Seven Want Two More Years
Seven of the nine East Hampton Town Trustees are seeking re-election for new two-year terms.
The trustees, the original governing body of the town, oversee most of East Hampton’s beaches, waterways, and bottomlands on behalf of the public. They review applications for bulkheads, revetments, dredging, and dock repairs, oversee boat moorings on waterways they manage, and issue permits for duck blinds and fish traps.
Last week The Star profiled the 11 non-incumbents running for the board. This week, attention turns to the incumbents, who include the Republicans Diane McNally, Tim Bock, Sean McCaffrey, and Nat Miller, and the Democrats Deborah Klughers, Brian Byrnes, and Bill Taylor.
Ms. McNally, the longest serving incumbent, has held her post since 1990 and has been the trustees’ clerk, or presiding officer, since 1991. That is now a paid, full-time position. Before being elected, she served for six years as the trustees’ secretary.
Her knowledge of trustee matters makes her a mentor to newer board members. The East Hampton Town Republican Committee says in campaign literature that “the continued ability of all residents to access and enjoy the resources and public lands of East Hampton are due to her diligence on their behalf.”
Mr. Bock, a trustee for 10 years, is the son of a bayman, and he grew up hunting and fishing here. A former assistant clerk of the trustees, he has expressed concern in the past about the negative effects of revetments on the beaches here.
Mr. McCaffrey came to the board four years ago but was no stranger to the role of the trustees. His father, the late Jim McCaffrey, was a longtime member of the board, and his mother, Nancy McCaffrey, was an East Hampton Town councilwoman. He is a lifelong resident of East Hampton and works in a family landscaping business. He is seeking his third term on the board.
A commercial fisherman, Mr. Miller brings that knowledge to bear to his efforts as a trustee. Campaign literature credits his “insights and advice regarding the current difficulties faced by” commercial fishermen as helping the board “re-evaluate and update procedures.”
He has been outspoken about poaching and the lack of adequate enforcement of shellfishing regulations, especially with regard to scallops. He has served two terms on the board.
Ms. Klughers has a master’s degree in marine conservation and policy from Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and a bachelor’s in environmental studies. A trustee for two terms, she has been involved in fisheries rehabilitation, eelgrass and dune restoration, and has pushed for a pilot scallop shell recycling effort.
Ms. Klughers is also chairwoman of the East Hampton Town recycling and litter committee, and she produces a public access TV show called “Keepin’ It Green.” She is a beekeeper who runs Bonac Bees.
In addition to serving as a town trustee for the past two years, Mr. Byrnes is a member of East Hampton Town’s disabilities advisory board and a volunteer with the Amagansett Fire Department and the East Hampton Food Pantry. He works as a foreman and superintendent of the Windmill I and II and St. Michael’s affordable senior citizens apartment complexes.
Mr. Taylor, a waterways management supervisor for East Hampton Town and a harbormaster before that, is seeking his second term on the panel. Working for the town, Mr. Taylor was involved in the creation of East Hampton’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program and in pushing successfully to have local waters designated no-discharge zones.
He has been involved in local politics for many years and was at one time chairman of the East Hampton Town Democratic Committee.
These seven will vie for a spot with 11 non-incumbents. Two of them, Joe Bloecker, a Republican candidate, and Francis Bock, a Democrat, have served on the board in the past. Pat Mansir, who is running on the Democratic line, is a past East Hampton Town councilwoman. Zachary Cohen, another Democratic candidate, has run for both town supervisor and the town board in the past, and Rona Klopman, also a Democrat, has run before for trustee.
Six of the candidates running for elected office for the first time are Tyler Armstrong and Rick Drew for the Democrats and Joshua Davidson, Mike Havens, Jim Grimes, and Steven Lynch Jr. for the Republicans.
The top nine vote-getters will win seats on the board.