Primaries Seem Likely

The stage may have been set last week for primary bids for East Hampton Town Board nominations in advance of the November election.

The East Hampton Democratic Committee formally nominated its candidates for townwide offices on May 17. On Friday, the East Hampton Independence Party endorsed three Democrats in the races for town supervisor and town board, passing over Jerry Larsen, an Independence Party member who is running for town board on the Republican ticket, and his G.O.P. running mates.

The Independence Party will back Peter Van Scoyoc, a councilman who is running for supervisor, and the town board candidates, Kathee Burke-Gonzalez, an incumbent councilwoman, and Jeffrey Bragman, an attorney who has represented the town’s architectural review board, zoning board of appeals, and planning board, as well as applicants before various planning and zoning boards.

Mr. Larsen is expected to try to force a primary for the nomination. Zachary Cohen, a Democrat who has vowed to do the same for his party’s nomination, was among the candidates interviewed by the Independence Party, but did not win its support.

“It was a very difficult decision,” Elaine Jones, the Independence Party chairwoman, said yesterday of the endorsements for town board. “It was a matter of one vote. The majority of the committee wanted to vote for Kathee” over Mr. Larsen, she said. But until the nominating petitions are sent to Frank McKay, the party’s state chairman, “we can change our mind.”

Manny Vilar, the Republican Party’s candidate for supervisor, was interviewed but did not get her party’s endorsement, nor did Paul Giardina, a Republican candidate for town board who was also interviewed.

Candidates seeking to force a primary election must file a petition with the requisite number of signatures from people registered with that party, according to the Suffolk County Board of Elections. For a Democratic Party primary in East Hampton Town, a minimum of 353 signatures is required; for an Independence Party primary, the minimum number is 55. Candidates can begin collecting signatures on June 6. Petitions are due between July 10 and 13. The primary elections are on Sept. 12 this year.

For the nine seats on the East Hampton Town Trustees, the Independence Party chose five Republicans and four Democrats. On the Republican side are Diane McNally, an incumbent and the trustees’ former longtime clerk; Joe Bloecker, a former trustee; and Susan Vorpahl, Lyndsey Hayes, and Gary Cobb, all making their first bid. Jim Grimes, an incumbent who was interviewed, did not receive the party’s backing.

The Independence Party endorsed Rick Drew and Bill Taylor, both Democratic incumbents and the trustees’ two deputy clerks, as well as John Aldred, a new candidate, and Rona Klopman. Ms. Klopman is a former candidate and was added to the Democratic ticket after Tyler Armstrong, a first-term trustee, announced this month that he would not seek re-election.

The Independence Party endorsed Eugene DePasquale, the incumbent assessor and a Democrat; East Hampton Town Justice Steven Tekulsky, a Democrat; Steven Lynch, the incumbent highway superintendent and a Republican, and Carole Brennan, the incumbent town clerk, who is not affiliated with a party.

“It was a difficult decision to choose from the many qualified candidates that screened,” Ms. Jones and Pat Mansir, the Independence Party vice chairwoman, wrote in a statement, “but we believe that we chose those who would work to keep East Hampton the beautiful town that it is.”

The Democrats unanimously nominated Councilman Peter Van Scoyoc for supervisor and Kathee Burke-Gonzalez and Jeffrey Bragman for town board. Ms. Burke-Gonzalez is an incumbent seeking a second term. Mr. Bragman, an attorney, is a first-time candidate.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Van Scoyoc, the deputy supervisor who is serving his second four-year term on the town board, discussed the need to work together in the upcoming campaign and the contrast with the local Republican candidates, according to a statement issued by the party this week. Before being elected as a councilman, he served six years on the town’s planning board and five on its zoning board of appeals.

“My vision for the future of East Hampton is one that is forever vigilant in protecting our water quality and natural resources, a future that respects our history, traditions, and diversity, a future that sustains us and provides greater opportunities for our citizens,” he said.

Ms. Burke-Gonzalez discussed the demands of working on the town board. “I love our community,” she said. “East Hampton is an extraordinary place to live, work, and raise a family. And I, like all of you, want to see it preserved and protected.” She also spoke of diversity as strength, something that creates acceptance and compassion.

Mr. Bragman spoke about living and working as a lawyer in East Hampton for 30 years, and raising his son here. East Hampton, he said, “is not a reality TV show, a brand name, or the Hamptons.”

For town trustee, the Democrats endorsed Francis Bock, Mr. Drew, Mr. Taylor, and Brian Byrnes, all incumbents. Ms. Klopman, Mr. Aldred, Dell Cullum, Susan McGraw Keber, and Francesca Rheannon round out the slate of trustee candidates.

The Democrats also endorsed Justice Steven Tekulsky, Mr. DePasquale for assessor, Ms. Brennan for town clerk, and Mr. Lynch for highway superintendent.

The Democrats will launch their campaign with a party on June 11 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Harbor Bistro in East Hampton. Election Day is Nov. 7.