Candidate for Village Trustee David Goldschmidt Vows to Listen to Residents and Support a Shared Vision for the Future

Scarsdale will elect a Mayor and three Village Trustees on Tuesday March 18, 2025. This week we are introducing you to David Goldschmidt a candidate for Village Trustee who was selected by the Citizens Nominating Committee.

See below for his thoughts on living in Scarsdale and serving the community as a Village Trustee.

How long have you lived in Scarsdale? What brought you here and what do you like about it?

My family moved to Scarsdale in 2003 after living for 10 years in the North End of New Rochelle. As our family grew, we needed more space and were drawn to Scarsdale to stay within the area. We formed many close friendships in the neighborhood and we never considered moving elsewhere. We spent countless days exploring the neighborhood pushing strollers, and the warm, welcoming atmosphere left a lasting impression.

My wife, Ellen, and I are proud parents to Daniel (married to Rachel), Josh (married to Yael), and our youngest, Allison. All our children loved growing up in the Heathcote area. Though they attended Westchester Day School in Mamaroneck, they took full advantage of the great services Scarsdale offers, including the library, the pool and recreational sports, where they connected with even more kids. I truly enjoyed these activities because both the parents and children were so welcoming to our family. As a sign that my kids loved growing up here, last year, Daniel and Rachel moved back to Scarsdale with their two-year-old daughter, Olivia, and we are now a three-generation family in the neighborhood.

What do you do professionally and how might your skills assist the board?

For the past 37 years, I have worked as a capital markets lawyer at the Skadden Arps law firm. Until recently, I served as the Global Head of the Capital Markets practice, managing over 120 lawyers worldwide. As a lawyer, I help clients navigate complex laws and provide strategic advice on achieving their business goals by outlining risks and benefits of various alternatives. My focus is on ensuring they make informed decisions, ultimately becoming their trusted advisor. As a manager of a legal practice, I developed strategies for growth and expansion for the group while creating a collaborative environment. I also promoted mentorship, ensuring that the next generation of lawyers received the training they needed. One of the most valuable lessons I have learned is the importance of listening - whether to clients, colleagues, or even opposing lawyers. Only by truly listening to people’s concerns can you form a strategy to achieve a client’s objectives or manage a team effectively. This skill is essential for any Village Trustee. We have to listen to residents, village professionals, and outside experts to solve the issues facing the Village.

Have you done any previous volunteer work? Tell us about it.

I am very involved with our synagogue, the Young Israel of Scarsdale, serving in various roles and having served as president of the synagogue from 2001 to 2003. During my time as an officer, I was part of the team that furnished the interior of the newly built synagogue. My listening skills were tested extensively, as there were many differing opinions on design and furnishings. I was also responsible for hiring the synagogue's first rabbinical intern, Rabbi Jonathan Morgenstern, who is now the Senior Rabbi of the synagogue and he has been with the community for over 25 years. I was also active at the Westchester Day School in Mamaroneck, where my children attended elementary school. I served as a Trustee and later as an officer of the Day School. In 2012, I became Chairman of the Board during a challenging time marked by increased competition and a tuition crisis. We hired a new headmaster and restructured our costs and scholarships to address the rising cost of providing a high quality education. Both of these experiences taught me the value of listening to people, incorporating good suggestions, and explaining why some ideas might not be feasible. Leadership, I learned, isn’t necessarily about making decisions unilaterally; it’s about synthesizing diverse perspectives and convincing others to support a shared vision.

Why did you decide to step up for service on the Board now?

The Village of Scarsdale functions well, thanks to the outstanding professionals and dedicated volunteers who make Scarsdale such a great place to live. However, we face challenges that require attention. These include aging infrastructure, supporting new construction without compromising the village’s character and charm, and ensuring that our water and sewer systems can handle increased demand. We cannot afford to be complacent; we must continue to improve and enhance our community. The current board is addressing key issues like storm drainage, road maintenance, and the upgrading of parks, fields, and pools. These efforts will continue, but we must also remain mindful of the costs to residents, particularly younger, newer families. Our goal is to ensure that Scarsdale remains an attractive place for families to settle and raise the next generation. I would like to be part of ensuring that goal. I have always believed in giving back to the community. I grew up with that lesson and I have stood by it, volunteering at various institutions since first moving to Westchester. Scarsdale is my home and I want to make sure that the next generation of Scarsdale residents will have the ability to enjoy the benefits of this great neighborhood.