Candidate Profile: Megan Heckman For Southampton Town Trustee

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Suffolk County residents will be hitting the polls Tuesday to elect local representatives.

The race is on in local town and village races leading up to Election Day, which, this year, falls on Tuesday, November 5.

Patch asked those running for office to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles in the days leading up to the election.

Megan Heckman, 36, of Eastport, is running for election as Southampton Trustee on the Republican, Conservative and Independence lines. Her opponents include Bill Pell, Scott Hortowitz, Ann Welker, David Mayer, Andrew Brosnan, Eric Shultz, Thea Fry, Donald Law, Edward J Warner Jr., and Frederick Havemeyer.

She and her husband Howie, 38, have one son, Howie, 4, and a daughter, Audrey, 2. Her father-in-law, Howard Heckman Jr., is a NYS Supreme Court Justice. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in corporate communications from James Madison University in 2005, and graduated with a Regents Honors Diploma from Westhampton Beach High School in 2001. She is currently the office manager for Hamptons Baby Gear and has been there since 2012. She also has owned Social Circle Consulting, a social media marketing and web design business, since 2011.

Check out Patch's full Q&A with Megan Heckman below.

Patch: The single most pressing issue facing our community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Megan Heckman: Water quality. I intend to work closely with the community to educate about measures we can all take to improve water quality. I also think working with local advocacy groups and supporting their efforts to aid in this is important.

P: What are the critical differences between you and the other candidate seeking this post?

H: I am acutely aware of the uniqueness of the Dongan Patent and its fragility in our modern government. Southampton Town established this governing body in 1686 and it has been tested extensively in recent years. We must remain committed to the mission of protecting our shorelines, preserving our waterways, and promoting beach access. I take it a step further in understanding the importance of preserving the Board of Trustees so future generations, including my two young children, can enjoy the wonderful maritime lifetime we have all been blessed to enjoy.

P: If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community

H: I think the failure to establish a tax line for the trustees was a critical mistake with the current board.

P: Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

H: I am focused on preserving our waterways, promoting beach access, and protecting our shorelines.

P: What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

H: I have proven to be a successful business leader, a strong team player, and a fiscal Conservative. I understand the needs and wants of the residents of Southampton Town, which include the need to be heard. Most recently, I served on the Board of Directors for East End Women's Network.

P: The best advice ever shared with me was ...

H: That's a tough one, I've been fortunate to receive a lot of great advice over the years. For this campaign it has been "Be Yourself." I am focused on the job ahead and committed to being myself and serving with integrity.

P: What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

H: If elected I will serve with honesty and integrity. I have made some wonderful friends in the process of getting to Election Day and hope to hit the ground running. My family and I love spending the day at the beach and on our boat and I know the Board of Trustees are working diligently to protect our waterways so I'm looking forward to joining them. The greatest reward for me is knowing I have helped someone and that extends to all of the freeholders in this beautiful place we call home.