Special election for vacated council seat

After the departure of Trustee Steve Mackin at the end of December 2025, a seat on the Bellport Village board was left open.

The Tuesday, April 7 election will have on the ballot the candidates running for that open seat to complete the remaining term (i.e. April 7 through July 6)

The candidates for trustee include Jean-Damien Lury and Dan Polner. Both candidates were interviewed by The Long Island Advance for introductory articles where they discussed what about their personal background made them uniquely qualified for the trustee position and what were the most pressing issues concerning the village and how they would address those issues as trustee.

Jean-Damien Lury

With 20 years in corporate real estate, Lury said that he has learned that effective leadership was dependent on listening to all viewpoints concerning the matter.

“You should listen with big ears and a thick skin,” said Lury.

In his international career, Lury said he has lived in many places around the world and honed his ability to serve a diverse group of clients. Lury has been a Bellport Village resident for nine years.

“The goal should be to leave something better than you found it,” said Lury.

The top concern for the Village board, according to Lury, is infrastructure. Lury emphasized the need to implement 5-10-15 year plans to ensure transparency in where and when works needs to be done.

“All four corners of Bellport Village need work…there are disproportionate assets versus people so a lot of maintenance to do,” said Lury.

Bellport Lane was one of the underserved areas that Lury cited.

Lury said that fiscal responsibility and “spending wisely” was also of great importance.

Citing investments that could be made, Lury said systems that help grant applications could be implemented to have a faster processing time.

Sustainability, especially through the Village adopting more environmentally-friendly measures, would also be a strong initiative for his candidacy. Lury commended the future installation of electric chargers.

Finally, Lury said issues for everyday life would be on his agenda like deer fencing, leaf blower allotted times , and road safety for side as well as main roads.

Dan Polner

“I have a proven record of service to the community,” said candidate Dan Polner, a 24-year-resident of Bellport Village with sixteen years full-time.

Currently, Polner serves as first lieutenant for the Bellport Fire Department and is likely to move up a rank next year. He is also the chairman of the annual classic car show in the Village that is in its seventh year.

“We need to focus on long-term results, not short-term. South Country [school district] is a cautionary tale.”

“Filling potholes is not a long-term solution.  Eventually the roads need to be repaved.  I’d like to see that cycle accelerated and we need the funding to do that,” said Polner in discussing the funding of capital projects.

“We should reduce the burden on the services side,” said Polner, “The golf course is the single greatest asset we have and we should further monetize by digging deeper.”

Polner said a primary function of village government is to keep up with current building codes. “I know the Village is working on this, but I would like to see the process accelerated.”

Polner said he wanted to focus on short-term rentals as well and pointed to how Southampton has reduced short-term rentals for the benefit of the community.

“As a resident and neighbor I would not want a short-term rental next to me.”