Laura Weir, Patch Staff

<b>Email:   laura.weir&#64;Patch.com<br></b><b>Phone:  (631) 560-4903<br></b><b>Hometown:  Wainscott, NY<br></b><b>Birthday:  June 7</b>

<b>Bio</b>: I began my career in radio as a newscaster and airborne traffic reporter for several New York radio stations.  While working in radio, I moonlighted as a television news writer and then moved on to print journalism.  As an editor and reporter for several community newspapers, I received a handful of Press Association awards for writing and political coverage.  My media experience then landed me a job as a spokesperson for the Suffolk County Police Department, where I worked with journalists at print, radio and television media outlets in the New York Metropolitan area.

In the winter of 2009, I launched my own local magazine called <i>Hamptons Journal.  </i>This summer, I introduced the literary journal supplement called <i>Pen Dance.</i>  

I have a bachelor&#39;s degree, <i>magna cum laude</i>, from Stony Brook University, where I majored in philosophy.

<b>Your Beliefs</b><br> <i>At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.<br></i> <br> <b>Politics </b>

In journalism as in life, I believe that it is important to listen to all points of view.  If you don&#39;t know what other people are thinking and feeling, you don&#39;t really know what&#39;s going on around you.

As a reporter and editor, I have been told many times that my work gives no insight into to my political perspective.  That is the biggest compliment a journalist can receive.  However, I acknowledge that journalists are human and can have a variety of strong opinions.  We must work hard toward even-handed and respectful coverage in our pursuit of the truth. <br> <br> <b>Religion</b>

I am Catholic. <br> <b><br> Local Hot-Button Issues</b>

Some of the important issues in Hampton Bays are development density, land preservation, the fishing industry and the Hamlet study.

I am pleased that our representatives in the U.S. House and Senate are advocating fairness in fluke catch rules for New York State and Long Island. Hampton Bays has a large fishing community at Shinnecock and easing catch size restrictions on fluke and porgies to create parity with other states would have a positive impact on the livelihoods of many in our area. 

As far as land preservation is concerned, I believe in protecting open space while providing appropriate housing opportunities for our young, working families.  All regions of Long Island are becoming more and more cost prohibitive for young people.  Educated and skilled workers are leaving in large numbers and the trend is not economically sustainable for Long Island.  Something must be done to stop the &#34;brain drain&#34; and the exodus of skilled labor in order for our local industry to survive.