Ian A. Calder-Piedmonte

BACKGROUND

• Calder-Piedmonte, 44, of Springs, is running on the Democratic Party line in the general election. He was appointed to fill a council seat vacated by Kathee Burke-Gonzalez after she was elected town supervisor. He is seeking to fill the remaining year in her term. 
• Calder-Piedmonte, a Michigan native, graduated from Cornell University in 2002 and is a vegetable farmer and part owner of Balsam Farms in Amagansett. 
• He previously served for 12 years on the East Hampton planning board. 

ISSUES

• Calder-Piedmonte said his experience on the planning board and as a business owner are an asset on the town board. “East Hampton’s a very special place, but also unique and challenging,” he said. “I can try to help and guide things in the right direction.”
• Affordable housing is a top priority, and Calder-Piedmonte said there’s not one “silver bullet” solution. He said he supports the town using Community Housing Fund monies to create affordable and workforce housing and issue grants to first-time homebuyers.
• Protecting farmland, the environment and water quality are also important issues to Calder-Piedmonte. He said he would continue supporting shoreline restoration projects and replacing aging septic systems with nitrogen-reducing versions.