November 3, 2026 · General Election
2026 Pelham Elections
Three contested races on the November 3, 2026 ballot. For the first time since 2019, the Village of Pelham Board of Trustees election is competitive — and all six candidates in that race have now published their platforms. Here's who ran and what they said during the campaign. Results are above; profiles and debate summaries are kept below as a record.
Election results (unofficial, not certified)
Unofficial results from the Westchester County Board of Elections, as reported by the Pelham Examiner, Nov 5, 2026, updated throughout the day. Counting may not be complete. Not certified.
| Candidate | Votes |
|---|---|
| Theresa Mohan | 3,549 |
| Scott Wolfgang | 1,406 |
The Pelham Examiner reported that Mohan defeated Wolfgang, based on unofficial results.
| Candidate | Votes |
|---|---|
| Eileen Miller | 3,436 |
| Maureen Borsella | 1,526 |
The Pelham Examiner reported that Miller defeated Borsella, based on unofficial results.
| Candidate | Votes |
|---|---|
| Kristen Burke | 1,765 |
| Krystal Howell | 1,718 |
| Russell Solomon | 1,677 |
| Paul Anzilotti | 850 |
| Arthur Long | 822 |
| Everitt Speros | 813 |
The Pelham Examiner reported that Burke, Howell and Solomon defeated Anzilotti, Long and Speros, based on unofficial results.
The Pelham Examiner reported that Burke’s election will create a vacancy on the Town Council, where she currently sits.
| Candidate | Votes |
|---|---|
| Ryan Kurtz | 1,450 |
| Chris Dlutowski | 1,436 |
| Breda Bennett | 1,331 |
| Joe Liberatore | 1,264 |
The Pelham Examiner reported that Kurtz and Dlutowski defeated Bennett and Liberatore, based on unofficial results.
According to the Pelham Examiner, not all of the outstanding absentee ballots have arrived, but there don’t appear to be enough remaining to alter the final result.
Westchester County Board of Elections — official count · Pelham Examiner — election results report, November 5, 2026
This site does not endorse any candidate or party. Candidate profiles are drawn from candidates' own statements as published in the Pelham Examiner and other publicly available information. All candidates in each race are presented using the same template. The amount of information shown reflects the public record available at time of publishing and does not indicate the importance or strength of a candidate's campaign. See how this site works.
Candidate Debates
League of Women Voters · October 20–28, 2026The League of Women Voters has scheduled four candidate debates, one for each race. The questions come from residents: the League vets those submitted and picks a range covering different topics.
Pelham Manor Board of Trustees
Tuesday, October 20, 7 PM · Pelham Manor Village Hall, 4 Penfield Place
Breda Bennett and Joe Liberatore (Neighborhood Party, also on the Republican line) vs. Chris Dlutowski and Ryan Kurtz (Pelham Democrats and Manor Together)
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AI-generated summary from the debate recording. May contain errors. Watch the full recording: Village of Pelham Manor Board of Trustees debate, October 20, 2026 →
Fiscal management and taxes
- Breda Bennett Neighborhood Party · RepublicanSays the village is debt-free, has never exceeded the state tax cap and has an excellent fiscal stress score, and that the average homeowner’s village taxes rose about $100 a year over the past three years.
- Joe Liberatore Neighborhood Party · RepublicanNoted that about 70% of the village budget goes to salaries and benefits, and says the village has stayed within the tax cap with one of the lowest fiscal stress scores in the area.
- Ryan Kurtz Democratic Party · Manor TogetherArgued the tax cap is a ceiling rather than a target and that projected surpluses should be disclosed in the budget and placed in a strategic reserve, citing a roughly $1 million surplus.
- Chris Dlutowski Democratic Party · Manor TogetherCommitted to not raising taxes and proposed reviewing how non-personnel spending has been allocated over the past one, three, five and ten years.
Stormwater and flood mitigation
- Breda Bennett Neighborhood Party · RepublicanSays the new Highbrook pipe is twice the size of the old one and that two flood mitigation projects will break ground before the end of the year: a bioretention facility at Esplanade and Ely, 70% grant-funded, and a project of over $1 million at Monroe and Grant, 50% grant-funded.
- Joe Liberatore Neighborhood Party · RepublicanArgued that grants should follow a financial, operational and strategic review of each project, and that low debt gives the village cash on hand to pay costs before reimbursement.
- Ryan Kurtz Democratic Party · Manor TogetherSays the Highbrook system is designed for about a one-year storm and would be expected to fail above 2.75 inches of rain, and argued that more grant money is available for projects aiming at higher storm levels.
- Chris Dlutowski Democratic Party · Manor TogetherCalled pursuing grants a fiduciary duty of the board and said trustees should evaluate federal, state and county grants and work with officials at each level.
Traffic and pedestrian safety
- Breda Bennett Neighborhood Party · RepublicanPointed to the Road Safety Starts With You campaign, a red-light camera at Four Corners, over 50 new stop signs, a lower village-wide speed limit, and a comprehensive traffic study due in December.
- Joe Liberatore Neighborhood Party · RepublicanPointed to traffic safety work including 50 new stop signs and more crossing guards.
- Ryan Kurtz Democratic Party · Manor TogetherCalled traffic safety a priority, saying the Wolfs Lane and Iden Avenue intersection needs to be fixed and that a crossing guard alone is not enough.
- Chris Dlutowski Democratic Party · Manor TogetherCalled for reassessing the village’s approach to traffic safety.
Strategic planning
- Ryan Kurtz Democratic Party · Manor TogetherSays the village’s comprehensive plan dates to 1979 and is the oldest for a village in Westchester, noting that state law encourages updates every 10 years.
- Breda Bennett Neighborhood Party · RepublicanArgued the board plans systematically, citing a 2017 sanitary sewer assessment, a 2023 stormwater study, a 2024 traffic code review that led to four local laws, and the annual budget.
- Joe Liberatore Neighborhood Party · RepublicanDisputed that the village’s plan is 50 years old, saying an overarching strategic plan draws on sewer, stormwater and traffic studies, and says the village directed about $10 million over three years to work such as water mitigation and traffic safety.
- Chris Dlutowski Democratic Party · Manor TogetherArgued the village relies on a “patchwork” of initiatives driven by urgent issues and should take a fresh, systemic look at governance without raising taxes or taking on debt.
Public work sessions and access to the board
- Ryan Kurtz Democratic Party · Manor TogetherArgued for public work sessions so residents can follow how the board reaches decisions, citing the traffic safety assessment and the Glover Field pipe blockage.
- Chris Dlutowski Democratic Party · Manor TogetherSupports soliciting residents’ views on major initiatives in public sessions, with ground rules on speaking time.
- Breda Bennett Neighborhood Party · RepublicanSays the current board is among the most open, with no time limit on public comment and trustees’ email addresses and cell numbers available to residents.
- Joe Liberatore Neighborhood Party · RepublicanProposed flexible hours, Saturday coffee meetings and early-morning or late-evening phone availability so residents can reach him.
Resident-reporting app
- Ryan Kurtz Democratic Party · Manor TogetherSaid many residents would like an app and he has heard no downsides to it, and questioned whether legal concerns are a good enough reason not to have one.
- Chris Dlutowski Democratic Party · Manor TogetherPledged to adopt an app, saying almost every Westchester municipality has one and that its benefits outweigh its costs.
- Breda Bennett Neighborhood Party · RepublicanSays the village manager asked outside counsel and the village’s insurance carrier about an app and both raised liability concerns, and that the idea could be revisited if that changed.
- Joe Liberatore Neighborhood Party · RepublicanSaid an app might raise legal and financial issues given a tight budget and would not suit emergencies, but that the village would adopt one if it makes sense.
