Southold Town Officials Inaugurated Tuesday

SOUTHOLD, NY — A new day dawned in Southold Tuesday as the incoming slate of elected officials was inaugurated at Town Hall.

Democrats in Southold Town celebrated victory after the election, with candidates in nail-biter races winning their respective seats and bringing balance to the board.

Officials taking office Tuesday include new town board members and Democrats Greg Doroski and Brian Mealy, Democrat Daniel Goodwin as the new highway superintendent, and newly elected Democratic town trustees Liz Gillooly, Eric Sepnoski and Elizabeth Peeples.

History was also made with Mealy's win: He is the first African-American man ever elected to Southold office.

Speaking to Patch before the election, Mealy said: "With the help of the good people of Southold it would be such an honor to realize that historic moment."

Southold Town GOP and Conservative candidate Denis Noncarrow won the race for town clerk on Election Night. Republican and Conservative candidates Eileen Powers, who ran for town justice, and town assessor candidates Kevin Webster and Charles Sanders, ran unopposed and won their respective seats.

Of the new board makeup, Republican Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said: "The campaign is over and now it is time to focus on working on behalf of the people of Southold Town. I have gotten to know the candidates in the past and I am very confident that we will work well together. They each have my full faith and support."

During an election that colored Long Island red as a sea of GOP candidates swept their races, Southold made history when, for the first time in decades, the Democratic party was able to shake up Southold — making inroads in close town races where a GOP stronghold has long held steady.

Reflecting on the outcome and the Dems' progress, Quigley told Patch: "I am so thrilled that the voters saw how caring, committed and passionate these candidates are about this town. All six of them will bring these qualities, as well as their phenomenal skills and work ethic, to serve the people of Southold."