Incumbent Mount Kisco Trustee Tom Luzio and fellow Democrat and Planning Board Chairman Michael McGuirk have prevailed in the four-way race for two seats on the Mount Kisco Village Board.
The results — unofficial until certified — were delayed for days while Westchester County elections officials counted votes by hand after a programming error prevented voting machines from scanning ballots.
As of Nov. 7, the Board of Elections website showed Luzio with 2,129 votes, or 35.07 percent, and McGuirk with 2,072, or 34.13 percent.
Earning 939 votes, or 15.74 percent, and 922 votes, or 15.19 percent, respectively were MTK United candidates Sean Moran and Jennifer Rego-Vallejos.
There were nine write-ins.
Moran and Rego-Vallejos conceded the election in a Friday, Nov. 6, post on MTK United’s Facebook page.
Infrastructure, public safety, fiscal responsibility and communication with residents were among the issues raised during the campaign.
McGuirk’s message to supporters, released on Saturday, Nov. 7, was short and sweet.
“Thank you to the voters of Mount Kisco for entrusting me with this responsibility. I look forward to working with you all to continue to build this exceptional community,” he said.
McGuirk confirmed to Halston Media that he will be resigning from the Planning Board once he assumes his new role.
This will require some shuffling around, but he promised that he would do whatever it takes to ensure that the transition goes smoothly.
Luzio issued the following statement.
"I thank Mount Kisco voters who came out in staggering numbers for entrusting me with this responsibility.
"This trustee seat is not mine. It is theirs. I look forward to continuing to help our exceptional community thrive.
"I believe Mike and I won because we listened to our residents at our board meetings, at town events, their front porches or at the train station. They know we will collaborate with them, have compassion and are competent. We work hard. We rely on experts. We try to find consensus and solutions."
Luzio posited that the Democrats “wide margin of victory” was a reflection of the “positive nature” of their campaign, which “mirrors that of our constituents.”
“We did not disparage our opponents, the village, our residents, visitors, community or volunteer groups, our police or businesses. In fact, we did the opposite. All deserve our respect,” he said, adding that residents had recognized the “hard work” that both he and McGuirk had done on their respective boards.
“They know we show up,” Luzio added.
He went on to list the village’s and the Village Board’s accomplishments, including securing millions in infrastructure grants, the advancing of the Preston Way Bridge project, the kickstarting of the village’s Trail Team, the bringing in of a social works for seniors, and the push to develop a treatment court to address drug, alcohol, or housing challenges.
Luzio also mentioned that the board was the first to recognize the LGBTQ+ community by displaying a Pride flag and had also increased communications with the Westchester County Police Department and engaged in analyzing statistics to “define the scope and better plan our policing strategies.”
“Once in, we represent our entire district and that includes those who voted against us,” Luzio said in an email to Halston Media.
He listed goals for the upcoming term, including getting the Preston Way Bridge, which was closed in December last year due to safety concerns, replaced, and getting to work on the village’s Complete Streets, and other infrastructure projects.
Also on the agenda is the building out of a “Treatment Court” to, Luzio said, help judges “get help to those that need it.”
“This will enable police to devote more time to investigation of criminal offenses,” he explained.
Requiring ethics training courses for all village employees and volunteer board members is also being weighed, he said, as is the sorting out of the village’s “Ethics Board situation, with an eye toward financial disclosure,” Luzio said.
Moran and Rego-Vallejos sent Halston Media the following statement on Saturday evening.
"Despite the outcome, we are proud of the campaign we ran. From the start, our community was our “why.” We believed — and still believe — that Mount Kisco deserves transparent, accountable, and community-focused leadership. This election was never just about winning; it was about bringing people together and giving residents a voice. Our movement doesn’t end here.
"To everyone who donated, displayed a sign, attended events, volunteered, or talked with us on the doorstep —THANK YOU. We were not backed by a political machine; we were lifted up by neighbors, friends, and family. We truly were the party of the people.
"This election also highlighted a crucial issue: Mount Kisco’s future should be shaped by local concerns, not national politics. We hope our experience sparks a conversation about separating local elections from national ones so small communities can focus on the leadership and priorities that directly affect their daily lives.
"While we fell short at the polls, the need for stronger communication, greater accountability, and collaborative governance remains. We may not have won this election, but we are immensely proud of what we started.
"We wish the candidates well and success in their roles. Our hope is that they will listen to residents, work collaboratively, and keep the best interests of Mount Kisco at the heart of every decision. Our community deserves nothing less.
With gratitude,
Jennifer Vallejos & Sean Moran"
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here