17-year-old Determined to Win Seat on Ossining Town Board
He just graduated from Ossining High School on Saturday and will be furthering his education in September at Fordham University, but Aaron Spring has set his sights on another achievement in November.
Spring, 17, is looking to make history by being the youngest elected official in the Town of Ossining. He is running on the Republican line for one of two available Town Board seats on a ticket with two running mates, former Village of Ossining Mayor John Perillo and retired Admiral Michael Milner, who are about half a century older than him.
“I would not run if I didn’t think I wasn’t going to win,” Spring said. “I always think positively. I always want to make a change in the community. We can’t complain about government if we’re not trying to pursue an active role ourselves.”
Spring said he first got interested in politics in 2008. In December 2013, he started a Young Republicans Club, which has performed some community service.
Since he doesn’t turn 18 until July 31, Spring has had to rely on his mom going door-to-door with him to obtain enough signatures to get on the ballot. Some of his underage friends will also be unable to vote for him.
“Sometimes it’s the people who can’t even vote that make the biggest difference,” he said. “My friends are very behind me. A lot of people look up to me. There are some people who say, ‘What are you doing? Live your life as a kid,’ but 85 to 90% of the reaction I have received has been positive.”
At any level of government, Spring said “one party rule” is never beneficial, alluding to the all-Democratic Town Board in Ossining currently. He believes the fact all candidates in the race for Town Board are newcomers (Democrats have backed Karen D’Attore and Elizabeth Feldman) makes it a level playing field.
“The math is clearly on our side. It’s newcomers versus newcomers,” Spring said. “The people are ready for change and they’ll vote for change. I expect a clean campaign. I have nothing against my opponents. They’re nice people but one party rule eventually cripples the town.”
If elected, Spring said he would look for some possible property tax exemptions for residents and try to bridge the achievement gap in school between white and minority students.
Spring maintained the Republican ticket appeals to residents of all ages and is proud to run with Perillo, who is running for supervisor against Democrat Dana Levenberg, chief of staff for state Assemblywoman Sandra Galef and a nine-year Board of Education trustee.
“I love working with him. He has so much energy and so many ideas,” Spring said of Perillo. “It’s a tough road to victory but a very winnable battle.”
Spring will be having a fundraiser June 25 at the Ossining Steamer Firehouse. He can be reached at (914) 602-6629 or Aspring073197@gmail.com.
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/
