Hispanic Heritage banner sparks election complaint

The sign that was hanging high above the entrance to Village Hall at the Sept. 28 Hispanic Heritage Festival in Mount Kisco. A former village Democratic district leader filed a complaint with the state Division of Election Law Enforcement alleging that it was improper for it to contain only the names of trustees running for reelection. Martin Wibur photo

By MARTIN WILBUR

A former Mount Kisco Democratic district leader filed a complaint with the New York State Division of Election Law Enforcement related to a banner at the village’s recent Hispanic Heritage Festival that displayed only the names of both incumbent trustees.

Judith Sage lodged the complaint Oct. 3 because the sponsorship banner hanging over the entrance to Village Hall that was seen during the festival contained only the names of Deputy Mayor Theresa Flora and Trustee Angie Garcia-Guerra. Both board members are up for reelection next month.

Sage said that since it was a village event that was approved by the entire board, Flora and Garcia-Guerra’s names shouldn’t have been the only ones included. The festival, which was held for the second year, took place Sept. 28.

“No other Village Board members names were on this MASSIVE size banner hanging from Village Hall — thus essentially meaning there was a giant partisan election campaign poster hung on government/Village property,” her complaint read in part.

Flora and Garcia-Guerra said on Tuesday that neither one of them had been contacted about the complaint before The Recorder informed them about it. They each accused the Democrats of engaging in politically motivated behavior, but neither seem fazed that there might be repercussions. The two incumbents, running on the Village Inclusive and Republican party lines, are being challenged by Democrats Heather Bryant and Tammy Brown in next month’s election.

“For me, it’s disappointing because this is a very petty thing to talk about when we have issues that we could be debating,” Flora said. “I think it’s going to end up hurting the Dem candidates because residents are looking for what is the different ideas of the Dem candidates and the VIP candidates. What are you going to do better? What are you going to change?”

Garcia-Guerra said she and Flora paid for the banner and no village funds were expended. Sponsors listed on the sign included Northwell Health/Northern Westchester Hospital, ROAMFurther Athletics, the U.S. Federal Chaplains Agency, and Rivera Toyota.

“The campaign against us is to demonize us, vilify us,” she said. “If you just look at our record of what we’re actually doing, we’re trying to do nothing but good for the entire village out of pure love for the village and care for the village and all of its residents. That’s all that we’re trying to do.”

Sage denied that her complaint was politically motivated. At a time when confidence in public officials at all levels of government is reaching new depths, there needs to be greater accountability, she argued. 

She said she also reported the unsuccessful Democratic ticket to the 

Westchester County Board of Elections in 2023 after they posed for and posted photos of themselves with county police officers in uniform. Sage also supported Flora and Garcia-Guerra in that election.

There was no action taken by the county Board of Elections two years ago prompting her to submit her complaint this time to the state.

“I frankly think nothing will happen,” Sage conceded. “But what would I like to see happen? A statement saying ‘don’t do this again’ because once you get away with it once, you’re going to keep doing it.”

She also denied doing any bidding for the Mount Kisco Democratic Committee or on behalf of Bryant and Brown.

Garcia-Guerra called it “unfortunate” because they had good conversations with Sage two years ago about how to improve Mount Kisco.

“I don’t know what went wrong or where this decision comes from,” Garcia-Guerra said. “It’s just incredibly sad.”

The Recorder contacted the Division of Election Law Enforcement this week to learn how the office adjudicates complaints and what any determination might entail, but there was no response from the office.

Democratic Chair Tom Luzio said he believed the complaint fairly raised an important issue while also crediting Garcia-Guerra for spearheading the organization of the festival.

“They are both currently campaigning for reelection, used their titles on the banner and village resources were utilized, although they apparently paid for the banner,” Luzio said. “I credit Angie for all of her hard work, but they did not ‘sponsor’ the event. I did not file a complaint, but each of those are improper.”

The banner went up sometime on Friday afternoon, Sept. 26, and remained until the festival concluded two evenings later.