GOP Expected to Hold Onto Control of 4 Towns
Braille Diaz
Kevin Byrnes
Kevin O’Keefe
Kurt van Kuller
Laurie Ryan
By Dan Murphy
With early voting already underway and vote totals averaging at best in most communities, we take a look at the interesting and competitive races for the Westchester County Board of Legislators, where the Republican candidates are running active campaigns. Democrats currently hold a 15-1-1 edge, with Legislator James Nolan, the sole republican, and Legislator Margaret Cunzio, a conservative, both are running unopposed.
District 1-Cortlandt, Peekskill, Yorktown. Kevin Byrnes. Byrnes, the republican chair of the Yorktown GOP and a retired NYPD sergeant, is making his first run for office. Here is his bio from his website.
“The son of an FDNY firefighter, Kevin and his family moved from Brooklyn to Westchester when he was aged 12. Kevin spent most of the following 48 years living in Westchester, in Pleasantville and in Yorktown. Kevin is married with four adult children. He and his wife moved to Yorktown in 2001 and raised their family, putting their children through Lakeland schools. Kevin has been active in his community for decades. He is currently in his third term as Chairman of the Yorktown Republican Town Committee, is co-chair of the Yorktown Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and served two terms on the Yorktown Conservation Board. Kevin and his family are known locally for their public service. Kevin has proudly served as a Boy Scout leader since 2006, and his wife, Patricia, has served as a Girl Scout leader since 2010. Their sons, Brendan and Kevin III, each earned the Eagle Scout rank (Brendan currently serves in the US Army), and their daughter, Kaitlin, earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. Both Kevin and Patricia still serve the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts long after their children aged out of Scouts. Kevin also served as an assistant coach for his daughter’s Shrub Oak Athletic Club basketball team, played bagpipes with the Yorktown Irish Pipes and Drums, is a member of the Yorktown Elks Lodge 2324, and has volunteered with United for the Troops since its inception in 2007. Even Kevin’s mother, Anne, is known for her public service. After her husband (and Kevin’s father), Kevin Sr., died from an illness sustained as a result of the rescue and recovery efforts, Anne served a vital role in having Westchester County’s 9/11 memorial, “The Rising,” include those Westchester residents who died of 9/11 illnesses.”
Byrnes is challenging Democrat Legislator Colin Smith. Byrnes hopes to ride the wave of expected Republican victories in the Town of Yorktown, but will have to deal with Democratic turnout in Peekskill.
District 4-Perhaps the strongest republican challenge comes in District 4, which includes Somers, Yorktown, Ossissing, and New Castle. The problem for Republicans is that their candidate, Kevin O’Keefe, is running against the Chair of the BOL, Vedat Gashi.
O’Keefe’s website states, “Kevin O’Keefe is a proud American, former U.S. Marine, and dedicated advocate for working-class families. With a deep commitment to affordability, he will fight to lower Westchester County’s sales tax. A staunch supporter of labor unions, he believes in protecting workers’ rights and ensuring they have a seat at the table in today’s economy. Concerned about the environmental and community impact of unchecked lithium battery facilities, he is taking a stand against corporate overreach, prioritizing responsible development and local interests. With a no-nonsense, results-driven approach, Kevin is ready to bring common sense leadership to Westchester County District 4 and will put the needs of his constituents first.”
Recently, O’Keefe was very involved in the effort to stop a large battery storage facility from being built on the Westchester-Putnam border, near O’Keefe’s Somers home. O’Keefe should be able to tap into the Facebook group “Stop LITHIUM Battery Storage Systems in Westchester/Putnam, NY!”
BOL Chair Gashi has been campaigning actively in the District.
There are two open seats on the BOL on Nov. 4, with Legislator Catherine Parker, Dist. 7 (Rye, Mamaroneck, Larchmont), and Ben Boykin, Dist. 5 (Scarsdale, White Plains, Harrison), are term-limited from running again.
