Jeff Miller, the Republican candidate for East Hampton Town clerk, on Friday retired from his position as heavy-equipment operator at the East Hampton Village Department of Public Works, where he spent 36 years.
At Friday’s meeting of the village board, David Collins, the department’s superintendent, told the board that Mr. Miller’s long tenure “just goes to show that the village hires good people and retains good people.” Mr. Miller, he said, is “extremely entertaining and fun to be around, always brings light to any situation.” He “covered a lot of ground for us,” he said, “one of these people we’ve always been able to count on to pick up whatever job needs to be done. . . . It’s going to be hard to fill his shoes.”
Mayor Jerry Larsen thanked Mr. Miller on behalf of the board.
Last Thursday, Mr. Miller posted a message on Facebook. “I started as an 18 year old part-timer,” he wrote, “having no idea that the next 2/3rds of my life would be spent here. I have met & worked with so many people over the last 36+ years. Lifelong friendships have been forged. Many lessons learned. Have had laughs, tears, angry moments, ugly moments & some not so smart moments. We’re all human. But feel I’m a better and much wiser person walking out that door than I was coming in.”
“I would be remiss in not mentioning Bruce Collins,” he continued, referring to Mr. Collins’s father, “who hired me both as a part-timer & few years later full-time. Best boss anyone could ever have, and a man I have tremendous respect for.”
He reprised his Facebook post on Friday, telling the board that his time working for the village has been “a life-changing experience. . . . It’s been a great experience, and I can’t thank the village enough for allowing me to work for them for the last 36 years.”
“Hoping I’m not retired for too long,” he wrote on Facebook in reference to his campaign for clerk, “and get the opportunity to continue serving my hometown in the not so distant future.”
Mr. Miller will face Michael Hansen, the Democratic Party’s candidate. They are vying to succeed Carole Brennan, who is retiring after many years as town clerk.
