Calves, Scott square off in race for Bedford Supervisor

BEDFORD, N.Y. - Voters will head to the polls to decide Bedford's next supervisor, with Democratic incumbent Ellen Calves looking to fend off a challenge from Republican Don Scott.

Halston Media offered both candidates the opportunity to address voters before Election Day and explain, in their own words, what they see as the most pressing issues in Bedford and their plans if elected. (Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.)

ELLEN CALVES

Please outline your career, leadership and educational accomplishments.

My career has included law, finance, nonprofit administration, and environmental advocacy. Before becoming supervisor, I served as program director at Bedford 2030, working with residents and organizations to advance sustainability. I served on the Town Board beginning in 2019, became deputy supervisor and was elected supervisor in 2021. I graduated fifth in my class with a JD from Emory Law and magna cum laude with a BA from Notre Dame.

As supervisor, I have worked to maintain excellent services while keeping Bedford under New York’s property tax cap for four years. The town received a clean independent audit and retained its AAA bond rating. We have secured grants for infrastructure, expanded tax relief for eligible residents, advanced our Climate Action Plan, and strengthened our hamlets through investments and business partnerships.

I believe leadership means listening, bringing people together, and finding practical solutions to community problems.

What are the most important issues facing Bedford, and why are you the most qualified to address them?

Bedford must maintain aging infrastructure, protect taxpayers, expand housing options that work for the community, strengthen local businesses, and preserve our natural environment. These challenges require careful planning and responsible investment.

My administration has developed a 10-year capital plan, secured millions of dollars in outside funding for infrastructure, and maintained strong municipal finances without cutting essential services. We continue to improve water and sewer systems, advance pedestrian safety projects, and invest in more efficient municipal buildings. We are also working to increase business activity in our hamlets and protect open space.

My experience in law, finance, sustainability and local government helps me evaluate complex issues and balance competing needs. Just as important, I listen to residents and work collaboratively. Whether helping a resident remain safely in their home or bringing community organizations together, I believe effective government must deliver practical results.

If re-elected, what will be your top priorities over the next year?

I will continue investing in roads, water systems, drainage, public facilities and pedestrian safety while pursuing grants to reduce costs for taxpayers.

I will maintain disciplined budgeting, protect essential services, and preserve Bedford’s AAA bond rating.

I also want to build on efforts to strengthen our hamlets, support small businesses, and advance affordable housing opportunities on Route 117. Implementing our Climate Action Plan, improving municipal energy efficiency, reducing waste, and preserving open space will remain priorities. I will continue expanding recreational opportunities and improving services for residents of all ages.

My goal is to complete projects already underway, advance long-term plans, and keep Bedford financially strong while protecting the quality of life and small-town charm that makes our community special.

On a personal level, what is the most important piece of advice you have received?

The principle that guides me is to “look for ways to solve for yes.” That means listening carefully, asking questions and working with others to find a practical path forward, even when a problem initially seems difficult.

It does not mean saying yes to every request. It means being persistent, open to different perspectives and focused on solutions. Public service requires patience and accountability, including a willingness to listen to people who disagree with you.

I have found that approach can make a real difference, whether helping an individual resident, supporting a local business, or bringing a community-wide project to fruition.

DON SCOTT

Please outline your career, leadership, and educational accomplishments.

I moved to Bedford Village when I was 10 years old, raised my family in Katonah, and have spent much of my adult life serving this community.

I graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in business and economics and have spent more than 40 years running a Katonah-based legal marketing business.

I've served five years on the Bedford Town Board, as president of the Katonah-Lewisboro School Board, as a Katonah fire commissioner, and on Bedford's Wetlands Control Commission. I currently chair Bedford's Traffic Safety Working Group and am co-president of the Katonah Village Improvement Society.

During my Town Board service, I helped advance sewer infrastructure in Katonah and Bedford Hills, renovate the Bedford Hills train station, build a new police station, and establish financial support for community events requiring town services. The train station was renovated with the expectation of attracting a new tenant. Years later, we're still waiting.

What are the most important issues facing Bedford, and why are you the most qualified to address them?

Three stand out: maintaining our infrastructure, protecting Bedford's character while managing growth, and making local government more transparent, responsive, and accountable. Town leadership talks a great deal about transparency. I'd like to see them practice more of it.

Residents deserve safe roads, sensible development that considers traffic impacts, responsible spending, and a government that communicates clearly before decisions are made, not afterward.

My experience on the Town Board and School Board taught me that good government isn't about announcing initiatives. It's about setting goals, understanding costs, listening to residents, and following through.

I also believe Bedford benefits from genuine competition for public office. Town government should represent a diversity of thought, which is not currently the case. Nobody, regardless of party, should have to run unopposed simply because challenging the status quo is difficult. 74% of local elections nationwide go uncontested. That should change.

If elected, what will be your top priorities over the next year?

First, establish clear, measurable priorities for town operations, including roads, infrastructure, permitting, and financial management, with regular public reporting on progress.

Second, improve how the town listens and responds. I'd like residents to be able to raise concerns, track responses, and understand what's being done without having to attend a Town Board meeting.

Third, take a practical look at development, housing, and the long-term health of our three hamlets. Bedford needs thoughtful planning that respects what makes this community special.

I'm also interested in using modern technology, including AI where appropriate, to make government more accessible and efficient. We're already demonstrating some of those possibilities through this unusually low-cost campaign.

On a personal level, what is the most important piece of advice you have received?

"You have two ears and one mouth. Listen more than you talk."

It's simple advice, but sometimes easy to forget, especially in politics.

I've learned that listening isn't the same as agreeing. It means taking someone's concerns seriously, asking questions, and being willing to reconsider your assumptions. Leadership means soliciting ideas from across the spectrum. It's OK to change your mind and to admit mistakes when you make them.

That's how I've tried to approach public service, and it's how I'd approach this job.