Candidates Speak Out on the Eve of Election

The Scarsdale Village election for Mayor and three Trustee positions is just a day away. On Tuesday March 15th, voting will be held at Scarsdale Village Hall from 6 am to 9 am and from noon to 9 pm. A late breaking write-in campaign has brought more attention to the process than in previous years and may bring out more voters.

In late January, the Citizen’s Nominating Party announced their slate for the posts and if this year were like many before, the CNC candidates would run unopposed with little controversy. However this year has proven to be different as some are disenchanted with the process and believe that the nominating committee proceedings may have been swayed by special interests.

Late last week, Scarsdale10583 learned of a write-in campaign for two of the posts; with a challenger for Mayor and for Bob Harrison’s seat as Trustee. The process does allow for write in votes, either on absentee ballots which can still be secured at Village Hall on Monday March 14, or in the voting booth on Tuesday. Click here to see more on how to cast a write-in a vote.

The four candidates proposed by the Citizens Non Partisan Party are as follows:

• Mayor: Dr. Miriam Flisser
  Trustee: Stacey Brodsky
• Trustee: Robert Harrison
• Trustee: Robert Steves (second term)

You can find complete information and a video about these candidates  here:

“Hello! I'm Miriam Levitt Flisser, and I am a candidate for Mayor. The election is tomorrow March 15. I am glad to run in any contested election, although I wish we had more time for debate in this one, and that the "nominators" weren't anonymous. My nominators were chosen in open community elections.

You can read about me on 10583. Besides my bio, and my long history of community service, you should also know that Sharon Lindsey endorsed my candidacy by signing my candidate's petition on Feb 3, 2011. The petition is filed in the Village clerk's office, so you can check.

Since 10583 has posted a graphic illustrating one part of the voting booth, here's my try at posting a picture to show you how to cast a vote tomorrow. We're using the terrific old lever machines, and Harvey, my husband, along with certified Village election personnel, checked the machine on Friday, to make sure it was in good order. Harvey took the picture.

Pull the levers down over the individual names to cast your vote.

Thanks! “

In response to questions from readers, we reached out to the two write-in candidates to learn more.

Sharon Lindsay, a former trustee and deputy mayor of Scarsdale told us that she had been vetted by the CNC this year. She was not the instigator of the write-in campaign but was approached by a large number of unhappy residents who expressed a wish for a choice. In her words, “That is the democratic way and is totally consistent with any election process at any level in our country.” If elected she is willing to serve as Mayor.

In a comment posted to the site, Lindsay said, “First, my signing the petition referred to in Miriam Flisser's and Bruce Well's comments was merely supportive of the presence of the CNC nominees on the ballot. It in no way constitutes an endorsement of, or a commitment to vote, for all or any of them. It is their right to be on the ballot and let our electorate decide.”

“Second, if there are constituents in our Village who are, for whatever reason, dissatisfied with all or any of those nominees, it is their legal right to write in alternative candidate(s) of their choice. This has happened in every Village election in which I have participated in the past 29 years. There is no "stealth campaign", indeed no campaign at all ... but rest assured that any candidate, whether they be a CNC nominee or a write in, who receives a majority of the ballots cast, would have a civic duty to serve. That is, after all, the democratic process.”

Robert Selvaggio the write-in candidate for Bob Harrison's seat as Trustee was also contacted. In response to a question about his willingness to serve if elected, he said, “This is a question that never crossed my mind until Friday afternoon. My thoughts are that first, I am sufficiently unknown at the moment that the likelihood of my have to cross that bridge is remote; and second, that it's hard to be a good citizen and not serve when asked to do so. Very much the same thoughts that ran through my mind when the CNC asked me to consider being considered a couple of months back."

We also asked him if he had been pressured not to run and he replied, “I have received many, many calls from friends and acquaintances on both sides of this issue.”

Selvaggio sent in the following statement for publication:

“While I am flattered that my name has been advanced as a write-in candidate for the office of Village Trustee, I have not been an active candidate for this position since the CNC held its vote on a snowy Wednesday evening some six weeks ago. I learned of this write-in campaign on Friday afternoon, and have taken many calls over the weekend from friends who were as surprised as I was. 

In late December or early January, a CNC member asked me to consider serving the village as a Trustee and subsequently sponsored me as a potential nominee to one of three open seats. I addressed the Committee on a Sunday afternoon, and subsequently met personally and on the phone with a number of individual Committee members conducting due diligence. I felt each conducted a very thorough interview, and I was impressed by some very tough questions and by their strong sense of purpose.”

“While I am told that I had considerable support among the CNC for a first-time candidate, I ultimately finished fourth in a contest for three seats. Simply put, I lost in a fair contest to others who were deemed more qualified. 

I received valuable feedback that while my professional credentials are solid, my civic experience may have been too limited to coaching and teaching youth sports. Additionally, there were concerns about potential time conflicts between my risk management consulting practice and the important role of Village Trustee. I have been encouraged to join a committee or two this year in order to contribute to the community and to gain a sense of how to be an effective Trustee -- and then see if the office calls to me next year. 

While any good citizen will serve if at all possible when a public office calls, the counsel I received still seems to me to be wise and remains my base-case glide-path.”

Last, Bruce Wells, who is the President of the Scarsdale Forum and chaired the proceedings of the Citizens Nominating Committee this year posted the following comment on the site:

“The Candidates of the Scarsdale Citizens' Non-Partisan Party are selected by elected neighborhood representatives, providing due diligence and reviewing extensive recommendations from the community. They have spoken in public as candidates since January 25. Their candidates' petition was endorsed by one of the "alternative candidates" on Feb 3. The alternative candidates have issued no public statements accepting their willingness to run and serve if elected.

Come out on Tuesday March 15th and pull the lever for the Scarsdale Citizen's Non-Partisan Party candidates: Miriam Flisser for Mayor; Bob Steves, Stacey Brodsky and Robert Harrison for Trustee. A vote for them is a vote for Scarsdale.”

Whatever your view, Scarsdale residents are encouraged to participate in the vote by absentee ballot today, Monday March 14 --or by voting at Scarsdale Village Hall on Tuesday March 15 from 6 am – 9 am and from noon - 9 pm. Continue to send your comments about the candidates, the process and the election here and watch Scarsdale10583 for the results.