Amber F. Brach-Williams R

BACKGROUND

• Brach-Williams, 63, of Shelter Island, a registered Republican, is seeking reelection to a second term as town supervisor. She is running on the Republican and Conservative lines. She has served nine years on the board, seven as a board member. 
• She is treasurer for the Shelter Island Fire District and finance officer at Our Lady of the Isle. She is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 281.
• A CPA, she said she earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting at Binghamton University and a master’s in business administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

ISSUES

• Brach-Williams said she is preparing the proposed 2026 budget and biggest item is retirement costs, which have increased about $100,000 or half a percent. Three-quarters of the town’s budget is employee-related, she said, and noted some of those costs can be offset by an increase in revenue from the mortgage tax and reduced spending.
• Before plans are set to either use a single municipal water system or individual I/A septic systems, she said, the town’s water advisory committee is checking wells’ water quality to determine the extent of contamination. There is salt water intrusion in some areas and nitrates and other pollutants in other areas.
• The town’s lack of affordable housing is being addressed in two ways, she noted, with accessory dwelling units being allowed for year-round rentals and plans to build 10 units of affordable housing on town-owned land.