Runners Set to Sprint to the Finish

Nominees of the East Hampton Independence Party met voters at John’s Drive-In in Montauk on Sept. 7. From left were Marilyn Behan and Bill Mott, who are running for town board, East Hampton Town Justice Lisa R. Rana, and Steve Lynch, who hopes to become East Hampton Town highway superintendent.

Janis Hewitt

Sep. 15, 2011

Catherine Tandy

With the autumnal wind comes the season of politics, and the weeks ahead will be filled with know-your-candidates fund-raising parties. Beginning on Saturday, opportunities abound for Republicans, Democrats, the uncommitted, and the undecided to meet and mingle with the movers and shakers of the community.

Gloria Prager will host a cocktail party for Democratic candidates and their supporters from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, at her house in Montauk, 5 North Farragut Road. The entire Democratic slate is expected to attend: Zach Cohen, who is running for East Hampton Town Supervisor, Sylvia Overby and Peter Van Scoyoc for the town board, Scott King for highway superintendent, Stephen Grossman for town justice, and Jeanne Nielsen for town assessor. Running for town trustee on the Democratic ticket are John Chimples, Sima Freierman, Ray Hartjen, Rona Klopman, Debbie Klughers, Samuel E. Kramer, Nanci LaGarenne, Steve Lester, and Loretta Sears.

Tickets, which will be available at the door, are $100.

The Republicans are holding a party in support of Stephen K. Lynch, who is running against Mr. King for highway superintendent, on Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Wolfie’s Tavern on Fort Pond Boulevard in Springs. Mr. Lynch is an East Hampton native, who, according to a G.O.P. release, has 28 years of experience in excavating, draining, and building driveways and parking lots, in addition to having owned his own trucking company. Tickets are $45.

Friends of Richard Haeg, a Republican running for the town board, will throw a cocktail party for him next Thursday evening from 6 to 8 at Rugosa restaurant on Route 27 west of East Hampton. Mr. Haeg is a Marine Corps veteran and a former Suffolk County police officer and detective.

Hot and cold hors d’oeuvres will be served, with complimentary beer and wine and a cash bar. Tickets cost $75 in advance or $100 at the door.

The next night, Friday, Sept. 23, will see all the Republican candidates gathering from 6 to 8 for a reception at Betty Ann Becker’s house, 25 Dune Alpin South in East Hampton. From the top down, they are Bill Wilkinson, running for a second term as supervisor; Richard Haeg and Steven Gaines for town board, Mr. Lynch for highways, Lisa Rana for another term as town justice, and Jill Massa for another term as town assessor. The trustee candidates include Diane McNally, Stephanie Talmage Forsberg, Timothy Bock, Joe Bloecker, John Gosman Jr., Lynn Mendelman, Kevin Byrne, Sean McCaffrey, and Nathaniel Miller.

No contribution is necessary.