Monday’s deadline for school board candidates to file their petitions has come and gone. Just two local school districts, East Hampton and Wainscott, will have contested races.
In Wainscott, David Eagan, the 19-year incumbent and longtime school board president, is facing a challenge from Melanie Hayward, a parent in the district, for the school’s first contested election in what is thought to be 12 years. Wainscott, considered a “common” school district, has a total of three board members.
In East Hampton, two seats are up for election, now held by Jackie Lowey and John Ryan Sr. Ms. Lowey had previously stated that her current term would be her last, but Mr. Ryan is running for re-election to what would be his 10th term. George Aman, a former board member who lost a bid for re-election in 2020, is running again, and a newcomer, Emily Agnello, will be on the ballot as well.
Races will be uncontested in Sag Harbor, Springs, Montauk, Bridgehampton, Amagansett, and Sagaponack.
In Sag Harbor, where a hotly debated proposition to buy land on Marsden Street will be on the ballot, an uncontested school board race is somewhat unusual. Three seats are up for grabs; one current board member, Brian DeSesa, is not running for re-election. Sandi Kruel and Alex Kriegsman are running again, and Daniel Marsili is seeking his first term.
Kevin Warren is running again in Amagansett, joined on the ballot by Addie Slater-Davison for the two available seats — one of which has been open since a board member’s resignation in December.
Kathleen McCleland and Markanthony Verzosa are running for re-election to the two seats in Bridgehampton, and Lee White is the only candidate for one seat in Montauk.
In Springs, where two seats are also available, Patrick Brabant is running for re-election and Katie Sarris has announced her candidacy. Tim Frazier, the board vice president, is not running again after serving four terms.
In Sagaponack, where there are three board members, just one name will be on the ballot. Thomas Schultz is seeking a second term.
Terms are for three years each, and, as is the usual balloting practice in New York State, there will be space for write-ins. The vote is May 16.
This story has been updated since it was first published to include the Montauk School Board.