Moran, Vallejos to run for Mount Kisco Village Board

Two candidates will run as independents in the upcoming Mount Kisco Village Board election.

Teacher Jennifer Vallejos and former assistant Yonkers fire chief and police officer Sean Moran’s name will appear on the MTK United line this November.

They will be challenging Democratic hopefuls Tom Luzio, the incumbent trustee, and Michael McGuirk, who currently chairs the village’s Planning Board.

(For their story, read the March 5 – April 9 edition of the Mount Kisco Bedford Times or find it online.)

Deputy Mayor Karen Schleimer, a Democrat and longtime trustee who did not receive her party’s nomination, will not seek re-election. But she says she hasn’t rejected the possibility of a write-in campaign.

MTK United’s motto is Working Together, Stronger Together.

Halston Media asked Vallejos and Moran to tell voters a little bit about themselves and explain why they’re running.

Vallejos

Jennifer Vallejos has been a teacher at the Bedford Central School District’s Mount Kisco Elementary School for more than 15 years.

“Raising our three children here has been one of the best decisions we have ever made, and I am eager to deepen my commitment to this community by running for Village Trustee in the upcoming election,” she said in a statement sent to Halston Media.

“I love Mount Kisco, and I am excited to build even stronger connections throughout our village. During my years here, I have established deep roots and developed a genuine appreciation for all that makes our community special. I want my children to grow up knowing that Mount Kisco gave them every opportunity to thrive, and I hope they will one day choose to return and raise their own families here,” Vallejos said.

“We are fortunate to live in a community that offers so much, from its strong sense of neighborhood to its vibrant diversity. Mount Kisco's rich diversity is one of our greatest strengths and a defining characteristic of what makes our village so unique. We truly are one of Westchester County's best-kept secrets,” she added.

Vallejos said she has become “increasingly concerned” that “we are losing focus on the issues that matter most to residents.”

That’s what inspired her to run for trustee.

“My goal is to help bring a stronger local focus to the Village Board. My priorities are simple: to remain community-oriented through transparency, open dialogue, and thoughtful decision-making,” Vallejos said, adding: “At the heart of every discussion and every decision should be one important question: Are we doing what is best for Mount Kisco, and are residents' voices being heard?”

If elected, Vallejos promises to ask the “necessary questions” to ensure that the board is making “fiscally responsible decisions regarding development, infrastructure, and long-term planning.”

She also said she would “advocate for policies that protect and enhance our quality of life while preserving the character of our village” and “listen to residents and seek to understand the many perspectives that make up our vibrant community.”

Vallejos said she believes in working “collaboratively” with all village departments to ensure that “every appointed, hired, and elected official shares the same mission,” which is the creation of a “safe, vibrant, and well-maintained community where every neighborhood can thrive.”

Vallejos added that she was excited to begin campaigning with running mate Moran and looked forward to “meeting more residents and working together to ensure that Mount Kisco remains a wonderful place to live, work, raise a family, and build a future for generations to come.”

Moran

Sean Moran could not be reached for comment by press time, but here’s the statement he posted on MTK United's website, mtkunited.org.

"I am proud to call Mount Kisco home for more than 16 years, where my wife and I have raised our three children. As a retired Yonkers Fire Chief and former police officer who served in the Emergency Services Unit (ESU), I have dedicated my career to public service, leadership, and protecting our communities.

'Mount Kisco is a vibrant, diverse, and welcoming community with so much to offer. From our locally owned retail shops and outstanding restaurants to our walkable downtown and beautiful neighborhoods, there is a unique character here that makes people proud to call this village home. The strong sense of community, the friendships built over generations, and the cultural diversity that enriches our daily lives are among Mount Kisco's greatest strengths. It is a village with tremendous potential and a future worth investing in.

'At the same time, I have witnessed areas where we can do better. Residents deserve a stronger voice in local government, greater transparency in decision-making, and a renewed focus on maintaining and improving the quality of life that attracted so many of us here in the first place.”

If elected to the board, Moran promises to focus on protecting and enhancing the village’s quality of life, prioritizing infrastructure maintenance and long-term planning, promoting transparency, accountability, and open communication, and ensuring that residents have a “meaningful voice” in the decisions that impact their community.

“I am running because I believe Mount Kisco's best days are ahead of us,” he wrote. “By working together, listening to residents, and focusing on practical solutions, we can preserve everything that makes our village special while building a stronger future for generations to come.”