Noise from Memorial Field and the Bronx
- Breda Bennett Neighborhood Party · RepublicanSays the village works with Mount Vernon, the county and Bronx police precincts on the noise, and that the Mayor has met with the Mount Vernon mayor and county officials.
- Joe Liberatore Neighborhood Party · RepublicanNoted the village is in contact with Bronx precincts and Mount Vernon officials, while saying the noise comes from outside Pelham Manor’s jurisdiction.
- Chris Dlutowski Democratic Party · Manor TogetherCalled current efforts not particularly effective, and proposed joint meetings with elected officials in Mount Vernon and the Bronx, followed by meetings with police.
- Ryan Kurtz Democratic Party · Manor TogetherProposed pressing the county on large commercial events at Memorial Field and forming a coalition with the Village and Town of Pelham on Bronx car-speaker noise.
Publishing police logs
- Joe Liberatore Neighborhood Party · RepublicanNoted that police records can be obtained through Freedom of Information requests, and favors keeping current practices.
- Chris Dlutowski Democratic Party · Manor TogetherSuggested a village app could share police data relevant to quality-of-life issues such as traffic enforcement.
- Ryan Kurtz Democratic Party · Manor TogetherSaid routinely publishing police logs could invite gossip, since arrests appear without their outcomes, and favors leaving records available on request.
- Breda Bennett Neighborhood Party · RepublicanOpposes publishing police logs, citing residents’ privacy, and noted the village already keeps residents informed through email and other alerts.
Housing and development
- Chris Dlutowski Democratic Party · Manor TogetherSays the village is near capacity for residential development and that any housing decision should protect existing residents’ property values.
- Ryan Kurtz Democratic Party · Manor TogetherSays new building is largely academic because the village is built out, and proposed focusing on upkeep such as legible street signs and paving and sidewalk schedules.
- Breda Bennett Neighborhood Party · RepublicanSays Pelham Manor is built out and that its schools, roads and infrastructure cannot absorb more development.
- Joe Liberatore Neighborhood Party · RepublicanSays the village has been built out since the 1960s and that affordable housing there has been studied and judged not a good idea.
Merger with the Village of Pelham
- Ryan Kurtz Democratic Party · Manor TogetherOpposes a merger, saying he does not believe it would save Pelham Manor money.
- Breda Bennett Neighborhood Party · RepublicanOpposes a merger, citing past studies showing minimal savings, the demands on Pelham Manor’s police, and the Village of Pelham’s $18 million debt.
- Joe Liberatore Neighborhood Party · RepublicanOpposes a merger, saying it has been studied repeatedly and that Pelham Manor is built out.
- Chris Dlutowski Democratic Party · Manor TogetherAnswered simply that he opposes a merger.
Local elections and party labels
- Ryan Kurtz Democratic Party · Manor TogetherRenewed his call for nonpartisan local elections, saying party labels do not determine who is qualified.
- Breda Bennett Neighborhood Party · RepublicanDescribed herself as a lifelong registered independent focused on local issues rather than national politics.
- Joe Liberatore Neighborhood Party · RepublicanSays this is a local election that should focus on local issues.
Town Clerk
Monday, October 26, 5:30 PM · Town Hall, 34 Fifth Avenue
Incumbent Eileen Miller (Democrat) vs. Maureen Borsella (Neighborhood Party)
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Debate summary not available — audio quality prevented automated transcription. Watch the full recording: Town Clerk debate recording →
Town Supervisor
Monday, October 26, about 6:30 PM, directly after the Town Clerk debate · Town Hall, 34 Fifth Avenue
Incumbent Theresa Mohan (Democrat) vs. Scott Wolfgang (Neighborhood Party)
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AI-generated summary from the debate recording. May contain errors. Watch the full recording: Town Supervisor debate, October 26, 2026 →
Role of the Town Supervisor
- Scott Wolfgang Neighborhood PartySays the supervisor, like a chief executive, must work within the board’s policy while making difficult strategic decisions and being accountable for them, citing the ambulance as an example.
- Theresa Mohan Democratic PartySays that under New York law the supervisor can do little without the board’s approval, and that the role is to understand town government, make recommendations and carry out what the board approves, collaboratively.
Budget, taxes and debt
- Scott Wolfgang Neighborhood PartySays the Town should stay tax-cap compliant and debt-free, exceeding the cap only if services are imposed on it, and that once the school bond takes effect a $1 million home carries about $40,000 of municipal debt in the Village of Pelham and $32,000 in Pelham Manor.
- Theresa Mohan Democratic PartySays the Town levies $3.8 million a year and the cap limits this year’s increase to about $97,000, less than rising insurance, health care and pension costs, and that the tentative budget due Friday will look at paying for things differently to stay within the cap.
Employee benefits and structural costs
- Scott Wolfgang Neighborhood PartySays half of Town revenue comes from slow-growing non-tax sources, and proposed having employees pay more toward benefits and not replacing every departing employee, paying remaining staff more.
- Theresa Mohan Democratic PartySays the Town has been using reserves for recurring operating costs, that employees pay nothing toward medical coverage, and that the board will take that up on November 9, carefully, given how few employees the Town has.
EMS and ambulance service
- Scott Wolfgang Neighborhood PartySupports keeping a dedicated Pelham ambulance and team, but criticized opening contract talks with the Eastchester Volunteer Ambulance Corps less than 90 days before the December 31 expiration, and said the service should be bid out with options put to the community.
- Theresa Mohan Democratic PartySays Pelham’s ambulance service is considered the gold standard in New York State, that the community chose the in-house ambulance and fly car three years ago, that the only other bidder would be the former provider, Empress, and that the Town is exploring cost reductions with the Corps.
Transparency and resident engagement
- Theresa Mohan Democratic PartyNamed three goals for 2027: more residents involved in Town decisions, continued transparency about what the board is considering, and facilities and long-term planning.
- Scott Wolfgang Neighborhood PartyCredited the Supervisor with increasing transparency, but said the public has not been consulted on the ambulance’s service level, location and cost ahead of the contract renewal.
Facilities, accessibility and the library
- Scott Wolfgang Neighborhood PartyOpposes adding debt for the library’s $15–20 million transformation project, says the supervisor should set fiscal expectations for library trustees, and criticized the facilities plan for not siting the ambulance and for putting an elevator in its third phase.
- Theresa Mohan Democratic PartySays the library is an independent corporation, that the Town told its board the Town’s priorities are fixing the Daronco Town House and Town Hall, and that any transformation should be community-led; noted the Clerk’s office was moved to the first floor for accessibility and the facilities plan is open for comment.
Flood mitigation
- Scott Wolfgang Neighborhood PartySays flood mitigation is largely the villages’ responsibility, and that the Town’s concern is siting the ambulance where flooding has been addressed.
- Theresa Mohan Democratic PartySays the Town’s master facilities plan, now open for comment, should help decide where the ambulance goes and how to pay for it, which will require grants.
Cooperation among the Town and villages
- Scott Wolfgang Neighborhood PartySays national partisanship has hurt local cooperation, and cited founding the Friends of Pelham Neighborhood Party to move toward nonpartisan local elections.
- Theresa Mohan Democratic PartyPointed to the new Town Sustainability Board, which includes both villages, the school board, conservation groups and students, and proposed a consortium of community groups in 2027.
Village dissolution and merger
- Scott Wolfgang Neighborhood PartyOpposes a merger, but noted that a village could vote to dissolve and leave the Town to take on its services, so the Town should stay lean and flexible.
- Theresa Mohan Democratic PartyOpposes a merger, and noted that under Town Law the Town must provide required services a village does not, such as dog licensing for the Village of Pelham.
