Meet The Candidates: Will Peckham For Town Trustee

SOUTHAMPTON, 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.

Will Peckham is running on the Democratic and Working Families lines for one of five open Southampton Town Trustee seats. He is running with fellow Democratic and Working Families candidates Bill Pell, Ann Welker, Andrew Brosnan and Martha Reichert, Jr. Running on the Republican and Conservative lines for the seats are Scott Horowitz, Edward Warner, Jr., William Parash and Robert Savage.

Following is Patch's full Q&A with Will Peckham:

<b> Name <b>

Will Peckham

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

29

<b>Position Sought</b>

Town Trustee

<b>Party Affiliation</b>

Democrat

<b>Family</b>

Father, Bob is a boat salesman in Rhode Island. Mother, Kim is an educator in California and brother, Robin lives and works abroad.

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

No

<b>Education</b>

Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Summa Cum Laude from Middlebury College (VT) 2014

<b>Occupation</b>

Oyster farmer and owner of West Robins. I started the company in 2016 when I moved to Southampton.

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

No prior political office held.

<b>Campaign website</b>

https://www.yourtownyourfuture...

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

I am running for town trustee because I strongly believe in local stewardship of our town's most precious resource — our marine environment. As a shellfish farmer, my livelihood depends on clean water, now and for future generations. It's a nonpartisan issue that takes a lot of hard work and good science to protect and preserve — on and off the water. I'm also excited to inspire the next generation on the East End to get outside and enjoy the bays, beaches and marshes our town has to offer. We can only protect what we love!

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

Protecting the freeholders' access to a clean and healthy marine environment. I would protect and preserve recreational and commercial access to our beaches and bays by standing up to challenges from those that want to take away our rights, and focusing on continuing to improve water quality and shellfish populations.

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

I am one of the few trustee candidates who makes a living, day-in and day-out on the water. I spend over 250 days per year on our bays, and it takes "boots on the ground" institutional knowledge to get the policy right. Also, I'm younger, and that's important because we have a dire need to inspire the next generation to become good stewards.

<b>Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.</b>

Clean water, public access, long-term planning for coastal resiliency, shellfish populations, financial sustainability

<b>What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?</b>

I grew up on a boat, studied economics in college and worked in finance, which all led me to believe that protecting the environment provides the best return to the public. I moved to Southampton to start my own shellfish farm at 24 years old and have grown it for five years because I'm passionate about it. I can relate to folks on both sides of the political aisle — a good example is my work with the national bipartisan group, the Shellfish Growers Climate Coalition.

<b>What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?</b>

I will work tirelessly in a non-partisan way with bay people, landowners, and scientists to make sure we're making decisions that benefit all the Freeholders, not just those with the loudest voice.