We Mark Our Ballot: Westhampton Beach

Westhampton Beach

The departure of Bryan Tymann from the Westhampton Beach Village Board leaves a large pair of boots to fill.

After 10 years on the board, Tymann decided this year not to seek reelection for another term. He has declared that his mission was accomplished, noting that he fulfilled all the promises he made as a candidate when he ran for the first time a decade ago.

And the proof has been in the pudding: Tymann, along with his constant running mate, Rob Rubio, as well as the other various members of the board, along with mayors Maria Moore and Ralph Urban, have accomplished a literal transformation of the village. A new sewer project and an overall revitalization of the Main Street business district have created a new, vibrant village, putting Westhampton Beach back on the map.

Rubio says he believes there’s still more to do in the village and is eager to continue the work the pair signed on for.

The second phase of the sewer project is ready to get underway, there’s more to do on Main Street to transform empty storefronts, and the board is ready to turn its attention to the Village Marina on Library Avenue, which Rubio and other board members expect will get it’s own face-lift. Rubio expects that a revitalized marina will draw more people into the village, and ultimately to the Main Street business district. It will be an exciting next step for the board.

Rubio and Tymann, while always working well together with their colleagues on the board, formed a cohesive pro-business voice on the board. On Friday, Rubio and his running mate, Chris Rizzo, hope to carry that voice into the future, seeking two-year terms on the board.

Their opponents, Kim Woldersdorf and Nancy St. John, are running a platform of more transparent government and have said they seek to change the board’s direction on certain issues, claiming that some residents they have spoken to have been dissatisfied with the current board. However, they lacked specifics when asked what needed to be corrected.

Both are serious candidates who share a passion for the village and an interest in guaranteeing an open, good government. They should be encouraged to follow that passion, perhaps on one of the village’s appointed boards. An idea to create social media pages to help inform residents of the government goings-on is also intriguing.

There is no compelling reason to deny Rob Rubio another term on the board, and residents may rest assured that he and Chris Rizzo will continue the work Rubio and Tymann began a decade ago. Along with the rest of the board, the village will be in good hands with the pair.