The opposition is correct that the Democratic Party’s hold on the East Hampton Town Board can lead to a shortfall in critical thinking. The question is whether the challengers are up to the job of mixing things up.
Bonnie Brady, running as a Conservative, Libertarian, and Independence candidate, is smart, and during the campaign had the humility to admit to what she does not know. However, the gaps are too wide. The town would be better served if she found a place on one of the appointed boards before seeking to move up to councilwoman.
Betsy Bambrick, who has the same ballot slots as Ms. Brady, presents almost the opposite picture. She was a town government insider for 30 years until her resignation as the head of ordinance enforcement in 2017; that year, she received the lowest performance evaluation score among all department heads. After leaving, she filed a claim with the state’s Human Rights Division alleging retaliation and age and sex discrimination, observing, among other things, that town officials, including then-councilman Peter Van Scoyoc, ignored her complaints. The matter remains unresolved. Ms. Bambrick would certainly shake up things on the board, but until her case is over she would be too much of a disruption.
Given these concerns, the incumbents, Sylvia Overby and David Lys, receive our endorsements.