(I am reposting this because I believe Mr. Wilkinson did a phenomenal Job against all odds.)
Thinking back to school days, in retrospect the best teachers always seemed to be the strictest, most intolerant demanding ones. I was not a supporter of Supervisor Bill Wilkinson and thought he was brash with his new sheriff in town approach to governing. However look at his results. When he took office the town was in massive disarray. Attacks by hacks in a local paper had confidence in the town at an all time low. The town had been mismanaged and the national economic meltdown made things worse. Bill Wilkinson won the 2009 election easily and from day one changed the culture at East Hampton Town Hall. He pushed out many popular locals paying a political price. You might say he invented "Sequester" Lol, but the truth is, he arrested the towns runaway debt problem, restructured Town Government to make it financially accountable and viable. His second term re-election was text book how not to run for re-election, yet he did win. Now he is being tossed aside like an old car with plenty of miles still in it. I was only mildly surprised when the East Hampton Republican Party snubbed him and went begging to the " blast from the past," Jay Schneiderman to run for EH Supervisor. Jay turned them down with many saying that Jay Schneiderman showed a lot of political savvy. So what I am saying is this: No town on the East End was run better than East Hampton these last four years. No town faced more obstacles, had to make more no-win decisions, or had to make as many unpopular choices than East Hampton. Supervisor Bill Wilkinson took all the hits, some that had to hurt, but he stayed stubborn to what he thought was best for the town long term. No doubt he never went to charm school or anything like that, but the town of East Hampton was very lucky this son of a gun came along when he did, did what he did, and never wavered to do the popular but wrong things. So I say this, Bill, I was wrong about you in 2009, I underestimated your skills at attacking problems and changing a culture that was sinking the town government of East Hampton. Thank you for proving to me, leadership can make a difference. Thank you for showing it.
