Four Vie for Two Seats on Yorktown Town Board

Four candidates are running for two seats on the Yorktown Town Board. With Councilwoman Mary Capoccia opting not to seek a full four-year term after being appointed earlier this year to fill a vacancy, the only incumbent on the ballot is Councilman Ed Lachterman.

Joining Lachterman on the Republican/Conservative ticket is Patrick Murphy, brother of former State Senator Terrence Murphy.

Looking to break the GOP stronghold on the board are Democratic challengers Tom Marron and Steve Shaw.

Ed Lachterman

 Lachterman, 58, is deputy supervisor on the board and is vying for a third term. A leader with the Yorktown Lions Club, his career has centered on the hospitality industry. He feels his experience, community involvement and government know-how are second to none in the field of candidates.

“It’s a community that I have lived in for almost half of my life,” he said. “I know how to look at a situation with a wide-open stare. You need to be invested in the town if you’re going to run for office. I think that gives me a huge leg up. I do think I’m the best candidate. Hopefully, the voters see what I’ve done.”

Lachterman insisted the board did its “due diligence” in vetting Competitive Carting before awarding them the town’s garbage contract that eventually was taken away from them after they failed to live up to expectations.

“We gave them an opportunity to get it right,” he said. “Competitive had problems getting routes down. In July, they shot themselves in the foot when they didn’t want to pick up certain size containers.”

He said before the garbage contract expires next year, the board needs to discuss all options, including possibly doing pickups internally.

Lachterman said Yorktown needs more diversified housing stock, which he noted Underhill Farm, in part, will provide. “Part of our needs in Yorktown is having inventory,” he said.

Infrastructure and sewers are some of the areas Lachterman will be focusing on if he is reelected.

“It’s important that I continue to do the job I’m doing,” he said.

Tom Marron

Marron, 57, has lived in Yorktown for 20 years. He has been an English Special Education Teacher at MLK Jr. High School in the Greenburgh Graham Union Free School District for the last 18 years.

“My main reason for doing this is because I think I can be of help,” he said. “Town government is not about politics as it is about the small things, like getting snow off the road and picking up the trash. Town council is not my life and death, but I do want to win.”

Speaking of trash, Marron contended it should have raised an eyebrow for the board that the owner of Competitive Carting had filed for bankruptcy in the past.

“That should have led to greater scrutiny,” he said. “They definitely could have done something more.”

Marron lives in close proximity to the Underhill Farm project. He said the planning process for that development “tipped me over the edge” to seek elected office.

“Government and especially local government need to be very transparent with its constituents,” he stressed. “Nobody knew about it and I’m relatively plugged in. I think I’m more annoyed about it now.”

Patrick Murphy

Murphy, 58, is a lifelong resident of Yorktown. He managed the former Murphy’s Restaurant for 13 years and currently works at the Hudson Hills golf course and as a teacher’s assistant at BOCES. He holds a Master’s degree in computer science.

“I’ve been committed to giving back to the community my entire life,” he said. “My roots in this community are very deep. Local politics is not national politics. It’s about relationships. I give 100 percent no matter what I do. I have the right temperament and skillset to do the job. I have a very unique perspective of issues that matter to residents.”

Murphy said he feels the board handled the garbage issue properly.

“With municipalities you have to go through the legal process,” he said. “Tom (Diana) did a great job when the trucks were repossessed. He was able to make one or two phone calls to get seven trucks here. They (the board) did their due diligence.”

Murphy said Yorktown needs more affordable housing, especially so senior citizens can remain in the town where they spent most of their lives.

“Seniors are living longer. They need to be close to shopping. They’re old school,” he said.

He noted that if the Jefferson Valley Mall were ever to close, that property would “be a perfect place to put senior housing.

“That is a big location,” Murphy said. “When one door closes, another one opens.”

Steve Shaw

Shaw, 44, has been a Project Manager and Head of Product Learning for the largest legal services company in the world for the last 12 years. He has lived in Yorktown for about five years, but his wife’s family has resided in town for 45 years.

“We need new leadership who will be transparent and accountable to the people of Yorktown. There are significant challenges ahead, and we need leaders who can address these challenges with the interests of the town’s residents first and foremost in mind,” he said. “I have managed complex cases, across multiple departments, clients, and jurisdictions. This experience has given me valuable skills in managing people and projects. As Head of Product Learning I have also developed a keen ability to take complex concepts and turn them into clear, concise learning tools. I will take this same approach to town government where I will ensure that everyone is involved in, and understands, the decision-making process.”

Shaw said the board “completely mishandled the garbage fiasco.”

“That garbage hauler should never have been selected as they were not the lowest responsible bid. The key word is, “responsible.” It is public information that the previous hauler lost contracts with Westchester County for not paying their employees medical benefits and eventually went bankrupt. My opponents will tell you it was a different company, but it was the same CEO, and the company name was literally two letters different,” he said. “It is no surprise to learn that the hauler’s attorney was a former Yorktown Supervisor and political ally of the board at the time. Even if nothing nefarious was going on, it’s a bad look.”

Shaw said he feels the Underhill Farm has its merits, particularly its proximity to the Yorktown Heights Business District.

“There were decisions made that give the look of impropriety. The company behind the project has ties to a former Supervisor and a former State Senator (whose brother is currently running for Councilman). They received the first overlay district in the area, they have received tax abatements, and reduced Parks and Rec fees per unit. They have also had their traffic improvements costs capped, which means anything more falls to the taxpayers,” he remarked. “Projects like Soundview are needed, but we don’t need to give away the store and get nothing in return. We should seek good corporate partners for new development and have them work with the residents on the right projects for the area.”

“Open communication, trust, and fairness are my guiding values,” Shaw said. “I will bring these values with me and commit to working with an open mind alongside my colleagues on the board, regardless of affiliation, when it comes to serving the people of Yorktown.”