Democrats gain ground in local elections

Pound Ridge Supervisor Kevin Hansan, top, and Town Board members Dan Paschkes and Diane Briggs on Tuesday night. The Democrats held off challenges by the Pound Ridge Party. Thane Grauel photo

By RECORDER STAFF

Pound Ridge incumbents hold off challengers

Supervisor Kevin Hansan and his two Town Board Democratic running mates fended off a challenge Tuesday by John McCown of the Pound Ridge Party, and two of his running mates.

Pound Ridge Party hopefuls Peter Avellino and Ron Asaro had challenged incumbent Democrats Diane Briggs and Daniel Paschkes.

All the Democrats held their seats, according to unofficial results from the Westchester County Board of Elections.

Democratic Pound Ridge Town Board member Diane Briggs kept her seat and earned a hug Tuesday. Photo by Thane Grauel

Before all the results were in, Hansan told supporters gathered at the Kitchen Table in Scotts Corners that a voting machine had broken and ballots were being counted by hand. Still, he said, the numbers were favorable, "even stronger than last time."

"First thing I'm doing is getting rid of this," he said, tearing his concession speech in half. He went on with a long list of thanks.

"This victory is really just so encouraging," Hansan said. "We're so thankful as a group here, humbled to be here and know that we got this kind of support from people all around."

"What's next is we go forward," Hansan told The Recorder later. "I think the residents of Pound Ridge have told us they support the Water District, and they're tired of the negativity ... they're behind clean water."

Democratic challengers unseat 2 Republicans in Mount Kisco

Democratic challengers Tammy Brown and Heather Bryant defeated Republican and independent incumbents Deputy Mayor Theresa Flora and Trustee Angie Garcia-Guerra Tuesday in the Mount Kisco Village Board race.

Mount Kisco Democrats Tammy Brown, left, and Heather Bryant speak to supporters after they claimed victory Tuesday night. Martin Wilbur photo

The challengers claimed victory after a strong showing in the early voting tally where they were about 200 votes ahead, an insurmountable advantage that the incumbents were unable to overcome. Democratic challengers Tammy Brown and Heather Bryant defeated Republican and independent incumbents Deputy Mayor Theresa Flora and Trustee Angie Garcia-Guerra Tuesday evening in the Mount Kisco Village Board race.

Mayor J. Michael Cindrich, who ran on the Republican and the independent Village Inclusive Party lines with Flora and Garcia-Guerra, was re-elected without opposition.

The victory means Democrats have won back the majority on the board. They will join Democratic Committee Chair Tom Luzio, who has another year left on his term. Trustee Karen Schleimer, who was not up for re-election is a Democrat but resigned from the committee last year after a fallout out with the party’s direction.

Brown and Bryant thanked their supporters and the village’s Democratic Committee for backing them while they worked hard to connect with voters and get out the vote.

“Going forward, I’m committed to be a new voice for the village,” Brown said at Hotel MTK where the Democrats awaited the results. “I’m determined to work to bring tax dollars back to Mount Kisco, support a plan for community policing and listen to our seniors, among other things, and together we can move Mount Kisco forward.”

“Thank you all for your friendship, for your knowledge, and let’s change the tone and get to work,” Bryant said.

Lewisboro Dems pick up a seat on Town Board

With 10 of 12 districts reporting from Lewisboro, it appears incumbent Mary Shah has kept her seat, and fellow Democrat Julia Hadlock has won election. That would mean incumbent Republican Andrea Rendo has lost her seat, and Republican hopeful Adam Giardina was unsuccessful. Democratic Party officials tell The Recorder that even though the county has not yet reported all the results, they’ve carried every district.

Supervisor Tony Gonçalves, a Democrat, was unchallenged.

At Taconah Cantina in Goldens Bridge, Shah thanked her supporters and family members.

"I'm grateful that the town recognized that I work for them and hope to continue to make a difference for all of Lewisboro," she told The Recorder.

Shah said she was proud of the work of the Town Board. "We've done a lot over the last four years together," she said. 

Hadlock said the Town Board would work to put out the facts about town government and would fight misinformation. "We are going to be working hard for the people," she said. 

Goncalves, completing his eighth year on the Town Board and fourth as supervisor, said he was gratified by the voters' support of the Democrats. 

During his tenure the board "has done a lot and will do a lot more," Goncalves said. 

Bedford libraries ballot proposition approved

In Bedford, with 12 out of 18 election districts reporting, the Library Funding referendum has a convincing lead, 996 votes to 312, or 76% to 24%.

The proposition asked Bedford voters whether or not to approve annual funding for the operating budgets of the town's three libraries totaling $2,628,845. This public support will be guaranteed in future years and will replace the town's current budget appropriation.

All the seats up for election in Bedford are held by Democrats, who had no challengers.

County Legislature, county exec races

In the Westchester County Board of Legislators District 2 race, incumbent Erika Pierce, a Democrat who also had the Working Families line, beat challenger Braille Diaz, who had the Republican and Conservative lines. Pierce won 64% of the vote to Diaz’s 36%. The district covers Bedford, Lewisboro, Pound Ridge, Mount Kisco, North Salem and a portion of Somers. Pierce lives in Katonah.

County Executive Ken Jenkins, a Democrat, beat Republican challenger Christine Sculti 66% to 34%.

Martin Wilbur, Thane Grauel, Neal Rentz and Jeff Morris contributed to this report.