Editor’s note: This statement was provided by the Democratic/Forward Pelham Party campaign.

Pelham is my home. And I love it.  My wife, Francile, is the Director of Education at the Picture House. Our son, Finnegan, is a 4^th grader at Hutchinson Elementary. I’m a Cub Scout den leader, I coach Rec Soccer and Little League, I’m a member of Pelham Civics, and for the last two years, I’ve had the distinct privilege of serving our community as a Trustee on the Village Board. 

As we all head to the polls on Tuesday, there is only one thing we know with any degree of certainty: on April 1, we will have a new Mayor. Our new Mayor will face a host of challenges on their first day: a firehouse and a parking garage that are failing; a negotiation with the police department on the verge of arbitration; a garbage contract that could turn south at any moment; homeowners about to absorb the cost of a new school at the same time there’s a cap on SALT deductions; and a downtown that was just ranked 30^th out of 43 by Westchester magazine. The next Mayor will not just join this work, they must lead it. 

I am ready to do that. In fact, I’m energized by it.

Lacking any experience, alternative plans or understanding of the myriad issues facing the next Mayor, my opponent has chosen to run a campaign on only one issue: development. In the last six weeks, our little Village has been buried under a near avalanche of misinformation slid under doorways, hastily wrapped around palm cards, and taped to old utility poles. I will never be able to respond to every misrepresentation of the facts before election day, but I want you to know that many of the concerns you may have about development are concerns I have as well, as the father of a fourth grader who will be in our school district for the next eight years. In fact, every individual running on the Pelham Forward ticket has a child in either Hutchinson or Colonial. That’s why we care so much about basing our decisions on facts.

You should know that “development” is not a package deal. Each project is judged on its own merits. Prior to any approval by the Village Board, every potential project gets a full review by your neighbors on the Architectural Review Board and Planning Board, our professional planning consultants, and each Trustee doing their own research and corresponding with the school board. This is all done in full view of the public and residents have formal opportunities to weigh in, throughout. If a proposal does not meet our community’s needs, I will oppose it. 

You should also know that I do not want to undermine the historic nature of our community, I want to renew it. I don’t believe the charm and character of this Village is contained in its empty lots, dilapidated parking garages and derelict gas stations. I believe the charm and character of this Village is in its people. And right now, our people are struggling. Many of our longtime residents are being squeezed out of a Village they’ve lived in their entire lives. Those who remain are struggling under the weight of high taxes—a reality that will only get worse if we cannot expand our tax base and find creative ways to deal with our crumbling infrastructure.

But most importantly, I want you to know that this is not a time to be afraid. This is a moment of opportunity. Right now, we have the ability to do things we’ve wanted to do for over half a century—on taxes, on our downtown, on traffic, on housing for our seniors. These decisions will not be made on March 19^th. These are decisions which are far too complicated and nuanced to make all in one day. The decision you are making on Tuesday is much simpler: in which direction do you think we should move? 

I think we should move forward.

I ran for Trustee two years ago because I wanted to show my son that the world around him was not just something that would happen to him, it was something he could affect, and sculpt, and change. I wanted to show him that he didn’t need to be wealthy or popular to get involved. I knew then, as I know now, that this Village will forever be a part of who he is, and I wanted him to know that I take that seriously. Because I do.

It has been a privilege serving as your Trustee the last two years. I’ve loved every second of it. I hope I get to be your Mayor for the next two.