Manuel Vilar Jr., Councilman, Town of East Hampton

Manuel M. Vilar Jr.

Republican

BACKGROUND: Vilar, 58, of Springs, is also running on the Conservative line, seeking to fill the unexpired term of council member Peter Van Scoyoc, who was elected supervisor. He is a senior sergeant with the State Park Police and founding president and current vice president of the Police Benevolent Association of New York State, which represents state park police, state university police, environmental conservation police and forest rangers. He earned an associate degree in criminal justice at Suffolk County Community College. Vilar served two years as an elected bay constable before joining the state park police in 1986. He is married and has six children.

ISSUES: Vilar said his first priority if elected would be to push to have the town’s new emergency communication system put in place. “We have to get it done,” he said. “The emergency communication system is on the verge of collapse.” Equipment failures, lack of replacement parts and gaps in coverage hurt the system that’s used by all emergency responders. He also would work to have the board require full financial disclosure for those lobbying the town. “The town needs to enact legislation so anyone who is lobbying the town has to follow recommendations from the Joint Commission on Public Ethics.” In addition, Vilar said he opposes the proposed Deepwater Wind farm off Montauk slated to deliver power to the local grid and would spend time looking for solutions to erosion problems in Montauk.