Foster, Flight Big Winners in East Hampton and Montauk Elections

Results from school budget votes and board elections have begun rolling in, with voters approving budgets in East Hampton, Montauk, and Wainscott so far. 

East Hampton

The East Hampton School District's $66.72 million budget proposal, which school officials say kept expenses mostly level and stayed at the tax cap, was approved on Tuesday by a vote of 440 to 86. Turnout was 526, higher than last year's 513 votes. For the three open seats on the East Hampton School Board, the incumbents James Foster, Wendy Geehreng, and Richard C. Wilson emerged the winners. Mr. Foster received 416 votes, Ms. Geehreng 397 votes, and Mr. Wilson took in 362 votes, while Alison Anderson received just 224.

Montauk

In Montauk, where school officials had proposed an $18.98 million budget that showed a slight tax levy decrease from the current year's figure, voters approved the budget by a tally of 184 to 34. Patti Leber, an incumbent school board candidate, was re-elected after running unopposed to retain her seat, but in the contested race for the seat that will become available in July after Jason Biondo's resignation becomes effective, Tom Flight defeated Cynthia Ibrahim, 163 to 53.

Springs

Over in Springs, a $27.63 million budget proposal passed 314 to 127. Also approved, 289 to 147, was a separate proposition to enter a three-year financing agreement for the purchase of a 66-passenger school bus for about $121,000. In the contested school board race, for which there were three candidates and two available seats, David Conlon and Amy Rivera emerged the winners, knocking Adam Wilson out of office, with 335 and 333 votes respectively. Mr. Wilson took in 131 votes. 

Wainscott

Wainscott, one of three districts to work out a slight tax levy decrease in its proposed budget, easily won approval for its 2016-17 school budget of just over $3 million. Forty-nine people voted in favor and not a single vote was cast against the budget. Its two propositions, a tuition contract with Sag Harbor Elementary and another with Pierson Middle-High School, which would give Wainscott families the choice of attending Sag Harbor or East Hampton schools after finishing the third grade at Wainscott, passed with 48 votes and 49 votes, respectively. This is the district's fifth consecutive budget in which spending decreased and the fourth in which the tax levy dropped. William Babinski Jr., the lone candidate for one seat on the school board, was re-elected with 49 votes.

Sagaponack

Sagaponack voters passed the school's $1.77 million budget proposal, with 16 votes. No one voted against it. It looks as though a new playground is on the way at the Sagaponack School, as the budget includes $37,000 for new playground equipment to supplement community donations received for that purpose. Cathy Hatgistavrou, the only candidate running for one seat on the school board, was re-elected with all 16 votes.

For information on Amagansett's results, click here. Bridgehampton's results can be found by clicking here.