Brookhaven Dems, GOP Make Their Picks For The Town Clerk Post

BROOKHAVEN, NY — Democrat Lisa DiSanto will run in the special election against Republican Councilman Kevin LaValle in January to decide the successor to retired Brookhaven town clerk Donna Lent.

DiSanto was chosen unanimously during a telephonic convention last Friday, committee officials announced in a news release.

DiSanto previously served on the South Country School District Board of Education.

Committee chair Anthony Portesy said DiSanto, a Brookhaven hamlet resident, was at the forefront of “the redistricting battle” in the town and “brings with her a level of passion, commitment, and determination to better our community that is matched by few and admired by many.”

Portesy credited DiSanto for her work on the school board, as well as in the community, and the Democratic committee.

“She has been preparing for this for this moment for years, and will make her family, friends, and community proud as she steps up to the challenge ahead to help our grown move forward,” he added.

DiSanto said she has always believed that democracy does not work unless people work for it.

“That’s what I have been doing for more than 30 years as a community advocate,” she said. “To be given the chance to be our next town clerk is humbling, and I will give the opportunity nothing less than my very best.”

DiSanto said she is on the ballot “it’s about time” residents “have the choice to vote for a candidate who sees elected office as a means to serve their community, not their own political career.”

LaValle comes from a political family, that includes his cousin, former state senator Ken LaValle, and his brother, John Jay LaValle, who served as Brookhaven town supervisor and later the county GOP's chair.

LaValle met with party leaders and senior elected officials, including County GOP chair Jesse Garcia, and Town Supervisor Ed Romaine last week to accept his nomination, according to a post on Facebook for his campaign.

In the post, LaValle said he is honored to have both the Republican and Conservative nominations "for this critical town office," and that he hopes "to have the opportunity to increase security, efficiency, and transparency within the town clerk's office."

He pledged to work every day to "properly and effectively secure residents’ sensitive information," as well as "work to increase the efficiency in which residents can access their personal records" and be "accountable for the management of the clerk’s office."

He plans to promote accessibility to services for disabled and elderly residents.

"I am excited to get this campaign started and I look forward to getting out and talking to residents about my vision for the future of our Clerk’s office," he wrote.

Deputy Town Clerk Lauren Thoden will hold Lent's position until the special election on Jan. 17.