June 14, 2005 - Two weeks ago I would have never guessed I would be in the position of running for East Hampton Town Clerk.

However, with the defection of Fred Overton from the Republican line, I believe it important that those who want to vote for a Republican supported candidate for Town Clerk have that opportunity. The East Hampton Town Republican Committee is giving me that opportunity.

I believe my background, experience and accomplishments in municipal government more than qualifies me for the position of Town Clerk. Currently, I manage a $220,000,000 municipal budget and directly supervise a Finance Department and Information Technology Division staff of 40 individuals.

In previous elections for public office I have been endorsed by every newspaper on the East End, including Newsday.

Newsday wrote, " Bernard...has a strong management background..."

The East Hampton Star said, "In Mr. Bernard, East Hampton gets a two-for one deal: someone with the ability to look after town finances and an official who could be expected to bring discipline and, dare we hope, forward motion to town affairs."

Suffolk Life stated, "Bernard has a long record of public service in the Town...Len Bernard's fiscal know-how and strong connection to the community make him an ideal leader for the town."

I want to bring those leadership qualities and and management skills to the Town Clerk's Office. My 10-point plan is the first step in that direction.

Between 2000 and 2004 I led the East Hampton Town Budget Office, implementing various internal control procedures and new policies that helped produce 4 successive tax rate cuts and the highest credit rating in the Town’s history.

I take great exception with Mr. Overton’s statement that, “There are some good people in the Republican Party and some good people on the Republican Committee. They are not the majority…”

I believe that a VAST majority of Republicans in East Hampton are very good people (as are a vast majority of Democrats, Conservatives and Independents) – good people who raised money, carried petitions, and supported Fred Overton for 16 years. If some of those good Republicans who voted for me (and Mr. Overton) in the past, as well as Democrats, Conservatives and Independents who voted for me in the past, want an alternative and someone who will bring to the Town Clerk’s position creativity, forward thinking management and administration, and progressive policies to better serve our residents, then I am happy to provide that alternative.

I look forward to providing innovative ideas for the management of the Town Clerk’s Office that will maximize the talents of a very competent staff, improve the collection of fees, better account for fees owed the Town, open the government process to residents by providing them with much more information, and shorten window lines in the summer.

Over the next several weeks I will be releasing a specific 10-point plan to maximize operations in the Town Clerk’s Office.