Independents step up for Mount Kisco Village Board run

By MARTIN WILBUR

There will be a contested race for two Mount Kisco trustee seats this fall despite the absence of a primary and major party opposition.

Sean Moran and Jennifer Vallejos submitted their petitions last month to appear on the independent MTK United line for the general election. They will take on the endorsed Democratic candidates, Trustee Tom Luzio and current Planning Board Chair Michael McGuirk, in November.

Moran, a former 26-year Yonkers firefighter who began his career as a police officer for five years in that community, said he has always been drawn to public service, whether in uniform as a first responder or now by entering local politics. He said he wanted to give voters “a voice and a choice.”

“Civil service was a big, big, big part of my life, a very important part of my life, and I look upon stepping up into this role as another form of service,” said Moran, who now works in security at Ursuline High School in New Rochelle. “That’s the place I had arrived at when I made the decision to throw my hat into the ring, as they say. I looked at it as service. There’s no self-service. There’s no self-service about it, but if I can serve people, I would like to be in that position to assist them.”

Part of the motivation behind Moran’s candidacy was hearing the persistent comments and perception of some residents that they are not being heard, including by local officials, he said. Moran explained that it’s something that’s difficult to pin down, but it is understandable if they feel that way. He pointed to the lack of consistent updates from the Village Board during the early weeks of the Preston Way bridge closure, which now has been shut for six months, as one glaring example.

“All I’m saying is I will give as many updates as I possibly can, and I’m going to find out everything that needs to be found out as far as where we stand on such an important project as that,” Moran said. 

Quality-of-life, which has drawn the public’s attention in recent months, is another issue that Moran would focus on. For most, Mount Kisco is a safe and vibrant community, but since there are a fair number of residents who feel otherwise, addressing the problem is essential.

“If people feel that public safety is something that they’re concerned about, then maybe having more of a police presence will make them feel safe,” Moran said.

Moran said he is running as a team with Vallejos, a teacher at Mount Kisco Elementary School. Vallejos could not be reached for comment.

Luzio said he wasn’t surprised that there are independent challengers but it won’t change the campaign strategy for him and McGuirk. They will stress their professional and civic experience to residents between now and Election Day.

“It’s great when folks want to serve, it’s great when folks want to join boards, it’s great when people want to join civic-minded organizations,” Luzio said. “The town couldn’t be successful on many fronts without people wanting to step up and do that.”

Moran said he and Vallejos will be meeting residents between now and early November to listen to their concerns and introduce themselves. He explained that by being on a nonpartisan line allows Mount Kisco voters across the political spectrum to feel comfortable voting for them, if they like what they hear.

“I hope what it conveys is a sense of unity, togetherness, and we all live in this village,” Moran said. “We would like to be heard and our views on what’s best for the village — and a village is just a word for a place — but what’s best for the people is what we’re seeking to do regardless of what may be your party.”