Traffic noise
- Theresa Mohan Democratic PartySays County Executive Ken Jenkins, asked about loud mufflers and trucks, said much of the noise originates in New York City and Mount Vernon, and that the Town would work with village trustees to press state, county and city officials.
- Scott Wolfgang Neighborhood PartySays the Town could take a leadership role, modeled on the Town, villages and Mount Vernon’s collaboration on the Glover Field crossing.
Village of Pelham Board of Trustees
Wednesday, October 28, 5:30 PM · on Zoom (the League will post the link at lwvw.org in the days before)
Democrats Krystal Howell, Russell Solomon and Kristen Burke vs. Neighborhood Party challengers Arthur Long, Paul Anzilotti and Everitt Speros
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AI-generated summary from the debate recording. May contain errors. Watch the full recording: Village of Pelham Board of Trustees debate, October 28, 2026 →
Fiscal management
- Paul Anzilotti Neighborhood Party · RepublicanCalled the budget tight and questioned a contingency line of about $700,000; would fund long-term needs such as vehicles and repairs through the budget, bonding only for critical needs.
- Krystal Howell Democratic PartyPointed to the zero-based budget and argued for more non-property-tax revenue through the Downtown Improvement Grant; says the Pelham House deal gave the Village an annual 8% cost avoidance and that long-deferred vehicles, including a 20-year-old aerial truck, are being replaced.
- Arthur Long Neighborhood Party · RepublicanWould cut legal fees, citing $145,000 for the Picture House RFQ and about $50,000 toward eminent domain, and questioned a $750,000 contingency line Long called the largest ever; warned that $18 million of debt is already about $1.6 million a year on a $20 million budget and more bonding could push debt service to $4–5 million, crowding out services such as paving.
- Russell Solomon Democratic PartyDescribed line-by-line reviews with each department and warned that cutting services hurts the community; says the Pelham House partnership replaced a failing parking lot, firehouse, police space and village hall with a new municipal center.
- Everitt Speros Neighborhood Party · RepublicanArgued for a capital reserve and life-cycle and procurement plans so purchases such as the front loader are not surprises, noting a $2.78 million bond partly paid for equipment that will not outlast it.
- Kristen Burke Democratic PartyProposed bidding out legal and insurance services and noted the Town’s move toward employee medical contributions; says Village facilities are in very good shape, $18 million of debt is low for the county, and no tax-cap override is expected next year.
Flood mitigation
- Everitt Speros Neighborhood Party · RepublicanDisagrees with the status quo, arguing the current financing would add debt and that the project should be phased with fiscal benchmarks, and questioned whether one hydraulic simulation is enough.
- Kristen Burke Democratic PartyCalled the status quo unacceptable, says the Village’s plan is thorough and at least half will be grant-funded, and says only about 10% of the problem comes from New Rochelle.
- Paul Anzilotti Neighborhood Party · RepublicanSays the engineers’ original $36 million estimate is understated, citing a comparison suggesting one pipe could cost $13.5 million against an $8.5 million estimate, and proposed revisiting Glenwood Lake for a less costly near-term fix.
- Krystal Howell Democratic PartySays six studies since 1945 found the same problem, that the Village follows its experienced engineers, and that it has about $26.5 million pre-approved by the county and $1.7 million from state and congressional representatives.
- Arthur Long Neighborhood Party · RepublicanCalled the status quo unacceptable but argued the board is overly optimistic about grants, that the county earmark is not yet legislated, and that the Village is already $18 million in debt on what Long called a $60 million project.
- Russell Solomon Democratic PartySays standing still is not an option, that a team of specialist engineers has the design at 70%, and that a fact-based design will attract grants once the studies are complete.
Development and housing
- Russell Solomon Democratic PartySays the Picture House is not before the board and should be preserved; says the business district floating zone requires developers to provide parking and a public benefit, proposed reapplying for New York Forward, and supports affordable and senior housing and the Village’s sustainability plan.
- Everitt Speros Neighborhood Party · RepublicanCalled the board’s blight study and eminent domain process over the Picture House block, which Speros says cost over $150,000, “a severe overstep”; called parking the biggest barrier to business, supports affordable housing tied to municipal workers, and backs green-fleet steps only if they keep capability and make fiscal sense.
- Kristen Burke Democratic PartySays there is no Village role in the Picture House now and called it “a gem”; proposed an EV rideshare program like New Rochelle’s, cited workforce-housing requirements for new development, and called sustainability an investment to keep funding through grants.
- Paul Anzilotti Neighborhood Party · RepublicanSays the Picture House and the developer should work out the project privately, with Village help; proposed a second parking level over the Sparks Avenue lot with the 101 Wolfs Lane developer, and supports more affordable housing and grant-funded sustainability.
- Krystal Howell Democratic PartySays there was no delay and “there is no Pelham Picture House deal”; proposed Chamber partnerships and festivals for downtown, pointed to the rule requiring 10% affordable units in buildings of 10 or more, and says grants have paid for EV vehicles and equipment.
- Arthur Long Neighborhood Party · RepublicanArgued the board’s Picture House approach, including the floating zone, the eminent domain threat and a blight study Long called “trumped up,” is why the election is contested; blamed lost parking on board decisions, called for moderate development that provides parking, and argued that tax increases worsen affordability for renters and that sustainability must not distract from flooding.
Public safety and infrastructure
- Kristen Burke Democratic PartyCalled fire staffing the most pressing issue after flooding, to be funded with “a very, very sharp pen”; pointed to the Glover Field safety study and planned traffic-calming grants.
- Paul Anzilotti Neighborhood Party · RepublicanWould find the funds for more firefighters line by line; called Fifth Avenue traffic “unbearable” at times and suggested revisiting a pedestrian bridge at the Glover Field crossing.
- Krystal Howell Democratic PartyProposed a fire staffing study, phased hiring and reapplying for SAFER grants, noting the minimum is three firefighters plus a lieutenant; says paved roads underpin pedestrian safety and Fifth Avenue parking will ease as Pelham House adds spaces.
- Arthur Long Neighborhood Party · RepublicanWould start by talking with the firefighters and argued rising debt service could otherwise pay for more of them; said the first step on pedestrian safety is to “do no harm” by stopping the density approved under the current board.
- Russell Solomon Democratic PartySays the board is seeking creative ways to staff the fire department after the lost grant; pointed to school-zone speed cameras expected by spring and supports 25 mph limits and education.
- Everitt Speros Neighborhood Party · RepublicanWould add five firefighters through a long-range staffing plan; says Fifth Avenue congestion hurts safety and applauded the speed cameras and traffic safety officer.
Governance and transparency
- Paul Anzilotti Neighborhood Party · RepublicanProposed making all meetings available to the public, and says disagreements can be resolved through rational discussion.
- Krystal Howell Democratic PartyPointed to the budget detail on ClearGov and six public budget work sessions, and opposed an automatic “voting block of no” that could jeopardize services.
- Arthur Long Neighborhood Party · RepublicanSays the Picture House RFQ and statements about the tax increase were the key transparency failures and that boards need “effective challenge”; urged electing all three Neighborhood Party candidates for a 4–3 majority, noting a tax-cap override takes five votes.
- Russell Solomon Democratic PartySays meetings are public, recorded and back on cable, with live-streaming expected by the end of the year, and that board members disagree respectfully and move forward.
- Everitt Speros Neighborhood Party · RepublicanSays the community still needs published flood costs and long-range plans, and that differing views can produce better plans.
- Kristen Burke Democratic PartyFinds the Village very transparent while acknowledging mistakes, and pointed to bipartisan work on the Town Council, including bringing EMS in-house.
Submit a question for the debates
Have a question for the candidates? The League of Women Voters is accepting questions from residents.
