The Mount Kisco Village Board election features four candidates vying for two seats, with the top two vote-getters winning election.
Incumbent Trustee Tom Luzio and fellow Democrat Michael McGuirk, who chairs the Planning Board, face Sean Moran, a retired Yonkers fire chief and former police officer, and Jennifer Rego-Vallejos, a teacher at Mount Kisco Elementary School. Moran and Vallejos are running on the independent Kisco United line.
We asked each candidate to answer written questions and keep their responses to around 500 words. Three did so, and their answers are printed verbatim. Moran's responses were longer and were therefore edited by Halston Media.
Tell us about your background: Mount Kisco voters elected me as trustee in 2024. I’ve maintained my private law practice since 2020. I spent 38 years in law enforcement, beginning with the FBI and later serving with the Kings County, Queens County and Westchester County district attorney’s offices and the NYS Attorney General’s Office.
In Westchester, I served as chief of the Narcotics Bureau from 1998 to 2017, where I created the county’s first felony offender drug court. In that time, I worked extensively in Mount Kisco to combat drug trafficking. That effort combined the prosecution of dealers with alternatives to incarceration for people struggling with addiction to greatly reduce the problem. This is still how I approach public service today: solve problems, enforce accountability and recognize when compassion can produce a better result.
Why did you decide to run for re-election? I want to preserve what makes our village special while continuing to build for its future.
Over the past two years, I pushed the board to act on Preston Way Bridge. This year, we’ve moved the bridge replacement to approval and secured substantial outside funding for infrastructure and public safety. We are advancing projects that will make Mount Kisco safer and more accessible. Our next challenge is to make village government even more efficient, so we can move projects forward while improving communication with residents and merchants.
Our many volunteer boards and committees contribute enormously to village life. I engage regularly with these groups to continue helping Mount Kisco to be a safe, accessible, welcoming, diverse and vibrant community. Similarly, my support for our volunteers has been unwavering since day one — for our fire companies, EMS, Chamber of Commerce, MKES, MK Historical Society, MK Arts Council, Trail Team, CAC, MKFM and more. They deserve a trustee who recognizes their contributions and provides the collaboration they need.
What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing Mount Kisco? The budget must be our primary focus every year. Costs keep rising, while residents rightly expect the same high level of village services. We must manage those pressures responsibly, pursue outside funding and ensure taxpayers get value for every dollar we spend.
At the same time, we cannot stand still. This year, we added a social worker to better serve our seniors’ needs.
The opportunity before us is to make village government more effective, resourceful, responsive and better able to deliver the projects and services our community needs without losing sight of affordability.
Why should voters choose you? Experience matters. My 38 years in law enforcement taught me to investigate complicated problems, bring people with different interests together, engage with experts, apply the law and negotiate practical solutions. As your trustee, I’ve brought that same approach to village government.
I’ve moved long-delayed projects forward, protected taxpayers from unnecessary legal expenses, improved public safety, supported our seniors and strengthened relationships with the residents, businesses, volunteers and community organizations.
Important work is underway in Mount Kisco, and continuity matters. I am asking voters for another term so I can build on our progress, finish the projects we have started and keep protecting the people, businesses, neighborhoods, parks and character that make Mount Kisco an exceptional place to live and raise a family.
Tell us about your background: I have lived in Mount Kisco for 22 years. My wife and I have raised our three children here. I hold a Bachelor of Music degree and have performed music worldwide for over 30 years while based in New York. I have been a member of the Mount Kisco Planning Board since 2021 and have chaired the board since 2023. I’m a member of the Complete Streets Committee. I have served on the Bedford Central School District Safety and Security Task Force and volunteered with the Mount Kisco Elementary School Association as a depositor and classroom parent.
Why did you decide to seek office on the Village Board after serving on the Planning Board? The Planning Board is an efficient decision-making body; members work together productively. As chair, I’ve implemented procedures to increase productivity while focusing on pedestrian safety, ADA accessibility, and buffering residential areas from commercial uses. I saw that the Village Board needed Trustees who understood how to run the Village and were committed to achieving the Village’s goals efficiently. I also saw that the Village needs Trustees who always prioritize people's needs.
In 2025, a Board of Trustees vote to seek grant funding for new pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements nearly failed. That close call convinced me that I needed to step up and run for Trustee. Fortunately, the vote passed, and we were later awarded $1.3 million to fund safety improvements, but it’s critical we don’t miss these opportunities.
What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing Mount Kisco? Infrastructure and long-term affordability. The Preston Way Bridge closure has taught us all that the Village Board must prioritize reliable infrastructure and proactively assess the burden that disruptions can place on residents and businesses.
The board must hold transparent discussions about budgets and the planning we need to ensure Mount Kisco remains a vibrant, affordable community. These discussions also give Mount Kisco opportunities to choose its future regarding redevelopment in the downtown business district and the possible expansion of parks and green spaces. The board must engage the public in these decisions so everyone has ownership of our choices moving forward.
Why should voters choose you? My success leading the Planning Board and my proven dedication to serving Mount Kisco demonstrate the kind of trustee I will be. My approach is rooted in respectful dialogue with colleagues, with an emphasis on listening. I have expanded opportunities for the public to participate in Planning Board reviews, and I will continue that approach if elected.
