Arena officially joins Somers Town Board

SOMERS, N.Y. - “That’s my girl.”

Proud papa Raymond Andretta was over the moon last week to be able to witness the swearing in of his daughter Gina Arena as Somers’ newest Town Board member.

In fact, he was the one tasked with holding the Bible at the Thursday, Nov. 13, ceremony at The Elephant Hotel, aka Town Hall.

Arena, a Republican, was chosen from a field of seven candidates – both Republican and Democratic that was narrowed down to three -- to be appointed to the position following the resignation of longtime Councilman Tom Garrity Jr., who had stepped down earlier this year due to pressing new job duties.

There were two years left in Garrity’s term. He is a Republican but had been also endorsed in past races by Democrats, Independents, and Conservatives.

Voting to approve the appointment were Supervisor Robert Scorrano and Councilmen Anthony Cirieco and William Faulkner, all Republicans/Conservatives. Councilman Richard Clinchy, the sole registered Democrat on the board, abstained.

He explained later that it was nothing personal against Arena, but that he thought the board should wait to vote until all the hopefuls had been informed of its decision.

Asked to comment at the ceremony by Halston Media, Andretta, a member of the Pound Ridge Fire Department, said:

“I’m just very proud of her. She’s a special person. She has been since she’s been a baby. She’s always done way more than everybody expects. That’s my girl.”

(It should be noted that Arena brought along her own tray of cookies to sustain the hungry crowd.)

Members of Arena’s family, including children and grandkids, as well as friends and neighbors were in attendance.

Also among the crowd of supporters were Supervisor Rob Scorrano and Councilmen Anthony Cirieco and Bill Faulkner, all Republicans; Republican Putnam County Executive Kevin M. Byrne; Republican state Assemblyman Matthew Slater; chair of the Somers Republicans, TJ McCormack; and chairwoman of the North Salem Republican Town Committee, Nzingha Milanes.

A reporter kidded Andretta that he was going to have to watch all the Town Board meetings from now on.

“Oh, are they televised?” he asked, adding with a smile: “Then I’ll watch them; I’ll watch her.”

Gina herself told Halston Media that she “can’t wait to get started.”

“I’m so happy that I was appointed and sworn in today and I look forward to working for the people of the town of Somers. I will do my best to hear, and to speak to, every person,” she promised, adding that she was grateful for everyone who had come out that evening to support her.

“I’m a very blessed person; I can’t say any more than that, really,” she said.

Raised in a working-class family -- first in Bedford, then in Pound Ridge, and Lewisboro -- Arena has lived in Somers since 1988. She and her husband, Jim, a volunteer firefighter, have eight children.

Other folks weighed in too.

Slater, for instance, called Arena “an incredible leader in our community.”

“Somers is in great hands with Gina Arena on the Town Board. She’s a fierce advocate who cares so deeply about everybody and she’s going to be a phenomenal voice on the Town Board I have just nothing but full confidence in her ability to be an outstanding, stellar member of the Town Board,” he said.

Scorrano’s two cents?

“It’s a great evening. A very great evening for the Town Board, for Gina, and for all of Somers,” he said.

Cirieco hailed Arena’s “roots” in the town, which he said “go very, very deep.”

“She knows a lot of people. She’s volunteered in many different settings,” he said, adding that he was looking “forward to having her onboard.”

Byrne, a former state assemblyman, said he was “very proud” of Arena and “very happy for the people in the town of Somers.”

“I loved representing Somers. It has a great town board, great people, and Gina will reflect that as a councilwoman.”

(Arena had twice run unsuccessfully for the Westchester County Board of Legislators in District 2 and twice for the state Senate in the 40th District against incumbent Democrat Sen. Peter Harckham.)

Faulkner was also “very excited” to have Arena onboard.

“She’s worked hard for Somers for so many years. She’s raised eight kids here, so she knows the full life cycle and she will bring that to the table with all of her other talents,” he said.