Independence Party Primary

Democratic and Independence Party candidates for East Hampton Town trustee — Zachary Cohen, Rick Drew, and Tyler Armstrong — grilled up hamburgers and veggie burgers with help from Susan and Carly Drew during a beach party at Atlantic Avenue in Amagansett Sunday.

Morgan McGivern

Three candidates are vying for the party’s endorsement for the two seats

Sep. 3, 2015

Christopher Walsh

Next Thursday is Primary Day, and Independence Party voters here will see a contest for the two town board seats up for re-election in November. Three candidates are vying for the party’s endorsement for the two seats.

Councilwoman Sylvia Overby and Councilman Peter Van Scoyoc, incumbent Democrats who are seeking re-election, received the Independence Party’s backing this spring following the party’s two-day screening.

The third candidate, Lisa Mulhern-Larsen, was chosen to run on the Republican Party ticket after two others withdrew their names citing previous commitments. Ms. Mulhern-Larsen, a registered Independence Party member, forced the Independence Party primary, having produced a petition with the required 54 signatures. She said this week that she had gotten over 90 signatures.

In a letter in the Aug. 20 issue of The Star, Ms. Mulhern-Larsen wrote that “I am running in a primary in September to get the endorsement of my party. The local Independence Party had made its endorsement prior to my nomination in June. If you are an Independence Party member, please come out and vote for me on Thursday, Sept. 10.”

Elaine Jones, chairwoman of the East Hampton Independence Party, said that while Ms. Mulhern-Larsen had the right to challenge its chosen candidates, its endorsements stand. “She’s on the ballot, and there will be a primary,” Ms. Jones said Tuesday. “But just because she’s a member of the Independence Party doesn’t mean we select her. We have sent letters out supporting Sylvia Overby and Peter Van Scoyoc. They both have experience, and they both came to be screened.”

Frank MacKay, chairman of the state Independence Party, signed a certificate of authorization, per state law, allowing Ms. Overby and Mr. Van Scoyoc to run on the Independence Party line, Ms. Jones said. “We do not know her qualifications,” she said of Ms. Mulhern-Larsen, a political newcomer who runs a security and property management business in East Hampton. “We cannot take candidates on faith who are untested and have no record of public service.”