>Education</b>

Bachelor of Fine Arts in interior design

<b>Occupation</b>

Owner/Farmer of Little Ram Oyster Co. — 4 years

<b>Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office</b>

no

<b>Campaign website</b>

https://southoldforward.com/el...

<b>Why are you seeking elective office?</b>

To use my expertise as an oyster farmer to improve the health of our estuary and diverse waterways and to serve Southold Town and all its residents as an elected official.

<b>The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.</b>

Climate change. I intend to work within our community and with all of the East End townships along the Peconic Estuary to prepare our shorelines for the increased intensity of storms and sea-level rise. Encouraging native plant and wetland grass species to flourish by replanting and reducing nitrogen run-off from lawns along the wetland areas is an initial start and also working with local environmental experts to implement habitat restoration projects.

<b>What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?</b>

My focus is to advocate for the environment while working with property owners to alleviate the effects of climate change. My opponents seem to advocate for the property owners first and then the environment.