In the increasingly tense Democratic primary race for East Hampton Town Supervisor, the incumbent, Kathee Burke-Gonzalez, touted a series of endorsements from local Democratic figures this week.
Meanwhile, her opponent, East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen, said the only endorsements that mattered were those that will be made by voters on June 23. “This election should not be about political endorsements,” he wrote. “It should be about accountability, transparency, and delivering results for the residents of East Hampton.”
Lining up behind Ms. Burke-Gonzalez are New York State Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni, Suffolk County Legislator Anne Welker, her own Deputy Town Supervisor David Lys, Larry Cantwell, a former East Hampton Town supervisor, and John Avlon, the Democratic candidate for Congress in 2024.
In a press release, Assemblyman Schiavoni focused on her relationships within New York State and how they benefit the town.
“Over the past year, she helped secure more than $3 million in state funding for water and wastewater infrastructure to support the 50-unit affordable housing development on Route 114, and $2.2 million for wildfire risk reduction work in Napeague and Hither Hills,” he wrote. “She has also brought in a $200,000 Climate Smart Communities award to develop a townwide natural resources inventory.”
Legislator Welker highlighted the water quality improvements made in Ms. Burke-Gonzalez’s tenure.
“From Montauk Point to Town Line, from the Atlantic Ocean to our bays, streams, and ponds, Kathee recognizes both the environmental importance of our waters and the critical infrastructure investments necessary to safeguard them,” wrote Ms. Welker.
“Under her leadership, East Hampton approved 174 septic incentive applications in 2025 and installed nearly 1,000 nitrogen-reducing systems investing more than $14 million to protect groundwater and local waterways,” she continued. “The town also advanced nearly $10 million in additional water quality projects.”
“It’s no surprise that my opponent has endorsements from sitting Democratic officials,” wrote Mr. Larsen. “Those officials are part of the same political structure and are expected to follow the party line. I understand how that works. What’s more telling is what’s missing.”
“Where are the endorsements from the local employees who serve our community every day?” he asked. “Where are the endorsements from the unions representing the men and women who plow our roads, maintain our parks, protect our beaches, protect our community as police officers, and keep Town Hall running?”
“Those voices matter far more than politicians from outside our community who have no idea about the issues here,” he continued. “Meanwhile, residents continue to deal with the real issues facing this town: the backlog, dysfunction, and corruption in the Building Department, the $1.3 million loss of taxpayer funds tied to the failed senior center project, property taxes that continue to rise, and affordable housing projects that have been stalled for years.”
Councilman Lys has served alongside Supervisor Burke-Gonzalez on the town board since 2018. He praised the supervisor for her commitment to local infrastructure projects.
“She reinvigorated the effort to complete the Montauk Playhouse, creating a community center that provides childcare, senior programs, and recreation for Montauk families,” he wrote. “She was integral in building the new year-round athletic fields at the Honorable Fred W. Thiele Jr. Recreational Facility, giving our kids a reliable place to play.”
He also noted that Ms. Burke-Gonzalez increased capital spending for road paving and construction by 40 percent and recalled the $1.1 million the town board scrambled to secure when federal funding for the Lake Montauk Inlet dredging project fell short.
“These are the kinds of infrastructure investments that keep our community strong, and that’s why I’m proud to support Kathee for re-election,” he concluded.
Both campaigns reported getting the necessary signatures for their full slates of Democratic Committee candidates, who will also be on the June ballots. Candidates have until April 2 to continue to gather signatures in case any challenges are made when the petitions are submitted to the Suffolk County Board of Elections.
Among those being asked to sign petitions, there could be some confusion as to which are the sitting committee members, or the ones backing Ms. Burke-Gonzalez, and which are the challengers.
Anna Skrenta, the chairwoman of the Democratic Committee, said she talked to some people who felt “misled.”
Mr. Larsen pushed back at that assertion, saying that at every signing event and petition location “there was clear and visible signage reading ‘Jerry Larsen for Supervisor.’ In addition, every petition clearly stated who was running and for which position. . . . To suggest otherwise is not just inaccurate. It’s an attempt to discredit a fair and open democratic process.”
“The reality is this,” Mr. Larsen said, “These committee positions have not been challenged since 2018. For eight years, there has been no competition. What’s even more concerning is the behavior we are seeing from certain currently elected Democratic Committee members. Rather than welcoming a fair contest, some appear to be reacting out of fear of losing their positions.”
The good news is that while tensions are running high between the two campaigns, with no sign of reprieve, both have reported satisfying interactions as they’ve gained their signatures.
“It’s been a really wonderful process,” texted Ms. Skrenta, whose seat in District 12 is being challenged. “The community has been very supportive, and it’s been great to be out and about speaking to the voters.”