You can also scan the QR code printed in the Examiner article. Source: Pelham Examiner, October 17, 2026.
Candidate profiles are limited to publicly available information. The amount of information shown does not indicate the importance, quality, or strength of a candidate’s campaign.
First contested race since 2019
Context: Hanan Eldahry, who has served since 2018, is not seeking reelection. Fiscal management is a major issue discussed by candidates and covered in local reporting — the village passed a $20.5M budget with a 10.1% increase, overriding the state tax cap for the first time. Three seats are up; top three vote-getters win.
Democratic Party
Russell Solomon
Background
A Village of Pelham trustee for six years, first elected in 2020 and now completing his third term. Professionally he is Executive Creative Director at a national firm; he moved to Pelham in 2007 and has raised three children here. As the board’s liaison to the Police Department he pushed for a dedicated Traffic Officer in the village budget, and he cites lowering the village speed limit to 25 mph, redesigning the Wolfs Lane and Sparks Avenue intersection, and the school zone speed camera home rule the Governor signed in August 2026. He says that after he joined the board during COVID, with village revenues in freefall, the board restored the village’s finances and earned an AA+ credit rating from S&P Global. He also points to relining 10% of the village’s sanitary sewers and bringing sanitation in-house to DPW. (The tax-cap bullet and the last four quotes below are from his October 29, 2026 press release.)
Why they say they’re running
He says the trust residents give “only means something if it’s followed through with collaborative work and results.” He calls stormwater remediation a priority, citing residents who have repeatedly seen their basements flood. He notes that this is the first contested Village Trustee election since 2019, and he is running alongside fellow incumbent Krystal Howell and Kristen Burke.
Prior public service
Village of Pelham Board of Trustees, 2020 to present.
Stated priorities
- Pedestrian safety and traffic calming
- Fiscal management
- Sewer and infrastructure repair
- Stormwater remediation
- Responds to the Neighborhood Party debt projection: says no bond has been authorized and the $48.5M figure is an evolving estimate, not committed debt. (pelhamexaminer.com/84941, October 2, 2026)
- Tax-cap overrides: defends both, which he says were announced publicly — the first during COVID, “because the world didn’t check on anyone’s pledge first,” and the second this year, to start setting money aside for the flood work ahead, fund a traffic officer, keep road paving where streets needed it most, and meet contracts. Argues a no-override pledge ignores costs no board controls (state-set pensions, insurance premiums and payments on things that had to be replaced), and says the AA+ credit rating has held and Pelham sits well below the line where the State Comptroller takes notice of fiscal stress. (pelhamexaminer.com/85467, October 29, 2026) The candidate’s own characterizations.
Relevant quotes
The trust you give only means something if it’s followed by the work.
I’ve been fortunate not to experience severe flooding, but I know plenty of Pelham residents who’ve watched water fill their basements more than once, who’ve drained their savings trying to keep their homes livable, and who’ve had to gut and rebuild rooms they’d already rebuilt once before.
A pledge that ignores what you can’t control isn’t a plan – it’s a promise you’ll have to break.
You can’t call half the Village liars in October and represent them equally and fairly in November.
Four neighborhoods. One community. Everyone means everyone.
We can disagree about a budget, a bond or a building. But this kind of politics and behavior has no place in our Village, whoever brings it and wherever they live.
Krystal Howell
Background
Finishing her first term as a Village of Pelham trustee, first elected in 2024. She is a CPA with 25 years of experience in the energy sector, covering construction and project management, contractor oversight, budgeting and financial planning, safety and environmental compliance, and capital program management; she says she has managed large portfolios and supported work exceeding $2 billion a year. As trustee she supported pedestrian safety efforts including the hiring of a Traffic Safety Officer, advocated for the village with other levels of government, and worked with neighboring municipalities on shared quality-of-life issues. Before joining the board she was PTA Council President and served on local PTA boards, the Pelham Together Diversity Committee, the school district’s Cultural Competency Committee, Bridges of Pelham and the Village Steering Committee on Police Reform, and started free drop-in math tutoring at the high school after COVID.
Why they say they’re running
She says she is seeking re-election to continue moving the village forward “with purpose, transparency, and care.” She points to many hours spent with engineers and regional partners on the village’s stormwater challenges, and to her support for the Downtown Improvement Grant to keep Pelham’s small businesses vibrant. She also cites more than $1.8M in grants for emergency service equipment and municipal services, and the Pelham House project’s annual tax savings of more than 8%, as examples of responsible financial management. (pelhamexaminer.com/85426, October 27, 2026)
Prior public service
Village of Pelham Board of Trustees, 2024 to present.
Stated priorities
- Stormwater and storm resiliency
- Strengthening infrastructure
- Public and pedestrian safety
- Supporting local businesses
- Village-wide communication
- Responds to the Neighborhood Party debt projection: says no bond has been authorized and the $48.5M figure is an evolving estimate, not committed debt. (pelhamexaminer.com/84941, October 2, 2026)
Relevant quotes
My love for this village runs deep, and so does my commitment to serving every resident with respect and empathy.
I have spent many hours working with engineers, construction experts, municipal bodies, and regional partners to better understand our stormwater challenges and advocate for thoughtful, long-term solutions.
We refuse to mirror the conduct we have seen from our opponents because Pelham deserves a higher standard of leadership.
Kristen Burke
Background
An attorney who has been General Counsel at Mercy University for more than 11 years, after working as Associate Counsel at CUNY and as a Rackets prosecutor in the Bronx. She has served on the Town of Pelham Town Council for six years, as its legal and courts liaison. Her current term runs through 2027, and she has said she would step down from the seat if elected to the Village board. She cites securing and contracting services for Pelham’s own in-house ambulance within a year, after strong community advocacy, as a Town Council accomplishment.
Why they say they’re running
She notes there are no attorneys on the Village board and says her legal experience would help with the complex flood mitigation project, labor and employment matters, contracts and policy review, at a time when the village faces rising costs and funding cuts. She also wants to continue her work on pedestrian safety, including a project she is leading near the Glover Field complex.
Prior public service
Town of Pelham Town Council, six years; current term through 2027.
Stated priorities
- Flood mitigation
- Rising costs
- Downtown improvement
- Pedestrian safety
- Parking and traffic congestion
- Sustainability
Relevant quotes
I intend to continue my work on pedestrian safety, parking and traffic congestion, and sustainability.
Pelham is at its best when neighbors step forward to serve one another, solve problems together, and support the community we all love.
Neighborhood Party · Republican
Arthur Long
Background
An attorney at Latham & Watkins who ran for the Village of Pelham board in 2019. In his campaign statement he says he was born in 1968 and grew up in Greenwich Village, the son of two small-firm attorneys, and has practiced banking and corporate law for 31 years. He married his wife Wendy in 1998 and they have two children. The family moved to Pelham in 2017; he says the village’s neighborhood scale and local businesses reminded him of the Greenwich Village of his childhood. He is running on the three-member Neighborhood Party slate, having signed the joint platform alongside Everitt Speros and Paul Anzilotti. (His firm, his 2019 run, his running mates and the first quote below are from the September 14, 2026 Neighborhood Party platform statement.)
Why they say they’re running
He says seven years of uncontested elections have left the Village on an “unhealthy and unsustainable path” of debt, imprudent spending and land-use decisions the board has failed to challenge, and that new trustees are needed for sounder finances, more prudent planning and restored transparency. He cites a fiscal stress score that went in one year from among the best to the worst of any Westchester village; Village taxes 22% above Pelham Manor’s; one or two more over-cap levies signaled by Mayor Mullen; an unbudgeted $100,000-plus loader; $2.5 million borrowed for lawyers and consultants on a $50 million-plus flood plan at least half taxpayer-funded, with grants nowhere near that; less parking alongside a sought 10% population increase; a contingency line of over $785,000, against a recent high of about $300,000; and over $150,000 for lawyers and a “blight” study of the Wolf’s Lane gas stations. These are the candidate’s own figures and characterizations.
