Consider it a break from local political campaigns for the year – Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow incumbent trustees face no opposition going into next month's local elections.
Tarrytown Village Clerk Carol Booth confirmed on Tuesday that only the incumbent trustees; Tom Basher, Mary McGee, and Bobby Hoyt; had filed for election under the United Tarrytown slate.
On Wednesday, Elizabeth Cerino of the Westchester County Board of Elections confirmed that Tom Capossela, Karin Wompa and David Schroedel – incumbent Democrats running on the Better Government slate – were the only ones to file for election in Sleepy Hollow.
Tarrytown runs its own village elections, while the county administers Sleepy Hollow's elections. All candidates were to file by 5 p.m., Feb. 9.
"My own feelings are mixed," Schroedel said. "I am relieved, of course, but I am a great believer in the democratic process helping to forge the direction of a community. So on that level, I am a bit disappointed that no legitimate opposition emerged."
McGee, a two-term trustee, was also glad that she wouldn't have to mount another campaign this year.
"It's nice not to have to go through a full campaign and that kind of thing," she said. "But I can't comment as to why no one is running against us."
Attempts to contact former Republican trustees in both villages on Thursday afternoon were unsuccessful.
The incumbent trustees from both villages took the lack of competition as a sign that their policies and cohesion had paid off.
"I feel this current administration has proved itself over the past two years and I honestly believe the residents of Sleepy Hollow see that," Capossela said.
McGee concurred. She said that the current Tarrytown board had enough diverse view points to be critical while still advancing government priorities.
"The people have a lot of confidence in this board. It's been pretty smooth sailing," McGee said. "We knock heads a little bit... We have different views and strong and weak points, but as a whole we work well together."
Local elections will still take place on March 16 because of the potential for write-in votes.