My commitment to replying to every constituent communication is unique among the candidates and shows my respect for residents' voices. I prepare thoroughly for each meeting, and I don’t wait for information to be served up; I seek out answers to the village’s important questions. I show up to village events, support local organizations and actively engage with stakeholders. I will show up ready to work and to make timely decisions that benefit the people of Mount Kisco.
Tell us about your background: I am a retired Yonkers fire chief. My wife and I have lived in Mount Kisco for over 16 years, raising our three children here. I served five years with the Yonkers Police Department as a patrol officer and in the Emergency Services Unit before joining the Yonkers Fire Department, where I spent 26 years.
I was vice president of the Westchester County Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Team and a volunteer in the Yonkers Fire Department's employee assistance program. These experiences taught me the importance of leadership, accountability and working with agencies to address mental health and other social service needs.
Why did you decide to run for election? Running for village trustee is another opportunity to give back to a community I truly care about. I have become increasingly concerned about Mount Kisco’s aging infrastructure, public safety and quality-of-life issues. During my campaign, I have met frustrated residents who feel their voices go unheard. When residents attend board meetings, they should not have to wait upwards of five hours to express their concerns in three minutes or less.
Our residents deserve open communication, transparency, accountability and a local government that listens and turns words into actions. Too much time has been wasted pointing fingers and blaming others. The divisiveness needs to stop. We need to come together as a whole.
What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing Mount Kisco? Mount Kisco is facing challenges involving aging infrastructure, public safety, quality of life, traffic congestion, fiscal responsibility and a lack of communication between village government and residents.
The prolonged closure of the Preston Way Bridge is a prime example of why we need better planning, accountability and urgency. We are quickly approaching a year since the bridge closed, yet no real answers or timelines have been given about when work will begin, who is paying for it or who owns the bridge. If elected, I will push for clear project timelines, regular public progress reports and greater coordination with county and state agencies. We also need ongoing assessments of our roads, bridges, water systems and other infrastructure to address problems before they become emergencies.
My goal is to work closely with the Westchester County Police, local businesses and residents to identify problem areas, improve pedestrian safety and ensure our public spaces remain safe and welcoming for all.
We have a vibrant, diverse, walkable community with restaurants, unique shops and family-oriented events. I want to build on these strengths by supporting existing businesses, attracting new investment and encouraging development that preserves our village’s character.
Why should voters choose you? My decades of experience in public service, leadership and problem-solving have prepared me to serve Mount Kisco. I know what it means to lead, take responsibility and follow through.
I am not running for a title or political recognition. I believe Mount Kisco deserves fresh perspectives, practical solutions and greater accountability in local government. I am willing to ask difficult questions, challenge the status quo when necessary and work collaboratively to get things done. I believe actions speak louder than words, and I want to be judged by the work I do and the results I help deliver.
Tell us about your background: I have been an educator for 22 years, servingthe Bedford Central School District for the past 15. While I have not previously held elected office, my career as an educator is built on listening, clear communication, prompt responses, collaboration, advocating for others and understanding how small actions amplify big-picture thinking and results.
As a mother, educator and resident, I understand how vital it is to maintain a safe, welcoming environment where families and individuals of all ages can thrive. I offer a fresh perspective for the village — one that should be rooted in community, attentive to resident voices and focused on people.
Why did you decide to run for election? I am running because residents deserve to feel heard, informed and included in the decisions that shape their daily lives. In conversations with neighbors and local business owners, I regularly hear concerns about public safety, infrastructure, communication and development. Local government works best when residents have a meaningful voice and when their concerns are met with thoughtful action and follow-through.
While we must address our challenges together, we should also celebrate what makes our village special. Community involvement should be welcomed and encouraged, not discouraged. I want to foster a more collaborative relationship between residents and local government by making Village Board meetings more accessible.
What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing Mount Kisco? Mount Kisco faces challenges surrounding public safety, quality of life, aging infrastructure, traffic, fiscal stability/health and municipal communication. While this list of challenges may seem overwhelming, I believe it highlights the incredible opportunity we have to build on our strengths, support local businesses, refocus spending and unite residents around shared goals.
Public safety and community quality of life continue to be a central theme of concern. We need a proactive safety approach that includes visible foot and bike patrols, proactive prevention, close collaboration with law enforcement and timely communication when incidents occur. Protecting our quality of life also means managing traffic congestion and evaluating how new development impacts parking, emergency access and current infrastructure. The prolonged closure of the Preston Way Bridge highlights the need for greater transparency and coordination.
Community engagement is also a wonderful opportunity to get our village back on track. Mount Kisco’s greatest strength is its people. Rather than allowing negativity to define our public dialogue, we should harness the energy of residents and business owners who want to contribute. By prioritizing open communication and listening to diverse viewpoints, we can turn our challenges into meaningful opportunities for progress.
Why should voters choose you? I bring the grounded perspective of an educator, a mother and an invested member of our community. My professional life has centered on listening carefully, considering diverse viewpoints and working collaboratively toward practical solutions. Local government should be accessible, transparent, free from political gains and self-interest and accountable to the people it represents.
My goal is to empower residents to get involved and to help shape the decisions that directly affect their lives. Together, we can protect what makes Mount Kisco the hidden gem of Westchester County — a safe, vibrant and well-maintained village where businesses thrive and families are proud to call home.
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