Democrats name slate, may face primary challenge

Tammy Brown and Heather Bryant are the Mount Kisco Democratic Party’s endorsed candidates for this year’s village elections. However, they may face a primary from incumbents Theresa Flora, the deputy mayor, and Trustee Angie Garcia-Guerra in June. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

By MARTIN WILBUR

Mount Kisco Democrats have endorsed two political newcomers to run for village board trustee seats later this year but they may face a primary by the two incumbent board members whose terms are expiring.

The party has endorsed retired attorney Tammy Brown and Library Board Trustee Heather Bryant for the two seats that are up for election this November, said Democratic Committee Chairman Tom Luzio. They could be challenged in a June primary by Deputy Mayor Theresa Flora and Trustee Angie Garcia-Guerra, both of whom are in their first term.

The committee made no endorsement to challenge Mayor J. Michael Cindrich this fall.

Luzio said that he had asked Cindrich earlier this year if he was interested in the party’s support but did not hear back from him. A similar request was made of Garcia-Guerra, he said. However, it was his understanding that the three incumbents have been out collecting signatures on a Democratic petition in consideration of forcing a primary.

Cindrich, Flora and Garcia-Guerra swept the 2023 election over the endorsed Democratic ticket while competing only on the independent Village Inclusive Party line. 

Cindrich was unable to be reached for comment while the two trustees did not return phone calls this week.

On a March 30 social media posting on Flora’s Facebook page, she confirmed that they will be seeking to once again appear on an independent line this year.

“Mike, Theresa & Angie will be getting signatures in April for the Independent line on the November ballot,” Flora posted. “Don’t sign any petitions unless you see our names at the top.”

Brown and Bryant would bring a wealth of volunteer and life experience to the board, Luzio said. Brown, a village resident for more than 15 years, spent about 20 years as a union lawyer in New York City and before that served in the Office of the Corporation Counsel in Mount Vernon.

A three-and-a-half-year Mount Kisco resident, Bryant earned a master's in public administration from Baruch College and has served on the library board in the village since 2022. 

Luzio said in light of what is going on in Washington, it will be critical for village board members to have strong working relationships with Democrats at higher levels of government in hopes of maintaining critical programs the public depends on that could be in jeopardy.

Brown and Bryant are also in sync with the values of Democrats from the local to the national levels, he said.

“Our goal, my goal, Tammy’s goal and Heather’s goal is that we don’t lose any of those programs, from senior nutrition to school lunches, and all of those things are on the chopping block,” Luzio said. “Tammy and Heather bring to the table the wherewithal and the understanding that while these might seem like national issues, these are very, very much local issues.”

Brown said she had been politically active while in Mount Vernon years ago and wanted to contribute to Mount Kisco now that she has the time. Since a healthy percentage of Mount Kisco residents are seniors, one key priority for her is to ensure that programs and services remain intact for a vulnerable population.

She also looks forward to running with Bryant and serving the residents of the village.

“You need people with a variety of different skill sets in order to address the needs properly, and I think Heather — she’s energetic, she’s informed and she’s ready to sit on this board,” Brown said. “I practiced law for a long time, and I think that I bring that skill set, and we hope to win the election and sit on that board.”

Bryant said she had hoped to work in government for a long time, but frequent moves with her husband, an attorney, prevented that. The Mississippi native and her husband have lived in New York City, London, Paris and Vermont before settling in Mount Kisco in 2021 where they hope to finally put down roots now that their daughter is in first grade at Mount Kisco Elementary School.

“I prefer local government. I think more can be done from that space, and landing in Mount Kisco is the first time where we’ve been somewhere for the foreseeable future,” Bryant said. “I have moved around quite a bit, so this is a real opportunity to get involved.”

Improving walkability in the village is a major issue for her along with collaborating with higher levels of government and partnering effectively with the Chamber of Commerce.

Luzio said that the Democrats will not be seeking an independent line in addition to the party’s nomination. 

Also on the ballot is Village Justice Anthony Markus who is running for his third term for that seat. Markus had previously served 14 years on the village board over two separate stints before being elected to the bench.

Nominating petitions for the two major political parties were due to the Westchester County Board of Elections on Thursday. The deadline to be placed on this year’s ballot for an independent line candidacy is May 27, according to the Board of Elections.