Yonkers City Council President Lakisha Collins-Bellamy with DPW Commissioner and Yonkers Democratic Chair Tom Meier
Yonkers Rising and Yonkerstimes.com endorse Lakisha Collins-Bellamy for reelection to serve another four years as City Council President.
We have watched Collins-Bellamy preside over every Council meeting with professionalism and the ability to fairly balance the needs of each Council member and the public, ensuring their voices are heard. Collins-Bellamy is prepared for every council meeting and clearly puts in the work to serve the people of Yonkers.
We are happy to see a “non-politician” serve as Council President. Both Collins-Bellamy and Mayor Spano are the two lone city-wide elected officials in Yonkers. It is an important post that she takes seriously, and as a black female elected official, her election and reelection will highlight the diversity of the City of Yonkers and the ways it flourishes.
Earlier this year, in the democratic primary for Council President, Collins-Bellamy defeated two former Council Presidents, Chuck Lesnick and Mike Khader, to move on to the general election on Nov. 4. No Council President has ever faced such a challenge. Her big win in that primary shows that the people support what she is doing as a city council leader.
We see Collins-Bellamy working with Mayor Mike Spano to move the City forward, and making decisions based not on what the Mayor or others may want, but on what she determines is best for the City and all of its people.
Collins-Bellamy has provided sound and steady leadership on the council. There is no reason to go in another direction.
Collins-Bellamy’s opponent is Republican Dean Politopoulos. Politopoulos has run a positive campaign and refuses to criticize his opponent. Instead, he has run a campaign based on his experience in the Yonkers Police Department and his ideas to move the City forward.
One of the problems we see with republican candidates in Yonkers and across Westchester County is that they lack the funding to mount a serious campaign against the many democrats who hold office.
In Yonkers, more than 40% of the electorate voted for President Trump in 2024, but those same voters don’t support their local candidates for office like Politopoulos.
While we congratulate Politopoulos on running a dignified campaign, but he offered no contrast, or alternative views on why voters should vote for him over Collins-Bellamy.
In many of her travels across the City, Collins-Bellamy touts her life journey, which is unique and important for young people to listen to and understand.
She grew up in the projects of Yonkers and put herself through law school. She worked as an attorney at the Municipal Housing Authority, and her life is an indication of how hard work, family, and a love of God can have a positive impact not only on your own life but also on those around you.
We endorse Lakisha Colliins-Bellamy for reelection as City Council President.
