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Community Corner

Fixing Briarcliff's Broken Election Process

Residents of Briarcliff Manor MUST understand and engage in their Village government election process.

In this article you will learn:

  • What is wrong with how we elect Village government in Briarcliff

Find out what's happening in Pleasantville-Briarcliff Manorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Why this is problematic and,

  • What YOU should consider doing about it.

  • Find out what's happening in Pleasantville-Briarcliff Manorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

     

    The Peoples Caucus party in Briarcliff held their primary election on January 22nd.  A total of 104 ballots were cast, inclusive of three absentee ballots.  Briarcliff has an estimated population of approximately 8000 people and approximately 2500 households.  Yet, only 104 ballots were cast to vote in the Peoples Caucus primary.  By contrast, approximately 1400 ballots are cast in elections for Briarcliff school board trustees.  From the standpoint of democracy and exercising ones right to vote, this is clearly troubling.  The Peoples Caucus alleges that all residents are automatically part of their party.  It seems 99.99% of Village residents feel disenfranchised from this party and its electoral process.

    The results of the Caucus primary election are as follows:

    • Mark Pohar = 66 Votes

  • Cesar Derose, Jr. = 60 Votes

  • Larisa Wayne-Paulmeno = 50 Votes

  • Pohar and Derose won the primary and will be the two Caucus Party candidates seeking the two opening Village Trustee vacancies.

    An election will be held on March 18th.  However, if no Village resident steps forward to run against the Peoples Caucus party candidates, they will simply win by default.  104 residents, in a village of 8000, will have elected YOUR Village government officials.  This is NOT democracy.

    Several weeks ago, we wrote the following in a blog here on Patch:

    “Here in the Village of Briarcliff Manor, the Mayor and Village Trustee positions are filled by a rather un-American, non-democratic, insider-driven and controlled, one-party system - The Peoples Caucus. We only technically elect them. In reality they just nominate each other behind closed doors. Then they invariably run unopposed in an election no one goes out to vote in.  Consequently, they don't have to serve or respond or answer to you or anyone in the Village other than their little insider power-clique. 

     

    In order to solve this problem, we need to mobilize to create a more democratic process of TRUE DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS for Mayor and Trustees here in Briarcliff. That means sponsoring strong opposition candidates to the Peoples Caucus nominees who run unchallenged year-in and year-out.   There is no other municipality in Westchester with this type of un-American, non-democratic, insider-driven and controlled, one-party system.

     

    As an example, the school board in Briarcliff is a group of five people who were TRULY ELECTED to their posts through an annual knock-down, drag-out, old-fashioned, American, democratic election process.  Opposing viewpoints are presented.  Discussion and debate occurs.  Ideas are brought to the community.  Candidates listen to constituents.  Neighbors and family members disagree for a few weeks and then come back together in support of those who were elected.”

    So, what can YOU do about all this?

    Simple, consider running as an opposition independent candidate to the Peoples Caucus slate.  Perhaps align with Ms. Wayne-Paulmero, an engineer and a rather competent candidate, to run as an independent opposition ticket.  Based on the voter apathy demonstrated in the Caucus primary, it would seem that anyone who can muster 70 votes may be able to win a seat.  Surely there are hundreds of residents in Briarcliff who are both competent to serve as Village Trustee and who enjoy leadership positions and community service.  Are YOU one of those residents?  Is there someone you know that YOU should encourage to run?

     

    Submitted January 26th, 2014 by The Briarcliff Times, Briarcliff Patch, Briarcliff Manor, NY.


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