Tie in Bridgehampton Fire District Vote

A tie in Tuesday's voting for a Bridgehampton Fire District commissioner post left the candidates and election officials meeting with the district lawyer on Wednesday.

With 175 votes on paper ballots there was a tie between Phillip Cammann and John O'Brien.

There were three write-in votes, one for Mr. Cammann and two for John O'Brien. With at least three registered voters with the same name as Mr. O'Brien living in the Bridgehampton district, it was impossible to know for whom the votes were intended, Brad Pinskey, the fire district's lawyer, said. "This creates some very interesting legal issues."

Mr. Pinskey said that there were a few options to resolve the election's outcome. One would be to hold a revote; the other would be to go to court and let a judge decide the matter. That could be costly and perhaps protracted if either of the candidates decided to appeal the decision.

If a second vote were held it would have to be scheduled for a Tuesday within 45 days of the election, probably in early January.

Earl Gandel, who ran unopposed, was elected treasurer for a three-year term.