Prior public service
No prior elected office. Ran for the Village of Pelham board in 2019.
Stated priorities
- Guarantee tax-cap-compliant budgets by electing all three Neighborhood Party candidates (exceeding the cap takes five votes)
- Stronger discipline over Village spending
- Pause, reset and plan development and infrastructure more prudently
- A realistic flood mitigation plan
- Restore transparency, with trustees exercising independent judgment
- Keep local elections about local issues
- Serve as a trustee without pay (pelhamexaminer.com/84605, September 14, 2026)
- Village debt projection: says flood mitigation borrowing could push total Village debt to $53.7M even after $17.65M in expected grants, and higher if grants fall through. (pelhamexaminer.com/84905, September 30, 2026)
- Cites debt growth from $4.26M in 2021 to $17.88M by early 2026, and a $3.655M Municipal Center authorization including $800K for furniture, as evidence of undisciplined spending. (pelhamexaminer.com/84605, September 14, 2026)
- Open up the Picture House RFQ (pelhamexaminer.com/84605, September 14, 2026)
- Comptroller fiscal stress score: cites the Village’s fiscal 2025 score of 19.2, up from 3.3 — worst among Westchester villages, second worst in the county — and blames contingency growth and rising debt service for the tax-cap override. (pelhamexaminer.com/84973, October 5, 2026)
- Pelham Green / Fifth Avenue: says the project shows the limits of the current board’s approach — two stop-work orders, ongoing construction issues, and lost parking. Pledges to prevent similar developments. (pelhamexaminer.com/85234, October 20, 2026) The candidates’ own characterizations.
- Alternative flood mitigation plan: proposes five changes to the current approach including exploring a retention tank on the New Rochelle side of the border, sharing costs with New Rochelle, and phasing the project. Projects significant tax increases under the current plan by 2035. (pelhamexaminer.com/85421, October 27, 2026) The candidates’ own figures and characterizations.
- Responds to Mayor Mullen’s October 21 letter endorsing the Democratic candidates: says Mullen misleadingly quoted a remark Long made at an April 2024 public meeting, which Long says he offered as a likely FEMA cost-benefit position, not his own, while trying to ask the Village engineer how FEMA measures “benefits”; says Mullen then muted his microphone, depriving attendees of an alternative view on the $50–60 million project, and that a Town of Pelham Democratic Committee flyer that arrived on October 28 repeated the quotation. (pelhamexaminer.com/85483, October 30, 2026) The candidate’s own characterizations.
Relevant quotes
The current board’s unanimous actions have dangerously stretched the Village’s finances.
I am running because, after seven years of uncontested elections, the Village is on an unhealthy and unsustainable path of debt, imprudent spending, and imperious land-use decisions approved by a Village Board that has failed in its most basic duty – effective challenge.
Responsible stewardship requires living in reality, not a fantasy world.
Those who can least afford it will suffer the most from repeated tax-cap busting budgets.
In a local election, sometimes the candidate from the different party is the right one.
I undertook this campaign because I believed that seven years of uncontested elections had resulted in bad policy – largely due to the lack of any opinion outside of the reigning Party Line being considered in the Village of Pelham.
Everitt Speros
Background
A 19-year Pelham resident who, in his campaign statement, says he recently retired from the US Army after 26 years of service. He says he has coached Little League and softball, volunteers on the parent committees for several varsity sports, and gives back through Pelham Civics. He has two children in the district’s high schools. He is running on the Neighborhood Party slate with Arthur Long and Paul Anzilotti. He also uses the name Rhett Speros: earlier Examiner coverage calls him that, and he signed the slate’s October 20 press release as Rhett Speros. (His children, the cited platform priorities and the first quote below are from the September 14, 2026 Neighborhood Party platform statement.)
Why they say they’re running
He cites three reasons: municipal debt that continues to climb, which he says grew from $4.225 million in 2021 to almost $18 million and is among the highest per capita in New York State; skyrocketing property taxes, including what he describes as Mayor Mullen’s plan to pierce the state tax cap for at least a third time to fund “luxury municipal projects”; and “backroom development deals that do not benefit our community.” He criticizes what he describes as the board’s effort last winter to force two longstanding local business owners to sell so a developer could build a residential complex next to and including the Picture House, along with “secret ‘blight studies,’” and calls for ending the Business District Floating Zone. These are the candidate’s own figures and characterizations.
Prior public service
No prior elected office. 26 years of service in the US Army (retired).
Stated priorities
- Stop frivolous spending and manage the budget responsibly
- Vote against piercing the state tax cap for a third time
- End the Business District Floating Zone
- Oppose what he calls backroom development deals, including exclusive developer agreements and secret blight studies made without public input
- Oppose high-density housing he says will strain infrastructure and schools before flooding is addressed
- Stop spending on what he calls endless surveys and legal fees, including aggressive eminent domain efforts
- Village debt: says debt grew from $4.225M in 2021 to almost $18M — the candidate’s own figures, not Village figures
- Serve as a trustee without pay (pelhamexaminer.com/84605, September 14, 2026)
- Produce an infrastructure plan (pelhamexaminer.com/84605, September 14, 2026)
- Open up the Picture House RFQ (pelhamexaminer.com/84605, September 14, 2026)
- Village debt projection: says flood mitigation borrowing could push total Village debt to $53.7M even after $17.65M in expected grants, and higher if grants fall through. (pelhamexaminer.com/84905, September 30, 2026)
- Comptroller fiscal stress score: cites the Village’s fiscal 2025 score of 19.2, up from 3.3 — worst among Westchester villages, second worst in the county — and blames contingency growth and rising debt service for the tax-cap override. (pelhamexaminer.com/84973, October 5, 2026)
- Pelham Green / Fifth Avenue: says the project shows the limits of the current board’s approach — two stop-work orders, ongoing construction issues, and lost parking. Pledges to prevent similar developments. (pelhamexaminer.com/85234, October 20, 2026) The candidates’ own characterizations.
- Alternative flood mitigation plan: proposes five changes to the current approach including exploring a retention tank on the New Rochelle side of the border, sharing costs with New Rochelle, and phasing the project. Projects significant tax increases under the current plan by 2035. (pelhamexaminer.com/85421, October 27, 2026) The candidates’ own figures and characterizations.
Relevant quotes
Our village should be a place where residents can afford to stay.
I promise to be a guardian of your hard-earned tax dollars, and I will work tirelessly to preserve and maintain the great village we all chose to call home.
The current administration treats Pelham taxpayers like an open checkbook.
The current Board didn’t drop the eminent domain threat because they wanted to; they dropped it because they got caught.
Signing exclusive developer agreements and ordering secret “blight studies” on our local small businesses without public input is a dangerous, opaque way to run our village.
Paul Anzilotti
Background
A lifelong Pelham resident who, in his campaign statement, says he grew up in the community and has raised two children here with his wife Ann Marie, the last 12 years in the Village. He says he is an engineer with more than 35 years of experience in the construction industry, covering plan and specification review, project cost estimating, contract negotiation, budgeting, planning, and construction project management, and that he has worked with numerous municipalities throughout the tri-state area, including the Village of Pelham, helping address their infrastructure needs. He signed the joint Neighborhood Party platform alongside Arthur Long and Everitt Speros, which faults undisciplined spending including the $3.655M Municipal Center authorization. (His years in the Village, the platform and the first quote below are from the September 14, 2026 Neighborhood Party platform statement.)
