David B. Lys, Councilman, Town of East Hampton

David B. Lys

Democratic

BACKGROUND: Lys, 42, of East Hampton, is seeking election as a Democrat to a one-year term. He also is running on the East Hampton Unity Party line he created and the Working Families line. Lys was appointed in January to fill the remainder of the term of council member Peter Van Scoyoc, who was elected supervisor. Lys said he switched his registration from Republican to Democrat in January. Lys earned a bachelor’s in kinesiology at Penn State University. He is an East Hampton native and local business owner who operates Weekend Warriors Tours and Outfitters and, with his wife, East Hampton Physical Therapy in Montauk. He participated in the restoration of the 1902 Amagansett Life-Saving Station and was a founding member of Citizens for Access Rights, a group that lobbies for public access for town beaches. Lys served a 5-year term on the East Hampton Town Zoning Board of Appeals starting in 2013. He is married and has four children.

ISSUES: Lys said he understands issues as someone who grew up in the area. He is listening to residents’ comments in a series of public hearings about how the town should address potential growth and resiliency, where affordable housing should be and policy and preservation efforts within the six hamlets in East Hampton. It’s important for the town to keep moving on it’s Coastal Assessment and Resiliency Plan (CARP), he said. “The town has to decide how to look at our coast for development and resiliency and also for infrastructure,” Lys said. “We need to take a long-term look at our beaches and be proactive at designing something within our town.” He said he will work to make affordable housing for all age groups more available, given targeted housing areas and potential new legislation the town is considering. Lys said East Hampton needs to increase recreational opportunities for residents with town-sponsored youth and adult leagues.