Some Surprises on East End Primary Day 2023

East End voters delivered some upsets when results were tallied in the four primary elections across the region on June 27.

Challenger Arnott Gordon Gooding, who previously served on the Community Preservation Fund Advisory Board, beat incumbent Shelter Island Town Supervisor Gerard F. Siller, who was seeking the Democratic line as he runs for his third straight term. Siller received just over 30% of the vote to Gooding, according to the unofficial tally by Suffolk County Board of Elections.

In the most contentious primary of the four primaries, Benjamin Dyett (40.6%) edged out Albert K. Dickson (39.3%) and Robert Waife (19.9%) to become the Democratic nominee for Shelter Island Town Council. Dickson had a seat on the town board in the past, but is currently the chairman of the Water Advisory Committee.

On the North Fork, Catherine L. Stark was voted the GOP nominee in the race for Suffolk County’s 1st Legislative District, Stark easily defeated Greg Williams, a local businessman, taking over 62% of the vote. Stark will look to enhance the Republican majority in the Suffolk County Legislature.

The seat representing the North Fork is open for the first time in a decade as longtime legislator Al Krupski (D-Peconic) vacated his seat in favor of a run for Southold town supervisor.

And in the fourth primary, Southampton Town Justice Gary J. Weber won his primary bid for re-election on the Working Families Party line. He took all but one vote in over challenger John A. Ortiz.