Why they say they’re running
He says he is driven by concern about the Village’s finances and long-term planning. He cites two tax-cap overrides in five years, debt growth from about $4 million to about $18 million, and annual debt service of about $1.6 million, roughly 10% of last year’s budget. He says inadequate advance planning and budgeting for recent projects added to that debt while aging buildings, roads and drainage need investment. He calls flood remediation essential, but says the proposed approach could add about $35 million in debt and should be evaluated, with alternatives and costs weighed, first. He also links the loss of a parking structure to shopping-district congestion. These are the candidate’s own figures, not Village figures.
Prior public service
No prior elected office.
Stated priorities
- Serve as a trustee without pay
- Vote against exceeding the state tax cap
- Produce an infrastructure plan
- Village debt projection: says flood mitigation borrowing could push total Village debt to $53.7M even after $17.65M in expected grants, and higher if grants fall through. (pelhamexaminer.com/84905, September 30, 2026)
- Open up Village decisions to residents
- Comptroller fiscal stress score: cites the Village’s fiscal 2025 score of 19.2, up from 3.3 — worst among Westchester villages, second worst in the county — and blames contingency growth and rising debt service for the tax-cap override. (pelhamexaminer.com/84973, October 5, 2026)
- Flood remediation: says the proposed project could add ~$35M in Village debt without changes to the approach; calls for thorough evaluation and alternative solutions before committing taxpayers. (pelhamexaminer.com/85124, October 15, 2026)
- Parking and traffic: supports identifying opportunities for additional parking and improvements to traffic flow in collaboration with businesses, property owners and residents
- Pelham Green / Fifth Avenue: says the project shows the limits of the current board’s approach — two stop-work orders, ongoing construction issues, and lost parking. Pledges to prevent similar developments. (pelhamexaminer.com/85234, October 20, 2026) The candidates’ own characterizations.
- Alternative flood mitigation plan: proposes five changes to the current approach including exploring a retention tank on the New Rochelle side of the border, sharing costs with New Rochelle, and phasing the project. Projects significant tax increases under the current plan by 2035. (pelhamexaminer.com/85421, October 27, 2026) The candidates’ own figures and characterizations.
Relevant quotes
The deficit is on a trajectory that is unsustainable without continuous substantial tax increases.
These needs cannot be ignored, and they must be addressed through careful planning, realistic cost estimates, and responsible financial management.
Contested
Context: Maurice Owen-Michaane is stepping down after three two-year terms. The 2025 Manor election was historically close — Lapey won the mayoral race by 20 votes, Case won by 2 after a recount. Kurtz returns for a rematch. Top two vote-getters win.
Neighborhood Party · Republican
Breda Bennett
Background
Deputy Mayor and Police Commissioner of the Village of Pelham Manor, and a member of the board since 2018. In her campaign statement she says she was born in the Bronx to Irish immigrants who taught her the value of community. She and her husband Tom moved to Pelham Manor in 1997 and raised six children there, all of whom attended Pelham Public Schools. She lists community service with PACT, Prospect Hill’s Site-Based Council and the Girl Scouts, and leadership positions on the Pelham Little League Board, rising to Treasurer and Vice President. She says she served as a Town Recreation Commissioner for 14 years, two of them as Chair, and that her vision of a Recreational Basketball League is now a reality with over 500 children enrolled. She also served on the Pelham Booster Club for 11 years, becoming Treasurer and Co-President. As trustee, she says, she enthusiastically supported Local Law 1 of 2025, which expanded allowed business uses in the Four Corners retail district. As Police Commissioner she says she launched the “Road Safety Starts with You” campaign and secured crossing assistance at Wolfs Lane/Iden Avenue and Pelhamdale Avenue/Black Street, and that she previously supported a crossing guard at Four Corners and the red-light camera enforcement program there, which the statement describes as the first such program for a village in New York State. She says the PMPD holds a AAA Bronze Award through its Community Traffic Safety Awards Program. On stormwater, she says the Village completed a large-scale improvement project on Highbrook Avenue that doubled the size of the infrastructure pipes, and that work is underway on a drain augmentation at Monroe Street and a bioretention basin at the Esplanade median near Ely Avenue, with much of the drainage work funded through an in-house grant writing program. She says the Village recycles over 77% of its trash and runs an organic waste recycling program under a public-private partnership that supplies residents with free compost, and that since 2021 Pelham Manor has planted over 300 trees, selecting native species that consume large quantities of water. She is running with Joe Liberatore on the Neighborhood Party line and has also filed on the Republican line. (Earlier biographical detail, party lines and the first two quotes below are from the August 19, 2026 Examiner announcement.)
Why they say they’re running
She says she wants to continue providing premier local services in a fiscally responsible manner, noting that Pelham Manor continues to operate debt-free, earns an excellent fiscal stress score from the State Comptroller, and remains compliant with New York State’s tax cap law. She wants to keep advancing pedestrian and traffic safety, stormwater infrastructure, environmental sustainability, and community vibrancy.
Prior public service
Village of Pelham Manor Board of Trustees, 2018 to present. Currently Deputy Mayor and Police Commissioner.
Stated priorities
- Maintaining high-level village services
- Fiscal responsibility: no debt, compliance with the state tax cap, and strong Comptroller fiscal stress scores
- Pedestrian and traffic safety: ‘Road Safety Starts with You’ campaign; crossing assistance secured at Wolfs Lane/Iden Ave and Pelhamdale Ave/Black St; red-light camera at Four Corners (described as first such program for a village in NYS)
- Stormwater infrastructure: Highbrook Avenue pipe doubling; Monroe Street drain augmentation; Esplanade median bioretention basin near Ely Ave; in-house grant writing; regional approach with downstream municipal neighbors
- Environmental sustainability: 77% recycling rate; organic waste PPP with free resident compost delivery; reduced gasoline-powered leaf blower hours; NYPA Tree Power Program; 300+ trees planted since 2021 using native, high-water-consumption species
- Supporting Four Corners retail district (Local Law 1 of 2025)
- Community accessibility and communication
Relevant quotes
I want to keep Pelham Manor on track to continue providing the highest level of village services in a fiscally responsible manner.
Listening is central to my approach as a municipal leader.
I remain dedicated to protecting our safety, while promoting vibrancy in the Village we love.
My record demonstrates an ongoing commitment to providing premier local services in a fiscally responsible manner.
It happened to me, too. Second time in a row. I don’t understand it because when you look at the guidelines, the laws, our children are well within their rights to vote. I think what happened was just awful, awful for all of us as a community. We really are better than that. (October 26, 2026 Pelham Manor Board of Trustees meeting, as reported by the Examiner, October 28, 2026)
Joe Liberatore
Background
A CPA and fractional CFO who, in his campaign statement, says he has spent decades managing, auditing and protecting the financial health of for-profit companies and non-profit organizations, including those in the conservation and environmental education space. He says he previously served as Deputy Superintendent and CFO of the New York State Insurance Department, which gave him insight into government finance, public accountability and structural oversight. He holds an MBA in Finance and a BS in Accounting from Fordham University. He has lived in Pelham Manor for 25 years and was appointed to the Village’s Zoning Board of Appeals in May 2023. He says he serves as a Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) and as a trustee and finance chair at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, and has coached Pelham Little League Baseball and Softball, Pelham Recreation Soccer and CYO Basketball. This is his first run for elective office. He is running alongside Deputy Mayor Breda Bennett on the Neighborhood Party and Republican lines. (His party lines, his first run for office and the first two quotes below are from the August 19, 2026 Examiner announcement.)
