Mt. Kisco Village Board Democrats Uncontested Once Again
It appears that the Democrats will maintain their stranglehold on Mount Kisco village government for at least another year.
The village’s Republican Party was unable to attract candidates to challenge incumbent Democratic trustees Jean Farber and Karen Schleimer, who are seeking re-election this fall.
John Francan, chairman of the Mount Kisco Republican Committee, said one of the key drawbacks limiting potential GOP candidates is the Democrats’ 2-1 voter registration advantage in the village, he said.
“No one wants to run,” Francan said.
The discrepancy in registration was a major factor in the defeat of the GOP the last time the party put up a slate of candidates in 2010, he said. Peter Giner and Ted Strauss each received 75 percent of the votes from registered Republicans, but still lost to Farber and fellow Democrat Joseph Morreale by large margins.
Another difficulty facing village Republicans is attracting residents who have time to serve, Francan said.
“In this economy people are working two jobs to get by,” he said.
Farber, 65, who is completing her second two-year term on the board, said last week she was surprised the Republicans weren’t going to put up a slate of candidates. But she understood that being a trustee is time consuming.
”It has a lot of responsibilities,” she said.
Farber said there was still plenty for her and the board to accomplish, listing the hiring of a permanent village manager and a new building inspector as top priorities.
Farber, an associate real estate broker with Houlihan Lawrence, said she supported the idea of police consolidation with the county, which would provide additional officers and services for the village while enabling current officers to have greater career opportunity to advance their careers.
She also hopes to continue to hold down property taxes while providing “a high quality of services.”
Farber, who serves as the board’s liaison to the village historical society, said she is also working with village residents to form an arts council.
Schleimer, 65, is seeking her second term on the board of trustees. She said she feels she has been able to make a difference and would like the opportunity to continue.
“I am very happy with what I have been able to accomplish so far this year,” Schleimer said. “I have gotten five computers donated to the Fox Senior Center; I have gotten 13 new handicapped parking spaces approved in the downtown area, some of which will have wheelchair access, and I was instrumental in getting our public library to be open and available for all residents earlier and for longer hours.”
Schleimer, a real estate attorney, said the lack of competition was a reflection of the job the all-Democratic board has been doing.
“I am grateful for the feeling that this board continues to serve its constituents in such a way that the Republican Party doesn’t feel that they have to find someone who can do a better job,” she said. “I consider it an endorsement of the job this board is doing.”
Schleimer agreed with Farber that finding a permanent village manager and a new building inspector are two of the top priorities.Once that has been accomplished, officials can move forward with economic development and infrastructure improvement, she said.
Schleimer said she supports the concept of police consolidation with the county and has an interest in senior issues, particularly to allow seniors to remain in their homes.
