Somers Republicans, Democrats Select Board Candidates

The decision by longtime Supervisor Mary Beth Murphy to not seek another term to run for Westchester County clerk has set in motion a competitive race for three seats on the Somers Town Board with the town Republicans and Democrats nominating full slates.

Current Republican Councilman Rick Morrissey, who is in the final year of his first four-year term, will be challenged by Democrat Christine Robbins for the two-year supervisor post. Robbins is chair of the town Democratic Committee.

The Republicans also endorsed Councilman Anthony Cirieco, who is completing the final year of an unexpired term, and first-time town board candidate William Faulkner.

The town Democrats endorsed Chris Foley and Harvey Kriedberg for the two open council seats.

The three Republican candidates have also been endorsed by the Conservative Party, while the Democrats were endorsed by the Independence and Working Families parties.

Morrissey

Morrissey said he was influenced to seek the Republican nomination after Murphy said she was not running for reelection.

While Murphy and Morrissey are Republicans, Morrissey said he would bring different experience from the incumbent supervisor, who is an attorney. “The town is going to be run a lot differently,” he said. Morrissey said he has worked for 34 years in WestchesterCounty government and is currently an administrator “I have a different personality” than Murphy, Morrissey said.

Morrissey, 64, said he was been a member of a variety of town boards, including the Open Space Committee, the Somers Land Trust, and, for 18 years, was a member of the Somers Architectural Review Board. Morrissey said he was active in the effort to work with WestchesterCounty to protect the Angle Fly Preserve and been active in youth sports programs in town.

“I’m really dedicated to community service,” he said.

Robbins

Robbins, who is in her first race for public office, said Murphy’s choice not to run again also convinced her to seek the supervisor’s post. “There is an open seat this year,” Robbins said. “We need a fresh start.”

Though she has not held political office, Robbins said she has been active in politics as civic leader, marketing manager, fundraiser and political consultant. Robbins added she has been involved with several town organizations and community boards. She is a former president of the Somers Newcomers, a member of the League of Women Voters of Somers and a member of the Friends of the Somers Library.

If elected, Robbins said she would make town government more transparent and would “listen to public concerns.”

Robbins said she would also have the town board take a more proactive role in the upkeep of town government buildings, including the public library. Many town facilities have fallen into disrepair, she said.

Robbins, 63, is a retired marketing manager.

Foley

Foley, who has been a member of the Somers Planning Board since 2008, ran unsuccessfully for a town justice seat in 2007.

Foley said he has been active in the town for many years, particularly in youth sports. He said the town needs to assure there are an adequate amount of athletic fields for the town’s youth.

Foley said “The town lacks a community center as well as a community or town swimming pool,” projects he noted the town board should explore constructing.

Foley, who will turn 45 in July, is an attorney with a private practice in Somers.

Kriedberg

Kriedberg has been a Somers Board of Education trustee for the past three years. He is a retired teacher and administrator who worded in New York City public schools for 30 years.

Kriedberg, 76, is a former president of the Heritage Hills Society. He said the town should take control over the privately-held water and sewer plants at Heritage Hills, which would reduce water and sewer rates paid by residents of the condominium complex.

The town needs to do more to protect drinking water supplies, Kriedberg said. “This whole region is in the New York City Watershed,” he said.

The town also needs to seek additional affordable housing units, Kriedberg said. As part of the agreement with WestchesterCounty to protect the Angle Fly Preserve, the town agreed to create additional affordable units, he said.

Cirieco

When he was first elected, Cirieco said he had the intention of pursuing a full term. The town board needs to continue to be fiscally “prudent,” Cirieco said, adding the town needed to plan to meet is infrastructure needs.

He also maintained Somers needs to meet the needs of all residents. “Somers is a very economically diverse town,” he said.

Cirieco, 60, is a former CFO of a technology company and has worked with his wife, Carol, on the Relay for Life, which raises funds for the American Cancer Society. He is a former Somers Board of Education trustee.

Faulkner

Though he is making his first run for elected office, Faulkner said he has been working with the Somers Educational Foundation which holds fund-raisers throughout the year to provide funding for student programs. He was also a member of committees that helped recruit middle school and high school principals. Faulkner has also been a coach in the Somers youth soccer program for many years.

Faulkner, 45, is treasurer of SME Treasury and Cash Management, Bottomline Technologies.