Why they say they’re running
He says he wants to keep the Village “unique and neighborly” — a warm community where children can walk safely to school along tree-lined streets — and that his experience as a CPA and fractional CFO brings important financial skills to the board. In his campaign statement he says he intends to bring the government finance and structural oversight experience from his time at the New York State Insurance Department to the Board of Trustees, to ensure every tax dollar is managed “with the utmost care, transparency, and strategic vision.” He describes his approach as collaborative, with his door always open to neighbors.
Prior public service
No prior elected office. Appointed to the Pelham Manor Zoning Board of Appeals in May 2023.
Stated priorities
- Keeping the Village unique and neighborly
- Bringing financial expertise to the board
- A collaborative, open-door approach
Relevant quotes
I want to keep this Village unique and neighborly.
My approach is collaborative, and my door has always been open for my neighbors.
I believe in listening to every voice, hearing every perspective, and maintaining an open-door policy for all of my neighbors.
It’s amazing that the Village of Pelham Manor hasn’t busted the tax cap. (October 20 debate, as reported by the Examiner, October 22, 2026)
Democratic Party · Manor Together
Ryan Kurtz
Background
An attorney at a large Manhattan law firm, representing mainly nonprofit organizations on governance, ethics, personnel and compliance matters, and handling workplace investigations and litigation; earlier in his career he was a public defender and clerked for Judge Christopher F. Droney of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He and his wife moved to Pelham in 2020 and are raising two young children here; he coaches kindergarten boys soccer and supports Pelham Pride. He ran for the Pelham Manor board in November 2025 and lost to incumbent Tim Case by two votes, 1,222 to 1,220, after a manual recount. He is running again in 2026 alongside Chris Dlutowski on the Democratic and Manor Together lines.
Why they say they’re running
He says the Village can “do more—without taxing more” through continued fiscal responsibility combined with strategic and professional long-term planning. He notes that Pelham Manor’s last comprehensive plan dates to 1979, the oldest of any Westchester village, and argues the incumbent board’s approach to traffic safety shows it is time for change. On flooding, he calls the Highbrook project welcome progress but says the Village’s engineers modeled it to prevent surcharging only through a one-year storm, and only if the blockage under Glover Field is fixed.
Prior public service
No prior elected office. Ran for the Pelham Manor Board of Trustees in 2025.
Stated priorities
- Fiscal responsibility: do more while holding the line on taxes
- A data-driven approach to traffic and pedestrian safety
- Modern strategic and capital plans for the Manor
- Better flood mitigation
Relevant quotes
I’m running again because I think we can do more—without taxing more—through continued fiscal responsibility, coupled with strategic and professional long-term planning.
We must be protecting residents against the storms of today and tomorrow, not yesterday.
Legal issues are preventing us from having an app? Maybe there are other reasons, but our lawyers said no? (October 20 debate, as reported by the Examiner, October 22, 2026)
Chris Dlutowski
Background
A transactional attorney for more than 30 years, representing clients such as the New York City retirement systems. He moved to Pelham with his family a little over five years ago, and his daughters walk to school and bike locally. He is President of the Board of the Pelham Art Center and served on the parent panel that interviewed the new principal at Siwanoy. He is running on the Democratic line alongside Ryan Kurtz.
Why they say they’re running
He says the board answered residents’ traffic safety concerns with AAA safety demonstrations rather than meaningful changes, and proposes a systemic traffic safety analysis, including physical design changes and the needs of cyclists and runners as well as pedestrians and drivers. He also wants to assess how the village logs residents’ concerns and follows up on them, and make that information easy to find, and notes that the village has not had a strategic plan for nearly 50 years.
Prior public service
No prior elected office.
Stated priorities
- Traffic safety improvements
- More responsive village government
- An updated village strategic plan
- Holding the line on taxes
Relevant quotes
The Manor has a proud past, but I think it could have an even brighter future.
I am also committed to an updated strategic plan.
We need to train ourselves to see opportunities and not obstacles. (October 20 debate, as reported by the Examiner, October 22, 2026)
Re-run required by new state law
Context: Mohan defeated Republican Dan McLaughlin 2,115 to 1,456 in 2025. Miller defeated Borsella 2,108 to 1,457. Both races were decided by similar margins. Town Council seats (Burke, McLoughlin, Jenks, Curtin — 4-year terms) are not up in 2026.
A new state law shifts odd-year municipal elections to even years. As a result, Supervisor Mohan and Clerk Miller — both elected in November 2025 — must run again in 2026 to secure full two-year terms.
Democratic Party
Theresa Mohan
Background
Elected Town Supervisor in November 2025, becoming the first woman to hold the position. An attorney by training, she has served as General Counsel and Head of Human Resources for organisations of more than 15,000 people and currently teaches leadership and ethics at Fordham Law School. She previously served three terms as a Village of Pelham trustee, and says that during that tenure she helped secure grants that expanded the village’s sustainability goals without raising taxes. In her October 9 campaign statement she lists what she says the Town has done in her first nine months: modernized the Town website and upgraded internal systems for finance, taxes, communications and administration; strengthened procurement practices, with a commitment to competitively bid significant Town contracts; expanded the Recreation Commission, after the department ended last year with a significant shortfall, and worked to strengthen its financial oversight, improve operations and better understand the relationship between program revenues and expenses; created the Sustainability Advisory Board, which she says is expected to receive its first grant for a Town-wide tree inventory; made the Town’s annual independent audit an integral part of its public governing process; and launched a comprehensive Facilities Master Plan to assess the condition and use of Town-owned buildings and develop a long-term roadmap for them. (Her biography, the reason for the re-run and the first quote below are from her September 21, 2026 re-election announcement in the Examiner.)
Why they say they’re running
She is returning to the ballot less than a year into her term because a change in New York State law moves odd-year municipal elections to even years. In her campaign statement she says that when she took office she heard that many residents were not sure what Town government does, how it differs from the two Villages, or where to go for Town services, and that she believed Town government needed not only to work better but also to be more visible, understandable and accessible to the people it serves.
Prior public service
Town Supervisor, 2025 to present. Village of Pelham Board of Trustees, three terms.
Stated priorities
- Financial systems modernisation and a more rigorous review of the Town budget
- Facilities Master Plan: move from planning to implementation
- A Town-wide strategic planning process covering services and facilities
- A financially sustainable Recreation Department
- Stronger procurement: competitive bidding of significant Town contracts
- Resident access and transparency, including a clearer explanation of how the Town budget works
- A Community Summit bringing together Pelham’s civic, nonprofit, school, cultural, environmental, youth and service organizations
- The Sustainability Advisory Board and its expected tree inventory grant
Relevant quotes
Pelham deserves leaders who won’t just maintain what we have, but who will plan boldly for what comes next.
When I took office, I believed Town government needed not only to work better, but also to be more visible, understandable, and accessible to the people it serves.
Rather than simply carrying prior assumptions forward, we are asking where costs can be controlled, where operations can be improved, and where taxpayers are getting — or should be getting — better value.
The first 100 days showed what was possible. The months since have shown that we can turn those early changes into real results that benefit our entire Town.
Eileen Miller
Background
Elected Town Clerk in November 2025. In her campaign statement she says she moved to Pelham 14 years ago with her husband and two children, and has volunteered at the schools her children attended, served on the Pelham Education Foundation, led the Friends of the Pelham Public Library for several years, worked for six years at Pelham Together championing youth health and wellbeing, and served as a Trustee on the Board of Education. She says her career was in hospitality and marketing. She lists what she says the Clerk’s office has done since she took office in January: updates, notices and meetings for the Town Council, Recreation Commission and Sustainability Advisory Board are now delivered through the Town’s Facebook feed and posted on the Town website; she established Pelham’s first Community Services Day, where residents could renew passports, notarize documents and shred paperwork in one stop, alongside Pelham Together, Town Historian Art Scinta, the Sustainability Advisory Board and EcoPel; and, after the monthly Town meetings moved to the Daronco Town House for a physically accessible venue that lacked live-streaming and recording capacity, she began building that infrastructure, with audio-visual upgrades under way. (The reason for the re-run, the first sentence of “why she’s running” that follows it, and the first quote below are from her September 21, 2026 re-election announcement in the Examiner.)
