East Hampton - The full slate of candidates being fielded by the East Hampton Town Republican Committee paid tribute to local resident and former Town Councilwoman Diana Weir during a fund raiser at The Palm Restaurant in East Hampton on Thursday, April 23.

As a banker for over 25 years, Weir was one of the first women on Long Island to reach the position of senior vice president. Weir served as Chief-of-Staff for the Republican Congressman from New York's First Congressional District directing the overall operation of the office; advising on the environment, coastal protection, fisheries management and breast cancer, in addition to tax and other federal issues. Weir directed the delivery of constituent services and worked with citizens groups throughout the district, representing the Congressman.

Upon election to the East Hampton Town Board in 1999, Weir continued her efforts on behalf of the environment. She voted for preserving over 1,200 acres of land in East Hampton, established the Nature Preserve Committee and the position of Chief Environmental Analyst. With the recommendation of the Nature Preserve Committee, Weir sponsored legislation to place over 50 parcels of Town-owned property into the highest protected "Nature Preserve" status. She lobbied successfully for Laurie Nolan to be the first representative from Montauk's fishing community on the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council and has testified in support of local fisherman before hearings of the National Marine Fisheries. Working with both New York State and the Army Corp of Engineers, Weir expedited the dredging of Montauk Harbor in March of 2000.

Weir established the Financial Advisory Board, which recommended improvements in fiscal policies and procedures and she was part of the negotiating team for the signing of contracts with Cablevision, LTV and the East Hampton Police Department. As liaison to the Police Department, Weir contracted for a grant writer and the Town received a $250,000 federal grant for the "Cops in Schools Program." With Police Chief Sarris, Weir oversaw the construction of the new police headquarters facility in Wainscott, on time and on budget. Utilizing the existing Town towers, Weir contracted with cellular providers and increased rental income to the Town over $300,000 per year. A new communications building to centrally house all police communications was also included in the negotiated contracts, at no cost to the taxpayers.

Working with the Town's Office of Housing and Community Development, Weir initiated the Green Hollow Affordable Housing Project. She pushed to establish the positions of Town Engineer and Computer Analyst, directing and designing the first web page for the Town of East Hampton. Weir was the sponsor of the newly established Sister-City program between East Hampton and Playa, the first with Cuba in New York State. Currently, as Liaison to the Hispanic Advisory Committee, of which she was the founding Chairperson in 1992, Weir has held three Latino community forums to develop a dialog with the growing Hispanic Community on the East End. She is a vocal advocate for the disabled and received permission to build the first handicapped bus shelter in East Hampton, with a matching grant from Suffolk County. Weir lost her recent bid for re-election.

For over 40 years, Weir has been involved in her community volunteering on various boards and committees dedicated to inclusion and equity for women, minorities and Latinos. She served as a Commissioner on the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission, on the Executive Board of the Long Island Housing Partnership, the Suffolk County Breast Health Partnership, the Bridgehampton Day Care Board, co-chaired the Economic Development panel at the Long Island Hispanic Leadership Summit, and served on the original East Hampton High School site-based management team. Former Governor Pataki appointed her to the SUNY Stony Brook Trustee Council. Weir has a son, a daughter, three grandchildren and resides in Wainscott.