In District 7, Republican Kurt van Kuller is running against Democrat Anant Ambiar. Van Kuller’s website reads, “Longtime Rye homeowner. Raised two sons through the Rye public schools. Married 37 years to Diana, a member of the Screen Actors Guild. Homeowner near Rye Town Park. Native to NYC and Westchester.
“Leading Municipal Finance Expert: Legendary 47-year career in Public Finance on Wall Street. Nationally known in the municipal bond market; author of the leading textbook. Managed credit approvals for municipal loans and banking at one of the world’s largest banks. Managed departments of professionals, including as head of the top Municipal Credit Research team at the largest Wall Street brokerage and investment banking firm.”
In the 5th District, democrat Jenn Puja is running against republican Frank Schanne.
Professionally, Jenn serves as Executive Director of the Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body AFL-CIO, and is a member of the White Plains Common Council.
We could find no information on Schanne.
In District 2, Legislator Erika Pierce is being challenged by Republican Braille Diaz. The 2nd District encompasses Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, North Salem, Pound Ridge, and Somers.
Diaz is also running an active campaign, highlighting his service in the Mount Kisco Fire Department and the Mount Kisco Ethics Board. Diaz has also spoken out against the No Kings Protests and the disrespectful responses by some to the Charlie Kirk shooting.
“We must condemn in the strongest possible terms those on the left who are openly celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death on social media and in public forums. To revel in the murder of a fellow American is abhorrent, inhuman, and incompatible with the values of any civilized society. Violence must never be excused, justified, or glorified.
“The assassination of Charlie Kirk is a national tragedy. The disgraceful reactions from certain media outlets, elected officials, and segments of the left only deepen the wound inflicted on our country. America must reject this descent into hatred and reaffirm that radical leftist political violence and the celebration of death have no place in our Republic.”
In District 9-Cortlandt, Ossining, Croton, Briarcliff, Buchanan, democrat Emiljana Ulaj is being challenged by republican Laurie Ryan. The two faced off in 2023.
“I want to lower your taxes, reduce your energy costs, spend wisely, keep your roads and bridges maintained, protect our waterfronts, support our kids, veterans, surviving spouses, domestic abuse victims, and animals. What have I listed that you are against??
“I am a retired public high school teacher of 36 years. My husband and I are both proud union members, and we have been on our union negotiating teams for decades. I am not in favor of shutting down NYSED, nor am I fond of school choice.
“I don’t know what you are talking about when you say I want to take away your affordable healthcare. You are a union member and should have great healthcare. If you are referring to the ACA, it is far from affordable and needs to be redone.
“I believe that very left Democrats will not vote for me no matter what, I know this, and that’s ok. This message is to the moderate Democrats (and everyone else). I ask you not to vote Democrat just because you’re a democrat.”
Westchester Republicans should be able to maintain control in three Towns. In Eastchester, Supervisor Tony Colavita is running unopposed. He is one of the most popular Republicans in Westchester County, and he is the name Republicans tell us they want to see run for higher office. Republican Town Councilmembers Luigi Marcoccia and Theresa Nicholson are also running unopposed.
In Yorktown, Republicans -Supervisor Ed Lachterman, and Councilmembers Sergio Esposito and Luciana Haughwout are all running for reelection.
In Harrison, republican Tom Scappaticci is running for Mayor-Supervisor against Democrat Mark Jaffe and Conservative Mary Malara.
Ray Colasacco, R; Dorothy Angarano, C; and Democrats Elizabeth Brown and Linda Evangelista are running for two seats on the Town Board.
In Mt. Pleasant, Republican Supervisor Carl Fulgenzi is running unopposed. Republicans James Gedris and Thomas Sialiano are running for Town Council against Democrat-Taxpayers for Accountability candidate Joseph Bonnano.
In North Castle, Democrat Supervisor Joseph Rende is running unopposed. Republican Councilwoman Barbara DiGiacinto and Mel Orellana are running for Town Council against Democrats Michael Akavan and Sonny Vataj.
