By Melissa Lynch

 While the nation may be turning its attention to the presidential races, Southampton Town is having its own highly anticipated race for a judicial seat in the Southampton Town Justice Court. Andrea Schiavoni has already been endorsed by four third-parties – Working Families, Conservative, Independence, and most recently Integrity – but incumbent Justice Thomas DeMayo is forcing three primary battles in hopes of gaining party lines despite the endorsements.

DeMayo, a Westhampton resident, is the Republican candidate and Schiavoni, who hails from Sag Harbor and now lives in North Haven, is running on the Democratic ticket. The primaries — to be held on Tuesday, September 9 — will be for the Working Families, Independence and Conservative Parties.

It was announced earlier this week that the Integrity Party would be endorsing Schiavoni. DeMayo says he was never screened by this party and is not expected to challenge this decision. 

“I have always considered myself a Conservative Republican – this is nothing new,” DeMayo said. “I’ve been endorsed before by the Conservative and Independence Parties, and last election I even had the Democratic vote.”

In June, DeMayo submitted petitions for each of the three parties to force a primary, gathering the signatures of five percent of registered voters in each party.

He says that the reason he wanted to push for a primary is because members of the Conservative Party contacted him about the nomination of Schiavoni as the candidate of choice.

“Some have approached me and said they are not thrilled with the decision,” DeMayo said.

Regardless of already having received the endorsements, the prospect of a primary is one that Schiavoni embraces rather than shuns.

“It’s a right that he has and it gives people the opportunity to make their own choice,” she said.

Last November, Schiavoni lost a bid for town justice to Edward Burke, Sr., by 1,122 votes, receiving the most Democratic votes in that election. Regardless of the loss, Schiavoni remains optimistic and assured she is the right candidate for the seat this time around.

“There are a couple areas where Southampton Town can benefit from my experience [working on cases] in domestic crimes, drug use and the increasing numbers of this kind of activity within our town,” Schiavoni said. Her experience includes working as an attorney and mediator and she considers her work in urban Miami giving her an edge over DeMayo. Schiavoni believes that the town is beginning to see the higher crime rates and increasing drug use similar to urban communities.

Schiavoni says she holds a neutral position where she does not have any past law clients where conflicts of interest could force her to make a biased ruling.

Schiavoni is a resident of Sag Harbor and permanently moved to North Haven in 2001. Schiavoni’s professional experience includes working as an attorney and mediator.

On the contrary, DeMayo says he should keep his seat as Justice for Southampton Town because he is more familiar in the position and in the town. DeMayo has been serving as town justice for 16 years, and, if elected, this will be his fifth four year term.

“I have lived in Southampton Town my whole life, 55 years,” he said. “I also have my law office in Hampton Bays where I have been practicing law since 1978. I started my career working as a prosecutor for the district attorney’s office and I have worn all three hats; defense attorney, prosecutor and judge.”