Independents challenge Dems in Mount Kisco trustee race

Candidates, from left, Mount Kisco Democrats Tom Luzio and Michael McGuirk will face independent hopefuls Sean Moran, at right, and Jennifer Vallejos, not pictured, on Nov. 3 in a bid for two seats on the Village Board.

By MARTIN WILBUR

As summer draws to a close, political candidates for offices at all levels are gearing up their campaigns for the two-month sprint to Election Day. 

That includes both tickets running for two village trustee seats in Mount Kisco where Democrats Tom Luzio and Michael McGuirk are facing independent candidates Sean Moran and Jennifer Vallejos, who are appearing on the MTK United line.

Last weekend, Luzio and McGuirk were at the Mount Kisco Farmers Market to launch the final leg of their campaign surrounded by other area Democrats. Luzio, who is completing his first term on the board, and McGuirk, the current Planning Board co-chair, have been focusing on their board duties.

However, the key to a successful local campaign is speaking to as many voters as possible, he said.

“We’re talking to people, engaging the pulse, that kind of thing,” Luzio said. “But for the most part we want to keep doing the business that we’re already responsible for. I think that’s been the main thing. But we’re kicking it off today just to send people out. We’ll be door-to-door a lot, but more after Labor Day we’ll start going door to door and taking the pulse of everyone.”

Moran said he and Vallejos will increase their visibility around the village this fall at events, local hot spots as well as intensifying their one-on-one voter engagement through door-to-door campaigning. Moran attended last month’s National Night Out event at Pinecrest Manor and plans to be at SeptemberFest the weekend of Sept. 18 to 20.

Moran mentioned that many people he has engaged are concerned about the sluggish flow of information between local government and the community on important matters.

“I think the people on the board, I think they sense that people are looking for that,” Moran said of keeping the public up to date on matters. “I don’t know if they’re going to respond to that now, but I know that would be one of my priorities, to have an open dialogue with people — this is what’s happening, this is what occurred in Mount Kisco today, this is what you want to look out for.”

It’s no surprise that the three candidates interviewed all listed the Preston Way bridge as overwhelmingly the key immediate concern on voters’ minds. While McGuirk, Luzio and Moran agreed there is no obvious solution to getting the project completed as quickly as possible, the two Democrats said the village has been able to do whatever needs to be done to push the project along while officials continue to wait on the state Department of Transportation to approve a revision to the design.

McGuirk said the board, having already authorized Village Manager Ed Brancati to go out to bid once DOT grants its approval, will save time.

“I think they’re in as good a place that they can be right now and they’ve done everything they can and it’s up to DOT,” McGuirk said.

Luzio also said that village residents want action on easing homelessness and public drunkenness. He supports using part of a $100,000 state grant to fund safety measures to pay for a treatment court for those suffering from addiction.

Meeting and listening to as many residents and merchants as possible and responding to their concerns is critical in a local race. 

“There’s only one way to do that and that’s knocking on doors,” Luzio said. “It’s not posting on social media every single day.”

Moran said he and Vallejos are stressing transparency and accessibility, and listening to whatever residents’ concerns are. While they will not be able to solve problems on their first day in office, if elected, Moran said informing the public of their values and what they stand will help connect with voters.

“People have different concerns and different questions,” he said. “We talk to them in a very straightforward fashion and let them know where we stand on things, and again, we want to be as responsive to their needs and their concerns as we can possibly be. We really feel very strongly about that responsiveness.”