East Hampton - The East Hampton Republican Committee has announced their nominees for Town Council, Justice, Clerk, Assessor, Superintendent of Highways and the Town Trustees to join the slate with GOP candidate for Town Supervisor Bill Wilkinson in the upcoming 2009 town elections.

Along with supervisor, two of the four town council seats are up this year - positions currently held by board members Pat Mansir and Brad Loewen, both currently registered with the Democrat Party. The local Republicans are floating Dominick Stanzione and Theresa Quigley for the town council posts, as they are both "inordinately qualified" to assist in managing the town, according to Republican Committee co-chair Trace Duryea, offering a "real substantial understanding of finance."

Stanzione, an outspoken presence in Town Hall lobbying for transparency and sound fiscal management over the past year, explained his decision to run for the board. "My message?" Stanzione offered, "I want to lend my competence to righting the financial course of the town." As a bond trader and former vice-president of corporate lending for JP Morgan Chase, Stanzione has a strong financial background that he hopes to put to good use muddling through the town's accounting snares. "I've got the competence and the background," Stanzione commented, "and the passion," he added.

Quigley, who was born and raised in East Hampton and worked for a brief six-year stint in Manhattan as a litigation attorney, returned to East Hampton with her husband in 1988 where they have raised five children together. "I certainly have management experience," Quigley asserted, as she has been an integral part of the law firm Farrell Fritz's Bridgehampton office since 2001. She holds a Bachelor and Masters of Arts from S.U.N.Y. Albany and a Juris Doctor from New York Law School.

The East Hampton GOP has endorsed Andy Hammer for Town Justice.

This is not Quigley's first foray into politics, as she served on the East Hampton School District Board of Education for several years and was appointed as town attorney under the Schneiderman administration. Though she has not been involved directly in town politics in recent years, Quigley asserted she has "dealt with a lot of the proposed legislation" that has passed before the Town Board as a member of the East Hampton Business Alliance.

The East Hampton Republican Committee also endorsed attorney Richard "Andy" Hammer for Town Justice, who is "excited to be running" in his first venture into elected politics. Hammer worked as the East Hampton assistant town attorney from 2000 to 2004 before leaving to start his own practice with George Biondo in Montauk, where he is to this day. Hammer holds a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources from Cornell University and a Juris Doctor and Masters in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School.

"I feel so committed to our community," Hammer asserted, claiming that he "views public service as the most respectable work" a resident can do. As a judge, Hammer believes he would have an "obligation to really lead by example," a task he feels primed and ready for. "For the average citizen, the bulk of your involvement with the town is with the town clerk and the justice court," he contended, eager to contribute his part.

The Republican Committee also endorsed Town Engineer Tom Talmage for the position of Superintendent of Highways, as well as incumbents Town Clerk Fred Overton, Town Assessor Eugene DePasquale and County Legislator Jay Schneiderman, none of whom are currently registered Republicans. The party has once more thrown their weight behind Republican incumbent Town Trustees Diane McNally, Timothy Bock, Norman Edwards, John Gosman, Lynn Mendelman, and Kayla and Stephanie Talmage, as well as nominating William Mott and Joe Bloecker to run against sitting Trustees Stephen Lester and Francis Bock.

Republican Committee co-chair Trace Duryea commented their 2009 slate of candidates offer a real substantial understanding of finance.

"They're all fiscal conservatives," Committee chairman John Behan stated, claiming that the GOP line-up for 2009 is going to be terrific. "They all understand, as I do, that the issue is going to be the economy, the economy, the economy," he explained.

Together, the committee's nominees "put forth a meaningful reform agenda to put East Hampton back on the right track," Wilkinson agreed, "We've introduced a superior slate of candidates at all levels."

"The important thing is that people come to know them," Duryea claimed, explaining that the party wanted to release the names of their candidates early so they have time to meet the community. "We want everybody to meet these people," not just Republicans, Duryea asserted, "They have the credentials and the credibility."

The party's first get-together with a full roster will be at The Palm in East Hampton on April 23, according to Duryea, who added that the committee has planned an event for every month from now until November.

The East Hampton Democratic Committee is currently screening candidates and has seen a strong showing, according to party chair Betty Mazur, however the names of the candidates will not be released until the nominating convention in June.