Burke-Gonzalez, Bragman Win East Hampton's Town Board Democratic Primary Election

EAST HAMPTON, NY — The results are in, and the two candidates nominated by the East Hampton Town Dems retained their lines on the ballot in the upcoming election for town board seats.

According to the unofficial results by the Suffolk County Board of Elections, incumbent Kathee Burke-Gonzalez took the lead with 1,194 votes, or 44.66 percent, followed by Jeff Bragman with 810, or 30.3 percent and challenger Zachary Cohen with 662, or 24.76 percent. There were 7 write in votes.

They'll face off against GOP candidates Paul Giardina and Gerard Larsen in the November race for East Hampton town board seats.

Following are the official bios of the winners, according to their campaign websites.

Jeffrey Bragman

"Jeff has been a resident of East Hampton for 30 years and is a graduate of Yale University. He runs a small law firm, and is a zoning, planning and environmental lawyer and activist who has served as counsel on all of East Hampton’s appointed boards. His firm is unique on the East End because it regularly takes on environmental causes on behalf of local residents and public interest groups, opposing over-development.

Proven Leadership

• Fought Cedar Street bus maintenance facility to protect nearby public water supply wells
• Helped broker the preservation of 57 acres ofopen space at Boys Harbor and obtained approvals necessary for the protection of this historic site
• Led neighborhood groups to stop plans for two separate shopping centers on the east and west entrances to Bridgehampton
• Led neighborhood opposition to stop proposed rock concert for 10,000 attendees in quiet Amagansett
• Protected the Thomas Strong Homestead, the oldest existing house in Wainscott
• Fought to protect neighborhood character of Sag Harbor’s historic African-American neighborhoods
• Protected Sag Harbor’s signature historic Gingerbread house
• Fought for local airport control to reduce air traffic noise

He was endorsed by the Democratic, Independence and Working Families parties.

His goals include fighting for affordable housing, increasing affordable housing for permanent residents, expanding permitted garage apartments for affordable family needs, and creating senior citizen housing and assisted-living housing.

He's also an advocate for the environment and believes in promoting energy conservation and solar in existing homes to reduce peak energy demand, evaluating solar for airport and other existing town parking areas, enacting and implement water quality protection measures in critical watershed areas, and fighting for effective local control of aircraft noise.

His goals include creating an affordable shared work space for young adults who want to stay in East Hampton and establishing a mentors round-table to prepare young local adults for 21st century careers.

Bragman is a singer/songwriter, whose music is regularly featured on WPPB. A single working dad, he raised his son, Walker, who graduated from local schools. He lives with two dogs.

Kathee Burke-Gonzalez

"An experienced public servant," she served 9 years on the Springs School Board, including 2 years as president and 2 years as vice-president.

• Town board representative to human services department, information technology department, the East Hampton Airport, and Wainscott Citizens Advisory Board
• Liaison to Airport Management Advisory Committee, Disabilities Advisory Board, Montauk Playhouse board of managers, YMCA board of managers

Professional Business Executive

• More than 30 years experience as a marketing and advertising executive
• 1983 graduate of Siena College with a B.S. in Marketing and Management

She has received the endorsements of the Democratic, Independence and Working Families parties

Her goals for responsible government include promoting civility, transparency and respect in Town Hall, balancing the budget with sound financial management, and securing. local control of the Airport.

She also advocates a clean environment with protection of pure drinking water, keeping harbors, bays, and ponds clean and promoting clean, renewable energy.

Plans include building a new senior citizen center, supporting mental health and substance abuse services, creating new affordable housing, protecting residential neighborhoods and quality of life, and saving beaches and beach access.

She has been married for 20 years to Joe Gonzalez, manager and bartender at Rowdy Hall. They are the proud parents of Burke, a sophomore at The Ohio State University, and Nina, a senior at East Hampton High School.