Town to Hold Special Election to Replace Bradley Bender

(SOUTHAMPTON, NY) - Southampton Town officials have scheduled a special election to replace councilman Bradley Bender, who recently resigned following his arrest on drug charges.

The election has been scheduled for Jan. 26.

Julie Lofstad, who came in third in the Town Board elections last month, was recently nominated by the Democratic Party to run in the upcoming election.

The Republican Party has not yet announced their nomination, but Damon Hagan and Richard Yastrzemski could possibly run in the race.

Bender, who was elected to the town board in 2013, resigned on Nov. 24 after pleading guilty to illegally distributing oxycodone.

He allegedly obtained the painkillers from Michael Troyan, the Riverhead physician assistant charged earlier this month with conspiring to illegally distribute oxycodone.

Bender, 52, of Northampton then allegedly sold the oxycodone in exchange for steroids and cash.

He claimed that while he sold the pills knowing it was wrong, he thought it was just for the one man’s personal use and did not know that the oxycodone was being resold to drug addicts.

He reached a plead deal with prosecutors that involved Bender resigning from the Town Board, paying a $100,000 bond, turning over his passport, and participating in a treatment program for three months.

If he has completed all of the conditions, his sentence will be reduced to less than 36 months and his fine will not be more than $5,000.