Anonymous Letters Heat Up Westhampton Beach Election

Two anonymous letters that attack Dean Speir, candidate for village trustee in Westhampton Beach, have been sent to area residents over the past two months. 

Speir is running against Trustee Hank Tucker and Patricia DiBenedetto for one of two open seats on the village board.

The election will be held at village hall on Friday.

The letters, which were unsigned, make several allegations, attacking not only Speir's character, but his record and asks residents to take a good look at him before casting a ballot.

Of the letters, Speir said he would not address the specifics until someone stands up to claim authorship.

“Obviously there are some who are terrified that I’m going to be elected this week,” said Speir, adding the mailings must have cost at least $1,000 in postage.

"Who would spend this type of money and why?" he said.

Speir, who wrote about the letters on his blog, does not believe they will have any effect on his bid for election.

"I don't think it is going to hurt me," he said.

DiBenedetto, who is running against Speir, said she couldn’t imagine who sent the letters.

“All three of us are aiming for the same goal — to be a trustee. I’m not a game player, and I don’t understand why someone would send something like this out without taking ownership to it.”

Tucker said he also has no idea who sent the letters.

Business owner Elyse Richman, who blogs on Patch, said in her blog on Monday that the letter has transformed the mayoral election into a “mud-slinging race.”

“There are three candidates for two positions, but you can always write in your own choice,” she wrote, suggesting people write her name in the ballot.

Be sure to check back at Patch for more Westhampton Village Trustee Elections news during the week.