GOP Hopes to Break Through on White Plains Common Council
With polls closing moments ago in White Plains, candidates have gathered and await the results of today’s White Plains Common Council and Westchester County legislator elections.
In the Common Council race, Republicans have four shots at breaking a 7-0 Democratic stronghold on the council as GOP-endorsed Terrence Guerriere, Mike Donnelly and Rich Cirulli take on incumbent Democrats Ben Boykin and Milagros Lecuona, both incumbents, and Dennis Krolian for the three seats up for election. Meanwhile, in a special election, Democratic Councilman John Martin is being challenged by Republican Jim Arndt for the remainder of the term in the seat vacated by Tom Roach, who left the council when he became mayor.
Parking enforcement and property taxes were two of the main issues for the Republicans, as they hammered the Democrats on some of the costs they said were making it difficult for White Plains residents to stay in their homes. Their calls for relaxed parking enforcement resonated with some voters Tuesday.
“I voted for the candidate who said he would lower parking prices in downtown White Plains,” Lauren Donnelly – no relation to Mike Donnelly – said Tuesday evening after casting her vote. “I’ve actually found myself leaving White Plains and going up to Ardsley if it means that I don’t have to worry about putting 75 cents in the meter to go eat downtown.”
Some voters, though, felt the city should continue in the direction it’s been heading. Voter Goldie Gould said she voted to re-elect the incumbents and chose Krolian for the one open council seat.
“As long as we retain the same members on the city council that have been doing a super job,” said Gould.
With the polls closing at 9 p.m., Republican candidates gathered at Bob Hyland’s Sports Page Pub while the Democrats met at Hudson Grille.
“It’s up to the voters at this point,” Cirulli said at around 8:50 p.m. “I think we’ve done all we can. I think we ran a great campaign, we have a great slate and I think we’ve offered the City of White Plains a great slate of candidates.”
In the only White Plains Board of Legislators race, Republican Iris Pagan looks to unseat seven-term incumbent Democrat Bill Ryan.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.