The East Hampton Town Democratic Party faced a significant primary in June, proving that intraparty differences of opinion were alive and well even though Democrats fill nearly all the town’s elected positions. It also marked a turning point for me.
The Star’s late editor, Everett T. Rattray, and I believed that because newspapers editorially spoke for us it would be counterproductive to be registered members of any political party. Of course, over the years, readers have said The Star espoused liberal and, often, Democratic policies. I am afraid that couldn’t be avoided, but I felt bad about being unable to vote in party primaries, especially in national election years.
Given that Democrats have a stronghold now in East Hampton Town, it is obvious that anyone who wants a voice in nominating those who run for election would have to be a member of the Democratic Party and vote in its primaries. So too at the state level.
And this time, with all nine East Hampton Town Trustees up for election at the same time, it was significant that there were challengers.
The Democratic Committee endorsed five incumbents, Francis Bock, Rick Drew, Bill Taylor, John Aldred, and Susan McGraw Keber — and three Democratic newcomers, Mike Martinsen, Tim Garneau, and Ben Dollinger, along with Jim Grimes, a Republican trustee.
In addition, proving that one-party rule can be lively and even contentious, a splinter group calling itself Reform Democrats mustered three challengers: Dell Cullum, an incumbent, Stephen Lester, a former trustee, and Rona Klopman, a political activist and a former member of the town Democratic Committee.
The “mainstream” Democratic candidates all won and will stand in the general election.
It was too late for me to vote in the town primary, but it’s not too late for me to cast a meaningful ballot next year.
Donald Trump is campaigning for re-election, and the 20 or so would-be Democratic candidates for president are busy trying to get to the top of the list. It’s time for me to register as a bona fide member of a political party, and it is obvious which party it will be. There’s no point in being a bystander anymore.