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Sag Harbor mayor refuses to step down amid calls from board members to resign

Mayor Tom Gardella first came under fire in March when he made a controversial comment from his personal Instagram account on a post of a Texas woman, Rebecca Chavez, and her wife dancing to a song.

Tara Rincon

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Apr 15, 2026, 5:14 AM

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The Sag Harbor Village Board is asking Mayor Tom Gardella to step down after an investigation into his social media activity found more concerning comments.

As News 12 has reported, Gardella came under fire last month when he made a comment from his personal Instagram account on a post of a Texas woman, Rebecca Chavez, and her wife dancing to a song.

“What’s that thing in the background? A guy a girl? Some creature?,” the Mayor wrote.

The further investigation by the board cites other activity from Gardella’s social media reported by residents, including a time when he said, “Homeless? Sag Harbor? Are you serious?? You need to see a psychiatrist,” under a post about DOGE cuts.

The Mayor publicly apologized at a village meeting after the incident in early March.

In a statement to News 12, Gardella says he has no intention of resigning.

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