Van Scoyoc, Lys, and Overby Will Run Again in 2019
East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc, Councilwoman Sylvia Overby, and Councilman David Lys have announced their intentions to seek the Democratic Party's nomination to run for re-election in November.
Mr. Van Scoyoc, Ms. Overby, and Mr. Lys announced their intentions to the East Hampton Democratic Committee at its meeting on Wednesday.
Mr. Van Scoyoc, who was elected to the town board in 2011 and re-elected in 2015, is halfway through his first two-year term as supervisor. Ms. Overby, also elected to the board in 2011, is in the final year of her second four-year term.
Mr. Lys was appointed to the board one year ago to the seat vacated by Mr. Van Scoyoc upon his election to supervisor. He won election to the seat in November, with 71.4 percent of the vote, for the final year of Mr. Van Scoyoc's term.
According to a statement issued by the Democratic Committee, Mr. Van Scoyoc spoke of the town board's work, under his supervision, on water quality protection and remediation, renewable energy, affordable housing, historic preservation, and resiliency planning. Protection of ground and surface waters, through legislative efforts and water quality improvement projects, will remain a priority, as well as furtherance of renewable energy efforts.
Councilwoman Overby told the committee that she looks forward to continuing to address affordable housing needs. The town board voted unanimously on Thursday to acquire an approximately 3.92-acre parcel on Route 114, for $900,000, on which up to 27 units are to be constructed. "Each little bit counts," she said, according to the Democratic Committee's statement, "and with this project we will have increased our affordable housing throughout the town and provided more affordable opportunities for families and seniors." She also referred to advancing the comprehensive plan's hamlet study process.
Should he earn the committee's nomination, Mr. Lys will conduct his first election for a full four-year term. The committee will also screen candidates for assessor, superintendent of highways, and for the nine trustee positions, seven of which are now held by Democrats. Betty Mazur, the committee's vice chairwoman, is making appointments for prospective candidates who wish to screen.
The nominating process is happening earlier this year than in years past, following the New York State Legislature's passage of several election reform measures last week. Among the reforms is the consolidation of the federal and state primaries, which will now be held on the same day. Last year's primary election was held in September. This year, it will be held in June. Thus, nominating petitions will be carried in February and March instead of in June and July.