Why they say they’re running
She is returning to the ballot less than a year into her term because a change in New York State law moves odd-year municipal elections to even years. She says she wants to keep improving the connection between local government and the residents it serves, and to give residents reliable ways to be more fully informed. In her campaign statement she says that one of the things she heard most from neighbors was a desire to be kept in the loop, and that she believes complete transparency is essential: live-streaming Town meetings is not legally required, but she says physical accessibility and digital transparency go hand in hand. She says she looks forward to continuing this work.
Prior public service
Pelham Union Free School District Board of Education, elected 2018, served 2018–2021. Town Clerk, elected November 2025, took office January 2026. (Board of Education: Pelham Examiner — BOE swearing-in, July 2018.)
Stated priorities
- Keeping residents informed through the Town website and Facebook
- Live-streaming, recording and audio-visual upgrades for Town meetings
- Making Community Services Day bigger next year
- Physically and digitally accessible local government
Relevant quotes
Better communication helps keep residents engaged, strengthens transparency, and builds community.
To me, effective communication isn’t just an administrative duty. It’s how we build trust, show respect, and bring our community closer together.
Staying connected to the Town shouldn’t feel like hard work.
While live streaming of Town meetings isn’t legally required, I believe complete transparency is essential.
Neighborhood Party
Scott Wolfgang
Background
Neighborhood Party candidate for Town Supervisor, running alongside Maureen Borsella for Town Clerk in a joint campaign launched in August 2026. In his October 25 campaign statement he says he and his wife Theresa have raised their four children in Pelham for the past 15 years, all of whom now attend Pelham schools, and that he grew up nearby in Pleasantville, giving him a connection to Westchester of nearly 50 years. He says he holds an MBA in Finance and has had a 25-year career as a COO, CFO and private-company board member, and is now a managing director at a commercial bank. (His Town figures, most of his priorities and the third and fourth quotes below are from his October 14 press release; launch details and the first two quotes are from the Examiner launch story; the party’s founding and the fifth and sixth quotes are from his October 23, 2026 press release.)
Why they say they’re running
He says a major reason he is running is to get the Town’s budget and focus back on track, citing a 129% tax levy increase over the last three budget years, so that more tax dollars can go to existing Town services and to Village and School District needs. He acknowledges most of the 2023–2026 growth came from the expanded ambulance service, but says other Town expenses rose 8% and 12% over the last two years. He says he would not expand the Town’s scope, wants it to excel in its limited functions, and notes that any material expansion would meaningfully raise taxes. In an October 14 press release he says he is campaigning across both Villages and put together a chart of Town and Village financial figures for transparency; he describes the Town as accounting for less than 3% of residents’ local property tax bills and delivering a narrow set of functions, such as the ambulance service and recreation department, and says it receives $3.9 million a year in property tax revenue, $1.8 million of which funds EMS, with about 50% of its budget going to EMS, Tax Collection & Assessment, and Court. In an October 23 press release he says that earlier in 2026 he helped found the Friends of Pelham Neighborhood Party to support independent-minded, Pelham-focused candidates and move Town and Village elections away from divisive races split along national partisan lines; the party is backing seven candidates, one for each local elected position on the November ballot. He says he wants transparent, non-partisan local government free from outside influence; a stronger ambulance service and recreation department; and a Town that stays tax-cap compliant and debt-free. He says he had never considered running for office before, but saw no better way to advance a Pelham-first vision.
Prior public service
No prior elected office.
Stated priorities
- Strengthen the Town’s core ambulance service and recreation department
- Focus on quality-of-life problems not fully addressed by the village boards: the library intersection crossing, the Hutch Parkway crossing to Glover Field, and the downtown parking crisis
- Predictable, modest annual tax increases of no more than 2% to 3%
- Keep the Town of Pelham 100% debt-free
- No expansion of the Town’s scope and mission: keep the Town focused on its core set of services with minimal overhead
- Cites three proposed projects on the near-term horizon — a new ambulance headquarters, a library transformation project, and a significant renovation of Town Hall and the Daronco Town House — as a fiscal concern, saying the current Town Council and Supervisor’s more expansive approach portends higher budgets, tax increases and potentially debt (the candidate’s own characterization)
- Says his executive experience as a COO, CFO, board member and commercial banker equips him to make the capital allocation and organizational decisions he says the Town needs
Relevant quotes
We have significant tax and debt growth across most of our other local municipalities and it’s imperative that the Town not become yet another financial burden to our taxpayers.
Pelham’s future deserves thoughtful planning. Growth should be balanced with preserving the character, walkability, and small-town charm that make our community so special. Progress should always reflect the voices and values of the people who call Pelham home.
As Town Supervisor, I have no designs on expanding the Town’s scope and mission, but rather ensuring it excels in the limited but important functions it provides.
Deliver predictable, modest annual tax increases of no greater than 2% to 3%.
I believe in transparent, non-partisan local government working hard to do what’s right for all of our friends and neighbors without any outside influence or control.
While I never considered running for public office before, I soon realized there was no better way to advance our Pelham-first vision than to share our message across both Villages while campaigning for elected office.
I am focused on the Town delivering its core set of exceptional services with minimal tax increases and no debt.
I am 100% committed to keeping the Town of Pelham DEBT FREE!
Maureen Borsella
Background
A Pelham resident of more than 60 years who, in her campaign statement, says Pelham is where she grew up, met her husband Anthony, raised her family and built lifelong friendships. She says she helped lead the fundraising and renovation of the Hutchinson School playground, volunteered with the PTA and Pelham Little League, and served as Co-President of The Danny Fund, and that more than 20 years as an office manager for a local custom cabinetry company gave her strong organizational, administrative and customer service skills. She ran for Town Clerk in 2025, losing to Eileen Miller 2,108 votes to 1,457, and is running again in 2026 on the Neighborhood Party line, in a joint campaign with Scott Wolfgang for Town Supervisor. (Her 2025 result and the first quote below are from the Examiner launch story.)
Why they say they’re running
She says she has always believed in giving back to a community that has given her and her family so much, and that the Town Clerk is “more than a keeper of records” — a position built on trust, accuracy, accessibility and service, where every resident deserves to feel welcomed, respected and heard. Alongside Scott Wolfgang, she says she is committed to strengthening communication between the Town and the villages.
Prior public service
No prior elected office. Ran for Town Clerk in 2025.
Stated priorities
- Responsible leadership and sound fiscal management
- Protecting taxpayers
- Strengthening communication between the Town and the villages
- A government that listens and works efficiently
Relevant quotes
The town clerk’s position is not just administrative. It is relational. It’s about being a trusted, familiar face who helps neighbors.
The Town Clerk is more than a keeper of records; it is a position built on trust, accuracy, accessibility and service. Every resident deserves to feel welcomed, respected and heard.
I have spent a lifetime serving this community because I love Pelham and the people who make it special.
Election Day
Nov 3, 2026
The general election was held on Tuesday, November 3.
Results
Unofficial results reported
Unofficial results reported; not certified. The totals (Nov 5, 2026, updated throughout the day, per the Pelham Examiner) are on the elections issue card. Certified results come from the Westchester County Board of Elections, not this site.
Future elections
Register any time
Each election has its own registration deadline. Check yours at elections.ny.gov or with the Westchester County Board of Elections.