Thiele Endorses Potter, Stanzione for Town Board

Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr., I-Sag Harbor, reached down both sides of the aisle in his endorsement of East Hampton Town Board candidates.

Thiele is endorsing Joseph (Job) Potter, a Democratic candidate, and Councilman Dominick Stanzione, a Republican incumbent, ahead of next week's election.

Potter is running with Kathee Burke-Gonzalez, a former Springs School board president, and Stanzione's running mate is Fred Overton, the current town clerk. 

Thiele and Potter worked together during Potter's eight years on the town board, between 1998 and 2005. Thiele said, "Job is a proven consensus builder who always listens before he makes a decision. He has demonstrated his commitment to the environment and the traditions that make East Hampton a special place."

"In particular, Job was there with me to establish the nationally recognized Community Preservation Fund. He insured that the CPF continued East Hampton's proud leadership in open preservation. He's always been a staunch defender of integrity of the CPF," Thiele said.

"I have long admired his efforts on our behalf, and I am especially grateful for his key role in the creation and passage of the Community Preservation Fund legislation," Potter said. "It is an honor to have his support, and I look forward to resuming our work together for the environment and open space."

Thiele said he and Stanzione have worked well together over the past four years. "He's been true to his word. He's worked hard on deer management, helicopter nose legislation, and, of course, the budget," Thiele said.

While Thiele didn't endorse Overton, he spoke kindly of him. "We've known each other all of our lives. I like him a lot," he said.