DePasquale, 59, is running on the Democratic, Independence and Working Families party lines. The Montauk resident has a bachelor’s degree in English from Columbia University and two continuing education diplomas from New York University’s real estate school. Before being elected as an assessor 16 years ago, DePasquale worked as a carpenter, a contracting company supervisor and a film shoot grip. He is a member of the East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue, a YMCA lifeguard, a CPR instructor and a former Montauk Fire Department EMT. He has two children.

DePasquale said he would support a townwide reassessment, if the town board were to pass legislation ordering one, to make sure “the fair share of the property tax burden is redistributed.” He touted his experience “defending the town’s tax base” by going to court for “thousands” of small claims assessment reviews and helping residents file claims. He also cited his on-the-job training and knowledge, and noted the assessors have produced balanced assessment rolls every year.

Silverman, 67, is running on the Republican party line. She received a bachelor’s degree in international relations and a master’s degree in business administration from George Washington University. She served in the White House twice, first as a writer in President Ronald Reagan’s administration and then as a staffer on the U.S. Trade Administration under George H.W. Bush. She also served as a policy analyst for the Pentagon, a staffer on the U.S. China Commission and a government consultant. Silverman, who lives in an unincorporated section of town, retired in 2008 from independent national security consulting. She is on the board of the Southampton Cultural Center and is fluent in French.

Silverman said she wants to apply her consulting experience to analyze the assessor’s office operations and find best practices. She said she wants to “modernize” the office, including by creating a more user-friendly website and by upgrading other technology, such as by utilizing a geographic information system that would eliminate the need for site visits. Silverman said she would want to look into a town-wide reassessment because “it’s a very expensive process.” “The landscape has changed so much in East Hampton, and it’s a question of fairness,” Silverman said. “We have to make sure everyone is taxed fairly, especially seniors.”