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EASTCHESTER, N.Y. Incumbent Eastchester Town Board members Joe Dooley and Glenn Bellitto were handily elected Tuesday, defeating their Democratic challengers.
In the contest of four candidates running for two seats on the Eastchester Town Board, incumbents Bellitto and Dooley faced off against challengers Rosner and Filliberti. Dooley and Bellitto won 32 and 33 percent of the vote, respectively, with 74 percent of districts reporting Tuesday night. Rosner and Filliberti won 17 and 18 percent of the vote, according to the unofficial board of election results.
The race was hard fought, but the victory was congenial.
Bellitto thanked his opponents, his party supporters and his running mate Tuesday night. "We ran as a team and we won as a team," Bellito said.
Bellitto said that he plans on focusing on keeping taxes under control.
"Throughout the campaign all I heard about were taxes, taxes, taxes," Bellitto said. "Over and over, I keep heard that people cannot take any more increases," Bellitto said. "I have reassured them we will cut to the bone. It won't be easy, but it is do-able."
Dooley said that although taxes is the number one issue residents ask about, they are also worried about the amount of traffic in town and the amount of open, green space and preserving the town.
"While everyone wants to keep their taxes in check, they are also conscious of the fact that they don't want to lose what Eastchester has to offer," Dooley said. "We have great schools, good programs for our resident, Lake Isle. We have a lot to offer."
Bringing a different perspective to town government was the goal of Democratic challengers Rosner and Filiberti, who came to Tutta Bella Trattoria Tuesday night, the restaurant in Eastchester where the Republicans gathered, and offered their congratulations to the winners.
Filiberti said that he decided to run for the town board because he feels that it is important to give residents more than one perspective.
"We have a Republican board, many of whom were appointed by Supervisor (Anthony) Colavita," Filiberti said. "I think it is important to have a board that will twist things around and look at things in a different ways."
Filiberti, spent nine years on the Eastchester Board of Education. He did not run for an additional term in 2007 when his dad became critically ill.
"The same way I brought my knowledge of technology to the school district, I believe that I can utilize my skills to help the town use technology as well," Filiberti said.
Filiberti said that he would help put items like the budget, contracts and expenditures on line for residents to access if they so choose.
"This will help to reduce costs, but more importantly town government will become more transparent and provide residents with as much information about the workings of the town as possible," he said. "I believe that by improving the use of technology in the town, we can provide our residents with better service at a lower cost."
First time candidate Rosner, said that her main focus if elected as a member of the town board will be promoting support for local businesses.
"If the town needs the services of an accountant, for example or any professional services, we should choose someone who is an accountant in town to support local businesses as a way of promoting the economy here," Rosner said.
Supervisor Anthony Colavita, Town Clerk Linda Doherty, Receiver of Taxes Rocco Cacciola all ran unopposed on the Republican, Conservative, and Independence ticket. Also unopposed on the ticket were Town Justices Dominick Porco and Jane Calano also ran on the tickets unopposed, garnering 49 and 51 percent, respectively, according to unofficial results from the board of elections.
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