Meet The Candidate: Sara Topping For Southampton Town Trustee

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Suffolk County residents are 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 (both are running unopposed) — and choose their local town elected officials.

On the South Fork, 10 candidates are running for five Southampton Town Trustee seats. Sara Topping, on the Democratic and Working Families line, is running against Matthew Parsons, a Democrat, Hannah Pell-O'Farrell, Democratic, Conservative, Joseph Mc Loughlin, Democratic, Jimmy Mack, Democratic, Working Families, John Carson, Republican, Conservative, Scott M Horowitz, Republican, Conservative, Chip Maran, Republican,Bill Parash Republican, Conservative, and Ed Warner Jr., Republican, Conservative.

Name

Sara Topping

How old will you be as of Election Day?

43

Does your campaign have a website?

Southampton Dems

What city or town do you live in?

Southampton

What office are you seeking?

I am seeking one of the Southampton Town Trustee seats

Party affiliation

Democratic and Working Families

Education

East Hampton High School (2000), the George Washington University (2004) major in psychology and minor in neuropsychology and women’s studies, Finger Lakes School of Massage 2007

What is your occupation?

I own a small olive oil business with my sister and have been a massage therapist for 18 years. I have been in hospitality and health and wellness for close to 20 years. I am also a mom.

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

I was born and raised on the East End, growing up in East Hampton and moving to Southampton after I met and married my husband Pete Topping, who is a local from Southampton. We have three sons who are 12th generation Toppings, twins who are almost 11 and an 8 year old, who we are raising in Pete’s grandparents old house in North Sea.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

No, this is my first run for office and I have never been appointed to any office or board.

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

The reason I am running for office is because of my deep love and commitment to my community. I have been an advocate for the east end for the majority of my adult life, whether it was riding my bike from New York City to DC to raise awareness for coastal issues that come from climate change with Climate Ride or co-founding a non-profit that focused on maternal and infant health on the East End. I want to run for office because I think of myself as a public servant and politics is the highest form of public service. I want to represent my community and lead with love and respect.

What needs to be done to address water quality issues on LI?

The water quality issue is multifaceted and it will take a multifaceted approach. Things that come to mind include; creating a systemic stormwater runoff infrastructure, supporting septic system upgrades and working on education and community outreach.

What do you think can be done to help improve our infrastructure, highways, etc.?

Infrastructure with regard to the trustee position is collaborative. The most important part is creating and maintaining the proper relationships with other stakeholders in decision making when it comes to coastal issues, like the town board, the DEC, the village and other regulatory agencies.

How are federal issues impacting local government?

The EPA is currently being gutted by the administration and it is more important than ever to work hard at the local level to protect the health of our water for our community, our economy and our future generations.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidate seeking this post?

The first difference is that I am a woman. The second is that I have experience advocating in front of government officials and representing, presenting and creating collaborative solutions for improving quality of life for our local community.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

The trustees have recently been given their own tax line and I feel like this is an incredibly unique opportunity to create a campaign that would support education and outreach to the local schools to discuss what it is the Trustees do and how it impacts our town. Education begets ownership which in turn supports stewardship of our local environment.

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

The work that I have done with Maternal Infant and Child Health on the East End has prepared me the most to work in a collaborative atmosphere and to do what is best for our community, our waterways and our coastlines.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am running for Southampton Town Trustee to ensure that the East End remains a healthy, thriving place for future generations. I am guided by values of care, dedication, community, and environmental stewardship, and I believe the trustees’ work is essential to protecting both our people and our waters.