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Politics & Government

Candidate Profile: Russell Reflects on Past and Looks to the Future

Scott Russell never thought he would be supervisor of Southold Town, but after serving for the last six years, he still finds working for his community rewarding.

If you told Scott Russell when he was growing up that he would someday be supervisor of Southold Town, he would have thought you were crazy. But for the last six years Russell has served in the

Russell has spent his life being involved in all aspects of community. Growing up in the , he was involved in everything from varsity sports, to school plays and variety shows. His community involvement continued as an adult when he became an assessor and served as a trustee at the and in the Kiwanis Club.

Facing re-election in November, Russell said he could be at a meeting every day but he did not want his two young children to "get the short end of the stick." Earlier this year,, and said he is now much more disciplined in making time for his family. When he’s not at Town Hall, he’s busy taking his children to dance lessons, soccer games, lacrosse and Cub Scouts.

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The walls of his office are covered with landscapes by local artists and often reflect days gone by. He said his love of art dovetails nicely with his love of history and said he has run out of wall space for his collection.

Russell said, in a way, the town is very much the same as when he grew up. It’s still a small town and, he said, you know everyone when you go out shopping. The town still has a strong agricultural community, although, he said, that component has changed in recent years.

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“Our community is still engaged. We can have a spaghetti dinner to help a kid and everybody shows up,” he said.

Most of the people he went to school with have left the town and he said he was sure they would still be here if they could. He said the and the community has become a retirement destination.

As supervisor, he said he is , working with Suffolk County and the state to bring in tenants to the bank building in Mattituck. The town is also working on making fundamental changes to zoning, which Russell said should match  new needs and uses to spur employment opportunities. The Master Plan, which was passed in 1989, reflects ideas from the 1970s and 1980s and Russell said the town is taking time to .

“We’ve been working on the Master Plan for two and a half years in-house. We did not use outside consultants because we cannot afford to parcel it out and the community can take charge of our own fate,” he said.

Working as an assessor for 15 years gave him insight into the community and intimate knowledge of the town that helps him to this day. He said he's developed a thick skin, patience, and understands how important it is to listen to the community.

“People know they can approach me wherever I am, and I think they feel comfortable doing so,” he said.

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