Final Election Figures Show Burke-Gonzalez Tops Council Race, Taylor Takes Trustee Seat

While the Suffolk County Board of Elections has not posted the final election figures due to contested results in Brookhaven Town and in the county court race, the East Hampton Town figures have been finalized with absentee ballots late last month, settling the trustee races.

The Democrats were expecting the results, which included Bill Taylor clinching a spot as a Town Trustee and Councilwoman-elect Kathee Burke-Gonzalez moving into the top vote-getter position, due to the amount of Democratic absentee ballots filed over Republican ones. "There were no surprises for us," said Chris Kelly, the Democratic campaign chairman.

According to figures obtained by East Hampton Patch and confirmed with the Board of Elections Thursday, Taylor secured the ninth and final position as an East Hampton Town Trustee. He received 2,937 votes, just 72 more votes than fellow Democratic running mate Afton DiSunno and 156 more than Democrat Loretta A. Sears. 

"I'm looking forward to it," Taylor said. 

Just 60 votes separated Taylor and Democrat Brian Byrnes, who came in eighth with 2,997 votes.

Sean D. McCaffrey, who ran on the Republican, Conservative and Independence lines, received the seventh most votes with 3,177. Deborah J. Klughers, a Democrat, received 3,192, finishing in sixth position.

Stephen M. Lester, who ran on the Democratic and Independence party lines, received the most votes with 4,041. Running on Republican, Conservative and Independence lines, Stephanie Talmage Forsberg received 3,871 votes, Diane E. McNally — the current clerk — received 3,508 votes, Timothy A. Bock received 3,383 votes, and Nathaniel H. Miller received 3,318 votes.

While the amount of absentee ballots was not immediately available from the Suffolk County Board of Elections, Kelly said provided figures as of Nov. 7; 470 Democratic ballots, 191 Republican, 172 Blanks, 36 Independence, 5 Conservative, 1 Work Family, and 2 Green party.

Burke-Gonzalez received 3,693 votes to clinch the top spot in the four-way race for two seats on the town board. Republican Fred Overton fell to second place with 3,591 votes. Overton received 291 votes more than Democrat Job Potter.

Meanwhile, incumbent Republican Councilman Dominick J. Stanzione took up last place with 2,583, more than 1,000 less than his running mate.

Final figures for other races were:

• Supervisor-elect Larry Cantwell, who ran uncontested on the Democratic and Independence lines, received 5,573 votes with 99 scattering, 1 void, and 1,300 blanks.

• Town Clerk-elect Carole A. Brennan took in 6,103 votes. She ran uncontested and was cross endorsed.

• Superintendent of Highways Stephen K. Lynch, who ran uncontested for a second term, received a total of 6,163 votes. He was cross endorsed.

• Town Justice-elect Steven Tekulsky, a Democrat, earned 4,087 votes, while opponent Republican Carl Irace, who also held the Independence line, received 2,649 votes.

• Town Assessor Eugene C. De Pasquale II received 3,755 votes to win re-election. Opponent Joseph Bloecker, who ran on the Republican and Independence lines, received 2,737 votes.