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Local supporters launch write-in campaign for East Hampton mayor Jerry Larson
Summary
A group of local residents has launched a write-in effort to elect Mayor Jerry Larson as East Hampton Town Supervisor in November after he lost the Democratic primary; organizers plan educational mailers and social media to guide voters through New York's write-in process.
Supporters of Mayor Jerry Larson have launched a write-in campaign aimed at electing him town supervisor in November after he lost the Democratic primary, a correspondent reported on LTV's East End News.
Dara Berger, reporting on the effort, said the unaffiliated group formed last week to urge residents to write in Larson's name on the general-election ballot. A supporter who spoke to the program said the group's mission is to provide "educational materials about how to do a write in" including social-media videos and mailers so voters know the exact procedure on election day.
The supporters argued the write-in campaign responds to New York's closed-primary rules, which prevented residents not registered as Democrats from voting in the town supervisor primary. Berger's report cited figures discussed by the group: about 3,200 voters in the conversation, with 2,045 having voted for the incumbent in the primary and roughly 21,000 registered voters in the town.
Berger's segment included a statement from Larson in which he said he had "accepted the defeat" and was "ready to move on," but that he was "honored" by the effort and "would certainly step up if they're successful." The report also said the group's organizers stressed that Larson "has nothing to do with this write in campaign" and had no contact with the creators of the campaign.
Supporters are directing residents to a campaign website, www.writeinjerrylarson.com, for more information on the write-in process. The effort highlights a practical gap some residents say the primary system created for participation this spring; organizers told the program they intend to educate voters to avoid confusion at the polls.
Next steps: the group plans outreach through social media and mailed instructions ahead of the November general election; no formal filings or ballot changes were reported on the broadcast.
