Larsen, Democratic Leadership To Lower the Temperature After In-Person Meeting

After an in-person meeting, East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen and the town’s Democratic Committee leadership have agreed to lower the temperature surrounding the former’s run for supervisor.

Since his official announcement about a month back, Larsen has been leading a fiery charge for the job of town supervisor, attempting to gain the Democratic nomination over the incumbent, Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez — and, in the process, risking alienating the committee that ultimately will choose the nominee.

Reelected for what would normally be a two-year term last month, Burke-Gonzalez must appear on the ballot once again next year because of a New York State law that will shift all local elections to line up with even-year national contests.

But since his announcement about a month ago, Larsen has gone after the leadership of the local Democratic Committee, specifically Chairwoman Anna Skrenta, just as much as he has targeted his likely opponent, Burke-Gonzalez.

“I think we agreed to lower the temperature between us,” Larsen said. “Things got a little heated because of what was interpreted in The Star, so that’s kind of where we are.”

Larsen was referring to the earliest days of his run: Larsen took frequent swipes at Skrenta, suggesting that she told The East Hampton Star early on that the committee wouldn’t give him the nod for supervisor.

And then, not long after announcing his run officially, Larsen created what he described as a tent for the local Democratic Party, initially dubbing the organization the East Hampton Town Democrats For a New Town, named for the NewTown Party, which he rode to the village mayor’s seat in 2020.

But that name changed when state, county and local Democratic leaders banded together and sent a cease-and-desist letter to Larsen, calling the use of the word “Democrats” misleading and patently confusing. Larsen opted to change his organization’s name to the East Hampton Town Residents For a New Town instead of fighting it out in court.

“I’m still going to be pointing out the issues, I’m still going to be screening with the committee, and I’m still going to plan that they’re not going to pick me and I’m going to plan on the primary,” he said. “It was a really nice conversation. I understand where she’s coming from, and she understands where I’m coming from.”

The local Democratic Committee ultimately will select its nominee for supervisor in a 36-member vote in January, and Skrenta said the committee has been in an interesting position, with Larsen seemingly campaigning against the committee in the lead-up to the screening process.

“It is notable that we don’t usually screen people while they are actively campaigning against us, and there are obvious concerns that the committee has with his inflammatory language,” she said. “Nevertheless, we are very proud that our committee chooses candidates through an open and democratic process.”

Skrenta agreed with much of what Larsen said about it being a productive meeting, and she urged him to ease up on negative campaigning during the holiday season. The chairwoman noted that the meeting was scheduled before the committee sent the cease-and-desist letter.

“While we don’t see eye to eye on everything, it was very good to speak directly,” she said. “I look forward to continuing to communicate with him in person and not through the press and hope this is a step in the right direction. I respectfully urge him to ease up on the negative campaign and give folks a rest around the holidays.”

In advance of the nominations, the East Hampton Town Democratic Committee plans to hold candidate screenings on January 10, and the candidates will reach out to Skrenta via email by January 3 to throw their hats in the ring.