MAHOPAC, N.Y. — Mahopac School District residents will have an opportunity to vote on the Mahopac Public Library’s 2025–26 budget, as well as candidates for its board of trustees, on Tuesday, June 3.
A statement from the library says the 2025–26 budget remains under the tax cap and is fiscally conservative, maintaining a 0 percent increase over the current budget. Voters will be asked to elect three trustees to the Board of Trustees; there are four candidates seeking election: Samara Antolini, Nancy DiMaggio (incumbent), Edgardo Rivera (incumbent), and Betty Rouchka. The three open seats will be filled by the elected candidates, each serving a three-year term.
Applications for absentee ballots will be available at the library’s main desk beginning May 13. Applications must be completed and returned to the election clerk before ballots can be issued. Applications can be returned in person to the library or mailed to: Election Clerk, Mahopac Public Library, 668 Route 6, Mahopac, NY 10541.
Completed applications must be received by the clerk no later than Tuesday, May 27, if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, and no later than Monday, June 2, if the ballot is to be delivered personally. Completed ballots must be received by the clerk no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 3.
Applications for early voting ballots will also be available at the main desk beginning May 13. To receive an early voting ballot in person, the application must be delivered to the library no later than the day before the election. If applying by mail, the application must be received by the election clerk no later than seven days before the election. Applications may not be submitted more than 30 days prior to the election. Early voting ballots must be received by the clerk no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 3, to be counted.
Samara Antolini
Samara Antolini is an educator who has lived in Mahopac for five years. A graduate of Hofstra University with an MBA from St. John’s University, Antolini has worked in college counseling and education for the past 12 years and is currently associate director of college counseling at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School.
Taught from an early age that “education is the key to success,” Antolini said she has found that sentiment to be largely true. She is interested in serving on the board because she believes that local libraries can have a tremendous, positive impact in supplementing educational opportunities.
Antolini said she feels that the Mahopac Public Library provides an environment where people of all backgrounds feel welcome, and that it fosters a love of reading and engagement with the community through programs, events and services.
“I would be honored to be part of this community that has such a profound impact for Mahopac residents, especially during this time where access to education, and potentially libraries, is significantly compromised,” she said.
Nancy DiMaggio (incumbent)
A retired school and district administrator in the New York City Department of Education, Nancy DiMaggio has been a Mahopac resident for 10 years. Her educational background includes experience as assistant superintendent for District 30, network leader (supporting 25–30 K–8 schools and high schools with instruction, budget and human resources), regional administrator for special education, assistant principal and teacher. DiMaggio developed, implemented and monitored long- and short-range plans for the school district, and has experience in personnel and educational grant writing.
She continues to teach at St. John’s University and has served on the Mahopac Public Library Board of Trustees for three years, participating on the Personnel and Long-Range Plan committees.
DiMaggio is a member of the Columbus Citizens Foundation, the Church of the Holy Communion in Mahopac, and the German American Club of Peekskill. She said she would like to continue to support the library in decisions regarding educational programs that benefit and support the community.
Edgardo Rivera (incumbent)
Edgardo Rivera has lived in Mahopac for three years. A married father of two, he has served on the library’s Board of Trustees since September 2023.
Rivera is a veteran and holds a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Purchase, an executive certificate in nonprofit financial management and reporting from Baruch College, and a master’s degree in international affairs from The New School. As senior director of operations and finance at Morningside Center, he oversees finances, human resources, technology and contracts.
Rivera is a self-professed bibliophile who loves to promote reading and writing for teens and adults. He said he believes that his 17 years of full-time experience in finance and human resources in nonprofits and local government makes him an asset to the board. He is a regular library patron and said he looks forward to continuing to serve the community.
Betty Rouchka
Betty Rouchka has been a resident of the Mahopac Central School District for 50 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature with a concentration in math. Her career in information technology began as a civil service employee for both the U.S. Air Force and Army and continued in large-scale business computing with AT&T and IBM, where she received extensive technical and managerial training.
Since her retirement, Rouchka has been heavily engaged with Puppies Behind Bars, an organization that trains incarcerated individuals to raise service dogs for wounded war veterans, first responders, police departments, and explosive-detection units. She brings dogs in training into her home to help socialize them and expose them to life outside prison.
Rouchka said she is interested in being a trustee because she wants to spend her retirement in a meaningful way. She believes that a library’s mission is “the promotion and nurturing of community connections,” and that libraries are “critical to the maintenance of a free, equitable and democratic society and that the pursuit of knowledge, reliable information and expertise is essential.”
The public will have the opportunity to meet the candidates at Mahopac Public Library’s annual meeting, scheduled for Monday, June 2, at 7 p.m.
For more information, contact Library Director and Election Clerk Michele Capozzella at 845-628-2009, ext. 107.
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