Yorktown GOP Endorses Full Slate; Paganelli to Run Primary
The Yorktown Republican Committee completed its slate for the November election last week by nominating two Town Board candidates and a highway superintendent.
Councilman Terrence Murphy received the nod to seek a second four-year term, while Dorothy Forcina, president of the Yorktown High School PTA, will run for a first term. In the highly coveted highway superintendent race, former Councilman Gregory Bernard outlasted current Councilman Dave Paganelli by one vote.
However, Paganelli, who was elected to the Town Board in 2011, said Monday he is not throwing in the towel and will run a primary for the line in September.
“Although I have tremendous respect for the process I do not feel that one vote is a vote of confidence. 49% of the committee for many reasons selected me to represent the Republican Party,” Paganelli said. “My respect and gratitude to the 49% as well as to the silent majority and my belief that this position is so important to the residents of our town on a daily basis that I intend to primary for the Republican line. Let the future of the Yorktown once again be determined by the public.”
Bernard, who was on the town board from 1993 to 2001 and has over 30 years of construction management experience, said his experience with the town’s budgetary process gives him a broad perspective on all of the issues facing Yorktown, not just the Highway Department.
“I am excited to have the endorsement of the Yorktown Republican Committee as a candidate for highway superintendent and look forward to joining a ticket who are committed to getting Yorktown back on the right track,” Bernard said.
Murphy, a chiropractor who owns two small businesses in Yorktown, Yorktown Health and WellnessCenter and Murphy’s Irish Restaurant, was the leading vote-getter in the 2009 Town Board contest.
“This year’s election is not only about building upon our historic accomplishments over the past few years of shrinking local government, cutting taxes and opening dozens of new businesses, it is about setting out a vision for the next four years,” Murphy said. “No one’s a loser here, we had quality candidates who were all able to do the job.”
Forcina is a lifelong Republican who considers herself a pro-business and fiscally conservative candidate. Currently the director of corporate partnerships at Mercy College, she served eight years as managing director of the Westchester County Association.
“I am running for councilwoman because everyone in Yorktown deserves a local government they can trust and works effectively to safeguard taxpayer dollars,” she said. “In the last four years my colleagues on the Republican ticket have proven we can achieve that, proven that we can do better. I will bring my business acumen and independent voice to their efforts as better stewards of the public trust.”
The GOP Committee previously had endorsed Supervisor Michael Grace for a second two-year term, Town Justice Sal Lagonia and County Legislator John Testa. Testa, a former mayor of Peekskill, is running for a third two-year term representing District 1, which covers Yorktown, Cortlandt and Peekskill.
“Despite all the accomplishments and success I have enjoyed so far as county legislator, there is still much to be done to reduce spending and implement taxpayer friendly policies to county government,” Testa said. “I look forward to another term working with my like-minded colleagues on the board and the county executive to further reduce unnecessary spending while maintaining essential services for the citizens of WestchesterCounty.”
The Yorktown Democratic Committee has yet to endorse any candidates. Councilman Vishnu Patel is seeking reelection, while several candidates have expressed interest in the highway superintendent position be vacated by Eric DiBartolo. Former Supervisor Susan Siegel has already interviewed with committee members but Democratic leaders are reportedly seeking other potential candidates to challenge Grace. Former Councilman James Martorano reportedly has been contacted about his interest in supervisor.
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/
