DiGiacinto Leads in No. Castle GOP Primary; Schiliro Wins Easily
It is likely there will be at least one change on the North Castle Town Board next year.
Late Tuesday night, challenger Barbara DiGiacinto appeared on her way to victory, leading incumbent council members John Cronin and Diane DiDonato-Roth in the Republican primary.
In the Democratic primary for supervisor, sitting Councilman Michael Schiliro breezed past his opponent, former town water and highway superintendent Anthony Futia.
With eight of the town’s 11 districts reporting shortly after midnight, DiGiacinto was ahead of Cronin 369-313, according to figures from the Westchester County Board of Elections. DiDonato-Roth was trailing with 226 votes. The first two finishers earn a spot on the Republican line against Democratic candidates Jose Berra and Barry Reiter in November.
DiGiacinto’s showing was key because Cronin and DiDonato-Roth have formed two-thirds of a narrow majority, along with Supervisor Howard Arden, on most key issues. With DiDonato-Roth now likely off the ballot for the general election, that majority would end regardless of November’s results.
DiGiacinto, who received the nomination for town board from the Democratic Party in 2009 but abruptly withdrew from that race because of personal reasons, has battled publicly with Arden, Cronin and DiDonato-Roth on various issues during the past two years. This summer she continually fended off charges that she has innumerable conflicts of interest because she and her family have owned an extensive list of commercial properties throughout town.
During the bitter campaign, which triggered a constant barrage of email blasts and mailers to town residents, DiGiacinto explained that she has been separated from her husband since last year and receives no financial gain from his family’s holdings.
In an interview with The Examiner about a week and a half before the primary, she said she saw this election as “an S.O.S. for our town.”
“I want to bring back to the town board dignity, integrity, honesty, transparency,” said DiGiacinto, a lifelong Armonk resident. “When town board meetings take place and decisions take place and other applications, concepts, whatever the topic of conversation may be, I want the town board comprised of five town board members who communicate with one another, work together, to do what is best for the Town of North Castle.”
DiGiacinto has also has been endorsed by the Conservative and Independence parties.
Schiliro, who overwhelmed Futia 310-41 in the incomplete tally, will now go on to face Arden in November. He said he was excited at the results not only for himself but for the future of the town. However, he said he’s not taking victory for granted despite Tuesday’s encouraging outcome.
“We’ll take it one step at a time but tonight the residents of the town rejected the Arden, Roth, Cronin way,” Schiliro said referring to DiGiacinto’s victory.
“There’s a lot of hard work left to do and hopefully the other side will conduct themselves in a more civil manner, not like they did for the primary,” he added.
Schiliro has repeatedly criticized the board majority for keeping him and Councilman Stephen D’Angelo out of the loop on discussions of issues. He mentioned that Arden’s lack of leadership was a key reason for his candidacy.
He has also been endorsed by the Conservative and Independence parties.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
