WESTCHETSER COUNY, N.Y. - On Election Day, voters will hit the polls to decide the race for County Legislator in District 2, which covers Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, North Salem, Pound Ridge, and Somers.
Incumbent Erika Pierce will look to fend off a challenge from Braille Diaz on Nov. 4. Pierce is running on the Democratic and Working Families lines, while Diaz is running on the Republican and Conservative Lines.
Before the election, The Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times offered the candidates an opportunity to address voters and explain, in their own words, their qualifications and what they see as the most pressing issues facing District 2. (Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.)
BRAILLE DIAZ
Please outline your career, leadership, and educational accomplishments.
I have dedicated my career to public service, community improvement, and advancing opportunities for all residents of our area. I served as a Legislative Aide to County Legislators Francis Corcoran, David Tubiolo and worked with the office of former State Senator Terrence Murphy where I gained firsthand experience in government operations, policy development, and constituent advocacy. I also worked as a counselor at the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Westchester, guiding and mentoring local youth.
In the private sector, I currently serve as a Fire Equipment Inspector for AAA Emergency Supply and OSP Fire Protection—two small, family-owned businesses that provide critical safety equipment to fire departments across the region. This experience has strengthened my understanding of public-safety needs and the challenges facing small businesses.
As a firefighter and member of the Mount Kisco Union Hook & Ladder Company #1, I serve on the Board of Directors and work alongside a dedicated team committed to protecting lives and property. I also serve on the Mount Kisco Ethics Board and am an active member of the Mount Kisco Lions Club and the Knights of Columbus. Additionally, I represent local Republicans as a Judicial Delegate, helping to ensure fair and transparent judicial-selection processes.
For several years, I also served as the weekend secretary at St. Francis of Assisi Church, assisting with parish administration and community outreach. Until late 2024, I also assisted in the CCD religious-education program, teaching students good morals and ethics founded on a strong base of faith—an experience that deepened my commitment to serving others and promoting values-driven leadership.
In recognition of my volunteer work and civic engagement, I was honored by Congressman Mike Lawler with a Proclamation as a Hispanic Changemaker, acknowledging my service across various organizations and my dedication to strengthening our community through faith, integrity, and action.
I am a proud graduate of Fox Lane High School and studied Philosophy and Theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary and St. Philip Neri International Seminary from 2019 to 2023—an education that reinforced my commitment to faith, ethics, and public service.
What are the most important issues facing District 2, and why are you the most qualified to address them?
Our district faces pressing challenges: rising Con Edison rates, overcrowded housing, and deteriorating infrastructure, particularly the Preston Way Bridge, which remains in serious disrepair. Public intoxication and related quality-of-life concerns have also become more visible in parts of our community. At the center of these issues is affordability. Too many working families and seniors are struggling to remain in the neighborhoods they’ve long called home.
If elected, what will be your top priorities over the next year?
If elected, I will make affordability, safety, and infrastructure my top priorities. I will work to combat Con Edison and NYSEG rate hikes by exploring advanced nuclear and other reliable energy solutions that stabilize costs for residents. I will advocate for grant funding to repair and modernize local roads and bridges, including the long-neglected Preston Way Bridge.
I will also champion additional support for our Westchester County Police and the Department of Emergency Services to enhance public safety and address quality-of-life concerns. Finally, I will push to lower taxes for middle-class residents and small businesses, ensuring that District 2 remains a safe, affordable, and welcoming community for all.
ERIKA PIERCE
Please outline your career, leadership, and educational accomplishments.
For more than twenty-five years, my family has called Katonah home. We’ve raised our two children here, where they both graduated from the local public schools. I earned my Bachelor’s in English from Barnard College, a Master’s in Education from Manhattanville College, and completed business courses at NYU. Before entering public service, I built a career in the private and nonprofit sectors as a financial officer for a Manhattan printing company and later as manager of a theater company supporting educational and Veterans’ programs. I was also a teacher.
Since being first elected to the Westchester County Board of Legislators in 2021, I’ve been a tireless advocate for District 2 - authoring laws to reduce plastic pollution and support Veterans, co-authoring measures to strengthen oversight and accessibility, and chairing Public Works and Transportation to improve water infrastructure, rebuild roads, and expand affordable housing. I’ve secured millions for downtown revitalization and local nonprofits while ensuring prudent fiscal management that keeps Westchester’s top bond ratings and returns millions to towns and schools. I am in my second term as a Vice Chair for the National Association of County’s Environment, Energy and Land Use Committee.
What are the most important issues facing District 2, and why are you the most qualified to address them?
We are at a defining moment. Federal funding cuts threaten to deepen hardships for seniors and families living on low or fixed incomes. Our residents are already strained by rising costs and layoffs, and will face potential losses in support programs, healthcare and hospital services.
Westchester has a 120,000-unit shortfall in housing, driving the market higher and boxing working people out. Remedying this has been a priority for the County, where funds have helped advance projects in Bedford and Lewisboro. Across District 2, a lack of wastewater and drinking water infrastructure poses health and financial risks, and also makes building needed new housing all the more difficult.
Local small businesses are struggling with rising costs, difficulties finding employees and a softening economy, all threatening the vitality of our downtowns and our quality of life.
Our community deserves reliable and affordable utility services, which is why I have been part of the rate cases against ConEd and NYSEG. This impacts businesses and resident alike.
If re-elected, what will be your top priorities over the next year?
The road ahead is challenging, but I am ready for the fight.
I will keep strengthening Westchester - investing in safe housing, reliable water systems, and fighting for fair utility rates - while advancing legislation that delivers measurable results. I will step up to protect our area’s most vulnerable.
I’ve begun to put together new legislation: expanding park access for our disabled residents and reducing road salt and fertilizer use, both of which will protect our waterways and drinking water. I’ll continue championing projects that maintain and modernize our infrastructure; support affordable housing, childcare, and our first responders; expand flood-mitigation and sustainability initiatives; and support local nonprofits that keep us connected and resilient.
If given the honor to serve again, I will continue working to strengthen our community, and toward securing a sustainable future for all.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here