Republicans Sweep East Hampton Board Race; Zwirn Concedes

By Aaron Boyd

Early results showed Republican Bill Wilkinson the clear winner on Tuesday night, with Town Board candidates Theresa Quigley and Dominick Stanzione holding strong leads as well. Photos by Aaron Boyd

East Hampton - As early returns came in on election night, the one clear winner was East Hampton Republican Bill Wilkinson. With nearly 70 percent of the votes counted, Wilkinson had a commanding 68.6 percent of the vote, compared with Democrat Ben Zwirn's 31.4 percent. By the end of the night, Wilkinson held the lead with 66.74 percent, garnering 4,587 votes to Zwirn's 2,286.

"It was an incredible turnout and I'm grateful to each and every one that supported our team," Wilkinson said of the GOP's victory Tuesday night, "We were pleasantly surprised that the numbers were so strong, so early."

East Hampton Democratic nominee for Town Supervisor Ben Zwirn conceded the race to challenger Bill Wilkinson early Tuesday evening as the returns were strongly in the GOP's favor.

Early in the evening, Zwirn conceded to Wilkinson, visiting with him at the Indian Wells Tavern in Amagansett. As the results trickled in after 9 p.m., Zwirn's team could see the writing on the wall. "When I saw the results from Springs, when we lost Springs, and the low numbers coming in from Sag Harbor," a strongly Democratic area, it was clear that the race was over, Zwirn said during an interview on Wednesday morning. With only the Montauk results still in question, Wilkinson's home hamlet, Zwirn made his way from Rowdy Hall in East Hampton Village to Amagansett. "There was no point in prolonging the evening," Zwirn said, happy to let Wilkinson "enjoy his victory."

"I think the voters spoke loudly and clearly," Zwirn stated, "They were unhappy with the tax increases, unhappy with the beach sticker fees, and they sent a message," he reasoned, believing that the vote was as much a condemnation of the Democratic Party as it was support for his challenger. "I understand," he added.

"We'll play the loyal opposition for the next couple of years, that's our job," Zwirn said of the future, adding that he will be speaking with Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy later today about continuing his work as deputy executive. For now, in East Hampton, "Politics is over and government begins."

In the Town Board race, with two seats up for grads, Theresa Quigley gained an early lead with 31.35 percent of the vote and held steady throughout the night. Fellow Republican Dominick Stanzione came in a strong second with 27.7 percent to Democrat John Whelan's 21.86 percent. With the final results in, Democrat Patti Leber trailed in forth place with 19.14 percent.

Town Board member-elect Theresa Quigley watching the first numbers arrive.

During the campaign, Zwirn had called several times for the current town board to appoint the winner of the supervisor race immediately, as Supervisor William McGintee resigned in September amid a building financial and political scandal. Wilkinson stated that he would not be in favor of stepping in early. "I think we've got six weeks before going into office," he said, "The people voted for an entire team and the entire team should go in together." As of Wednesday, Wilkinson began compiling a transition team made up of current and past elected officials from East Hampton, "So when we do get in office we have a short-term plan for the first 100 days."

Trustees, Justice And Highway Races
Incumbent Town Trustees John Gosman, Jr., Stephanie Talmage, Timothy Bock, Kayla Talmage, Diane McNally, Lynn Mendelman and Norman Edwards secured a return to the board, as did newcomers William Mott and Joseph Bloecker. Incumbent Stephen Lester fell to the 10 spot early in the evening and failed to match Mendelman and Bloecker's 6.52 percent of the vote by the night's end.

Incumbent Justice Catherine Cahill defeated Republican challenger Andy Hammer by six points to secure her place on the bench and Superintendent of Highways Scott King will remain an elected official as well, getting 53 percent of the vote to Republican Tom Talmage's 47 percent.