SOMERS, N.Y. - There are four candidates in the upcoming contests in Somers this fall.
Running on the Republican line are two incumbents: town Supervisor Robert Scorrano and Councilwoman Gina Arena.
Democratic challengers are Teresa Clifford and Dr. Rita Romeu.
SCORRANO
Scorrano, a lifelong Somers resident and diehard Tusker, first took office on Jan. 1, 2022.
He had then bested Democrat Stephanie J. Keegan. Scorrano was unopposed during the last two elections cycles.
In past state-of-the-town addresses, Scorrano had cited things accomplished during his administration, including Somers continuing its record of remaining under the state tax cap every year since its inception, the fact that the town has retained its “strong financial condition” with an AAA credit rating, and that it has secured millions in grants for infrastructure improvements such as sidewalks and other community investments.
He also has pointed to the completion of the land swap between Reis Park and Angle Fly Preserve and the development of a plan to keep the New York State Police in Somers.
Scorrano had served on the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals from 2015 to 2018 and currently serves on the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee of the Northern Westchester Joint Water Works and as vice president of the East of Hudson Watershed Corporation.
The father of two has been involved in Somers Youth Sports as a coach.
After college, Scorrano pursued a career in the energy trading industry and later shifted to the insurance and financial services arena.
He said he’s running because “the work isn’t finished yet.”
“We’ve accomplished a great deal, but major projects are underway and important decisions lie ahead. This is not the time to lose momentum,” Scorrano said, adding: “Somers needs serious, experienced leadership that understands the job and has demonstrated the ability to do it.”
“Being town supervisor is not theoretical. Every day requires decisions involving taxpayers, employees, infrastructure, public safety, emergencies and the financial health of the town,” he said.
ARENA
Arena was appointed to the Town Board last year to fill the open seat created when longtime Councilman Tom Garrity Jr. stepped down with two years left in his term.
She is running this November for the remaining year and has not yet announced if she will seek re-election in 2027.
When sworn in, Arena said she was looking forward to working for “the people of Somers” and promised to do her “best to hear, and to speak to, every person.”
Born to a working-class Westchester family, Arena was raised in Bedford, Pound Ridge, and Lewisboro and has lived in Somers since 1988.
(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.)
The volunteer and working mother of eight was recently recognized by Westchester County during its annual District 2 Volunteer Awards ceremony, which was hosted by county Legislator Erika L. Pierce.
Arena’s community activism started early with Girl Scouts and continued throughout her life, according to the person who nominated her or the honor.
When Arena’s autistic daughter wasn’t getting the education she needed, she developed a program for her.
Arena also helped create the Foundation for Educating Children with Autism and the Devereux Millwood Learning Center.
When her son Jimmy died from brain cancer at age 6, Gina and her husband, a volunteer firefighter, established the Just Imagine Making Miracles Yours (JIMMY) Foundation in his memory.
When asked why she is running, Arena said:
“Being appointed to the vacant seat has been an incredible honor. This election year, I needed to run to fill the vacancy, and I am so thankful for the opportunity.
I love Somers and love working to make a difference. Somers has been home for approximately 40 years. I have raised my family here, lived through life's exciting times and life's tragedies all with this very loving and supportive community. I have been a giver to others and in my own family tragedy, a receiver. There is nowhere else I would rather be, and running for the Town Board to continue serving the people is a great avenue to give back to all those that have supported my family through the years. I look forward to the opportunity to continue to call Somers home while serving the great people and their needs.”
CLIFFORD
Clifford, a retired human resources executive and former schoolteacher, has lived in Somers for 30 years.
She is chair of her condominium association in Heritage Hills, was a member of the Heritage Hills Society’s board, serves on the town’s Emergency Preparedness Committee, and is a member of the board of directors of the nonprofit CAI (Community Associations Institute) Hudson Valley.
Clifford is also a longtime member of Friends of the Somers Library and has participated in the Somers Intermediate School library program, where students and adults shared their experiences and presented them to the community.
She is a district leader for the Somers Democratic Committee.
Clifford is actively involved in the community through Club Shalom, Ciao Italia, Friends on the Hills, the Bocce League, and the Monday Discussion Group.
“She has spent many years volunteering and working with fellow residents on community initiatives and emergency preparedness,” her bio said.
Democrats say Clifford brings “a wealth of leadership and organizational experience to her community service.”
The candidate is focusing on, her campaign said, “on practical leadership, town collaboration, environmental stewardship, fiscal responsibility, and maintaining a strong sense of community.”
Clifford said she is running because she believes “Somers deserves a more open, community‑centered approach.”
In her official statement online, she said:
“Somers deserves a leader who is present, visible, and genuinely connected to every corner of our community. I’m running because I believe leadership starts with showing up: listening to families, seniors, business owners, and everyone in between. My goal is to spend time in all our neighborhoods, understand what people are experiencing day‑to‑day, and make sure the Town Board is responding to real needs. At the heart of my decision‑making are inclusion, accessibility, and respect. If you take the time to share your concerns, I will take the time to understand them and take action.”
Clifford has two daughters and one grandson.
ROMEU
Romeu, a healthcare executive and former elected official, sees herself as a “longtime advocate for strong, engaged communities.”
She is a district leader for the Somers Democratic Committee and its vice president of county affairs.
Romeu moved to Somers in 2022 from Chesterfield Township in New Jersey where she had served on the Township Committee (2016) and as mayor for two years.
She was also chair of the township’s Planning/Zoning Board and a member of its Environmental Commission.
Romeu founded ARMDS, a healthcare consulting company. Before that, she was employed by the New Jersey Department of Health as director of its finance division.
She has an MBA in Health Administration and a Ph.D. in Science Education.
Romeu said she’s running because she’s “always loved being involved in my community.”
“In my previous town, I served as a Committeewoman and later as Mayor, and those experiences showed me how meaningful it can be when residents and local government work together. I’d like to bring that same energy and collaboration to the Somers Town Board,” she said in her campaign post.
She’s volunteered with Chesterfield Chapter of NIOT (Not In Our Town), an organization devoted to fighting racism and bullying; HFMA (Healthcare Financial Management Association) NJ; People over Pipelines, a grassroots group fighting fossil fuel infrastructure in New Jersey.
In Somers, Romeu is a member of the board of The Friends of Somers Library and is a member of the Somers Women’s Club.
She’s also active in the Northern Star Quilters Guild and teaches quilting.
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