Garrity to leave Somers Town Board after 18 years

SOMERS, N.Y. - Somers Councilman Thomas A. Garrity Jr., a fixture on the Town Board for the past 18 years, will be stepping down at the end of September.

“I find that all good things must come to an end,” he said at the board’s June 5 work session.

Garrity said that the decision was “bittersweet” but was made because his work responsibilities had “grown quite a bit.”

He recently was promoted by NYSE&G (New York State Electric & Gas) from regional manager to director of municipal, community, and business relations for the utility and its sister company, RG&E (Rochester Gas & Electric Corp.).

His new gig involves a lot of traveling and, as a result, he’s had to miss a few board meetings of late.

“Things are going great. There are no issues,” Garrity said. “It’s just that Somers has never been second place in my life; it’s always been first.”

(Prior to becoming a councilman, he had served on both the town’s planning and zoning boards. Counting those seven years, Garrity’s put in a quarter of a century of public service in Somers. He is also a member of the local Lions Club.)

With less time to focus on public duties, Garrity said he thought it was appropriate to turn the reins over to someone else, someone who could “put their full heart into it” for as long as he had.

“I’m going to stay through the summer so we can work through the transition,” he said, adding that he didn’t want to leave the board “shorthanded.”

Garrity was first elected to the Town Board in 2007. A Republican, he’s been cross endorsed by Democrats, Independents, and Conservatives.

Garrity and his wife, Ann, have two children, Tommy and Brenna.

Tommy has graduated from college and Brenna is graduating from Somers High School this year.

“They’ve never known me not to be involved … as well all do, get stopped at games and at the store and asked about everything that’s going on in town,” he said, grateful for the constant love and support he’s received from his family.

As for fellow board members?

“It’s been a pleasure to serve with these gentlemen,” Garrity said last Thursday, confident that he’ll be leaving the board in “very capable hands.”

Supervisor Robert Scorrano’s been “a joy to deal with over these last few years,” he said, also making special mention of his Democratic colleague, Councilman Richard Clinchy.

“When I started 18 years ago, we ran against each other, but over the last 18 years Rich has become a dear friend and confidant,” he said later, noting that they’ve run together in four separate elections.

“I always know that I can go to Richard for great advice, because he’s always putting the best interests of the town of Somers first.”

Scorrano and Garrity’s other elected colleagues had lots of nice things to say about him as well.

Scorrano

After the big announcement, Scorrano thanked Garrity for “his service” and promised there would be more to say before his official “swan song.”

Lauding him for his “institutional knowledge” and dedication to his hometown, Scorrano told Halston Media later that Garrity’s “done an exceptional job” as councilman.

It’s going to be a big job finding someone who can fill his shoes, the supervisor admitted.

Clinchy

According to Clinchy, Garrity is more than a colleague, he’s a “good friend.”

They’ve gotten to know each other’s families as well.

“He’s got a wonderful wife and great kids,” Clinchy said.

He coaches basketball and Garrity has never failed to ask him how his teams are doing.

Clinchy said he’s come to rely on Garrity for expertise, experience, in-depth knowledge, and leadership abilities.

“He’s really smart, quick, and is always asking incisive questions,” he said, adding that Garrity is known for approaching local issues in a non-partisan way.

“I hope I’ve helped him; I know he’s helped me,” Clinchy said, insisting that being from two different political parties is irrelevant because they trust and respect each other.

It’s good, like the old saying goes, to “be firm when you’re on firm ground,” however, if new facts emerge, it’s also important to be willing to revise your stance, said Clinchy.

Garrity is open-minded and flexible, traits that Clinchy said were the “mark of a good councilman.”

Cirieco

“We have a great board and Tom’s part of it,” said Councilman Anthony Cirieco last week.

“We’re not trying to chase some national agenda; we all want what’s best for Somers and Tom exemplifies that,” he said, noting that the last 12 years “have been significant for the town growth wise.”

Among the board’s accomplishments Cirieco listed were the formation of the business-historic district, the installation of sidewalks on Route 6, and the development of affordable housing.

“And that was all done while keeping the budget under the tax cap,” he said, praising and thanking his fellow councilman for his many contributions.

Calling him a “lifelong volunteer and a community leader,” Cirieco said Garrity is “going to be missed.”

Faulkner

Councilman William Faulkner sent Halston Media the following statement:

“Councilman Tom Garrity’s decision to leave the Somers Town Board was a surprise, but not a complete surprise. We’ve been aware of his growing professional demands and recent promotion. And for that, we congratulate him. But also, for over 25 years of service to our wonderful town, we greatly thank him. His experience with our Zoning Board, Planning Board, and Town Board has been critically helpful on real estate and development matters. His lifelong commitment to Somers, Somers schools, and Somers citizens will be missed. We wish Councilman Garrity the best of luck on this next chapter.” 

What Now?

Council members serve for four years. There would be slightly more than two years left in Garrity’s term.

Scorrano told Halston Media last week that the board will be discussing next steps.

It could hold a special election or it could appoint someone to fill the slot. The appointee could – if he or she so chooses – run during the next general election.

It could also leave the seat open until next year, but that’s highly unlikely to happen.

“We’ll all still thinking and we’re not going to rush anything. We’ll take our time and make sure that we’ll get someone who’ll do a great job for Somers,” Scorrano explained.

Complicating matters could be a recent court ruling regarding a 2023 state law that aimed to move many local elections around so they aligned with state and federal elections held in even-numbered years.

The goal? To increase voter turnout in local races, which usually occur during odd-numbered years and are marked by lower participation.

The law faced a Republican-led challenge as unconstitutional but the Appellate Division of the Fourth Judicial Department subsequently upheld it in a unanimous decision that was handed down on Saturday, May 7.

Endorsements

The Somers Republican Town Committee has endorsed Scorrano, Cirieco, and Faulkner, all Republicans/Conservatives, for re-election this year.

It is also backing Braille Diaz of Mount Kisco for county legislator in District 2 (Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, North Salem, Pound Ridge, Somers); Kevin O’Keefe of Somers for county legislator in District 4 (Somers, Yorktown, New Castle, Ossining); and incumbent Somers receiver of taxes Michele McKearney.

The Somers Democratic Town Committee is endorsing newcomers Thomas E. Lamb and Donald Frum, both attorneys, for town councilmen; and McKearney for re-election.

Local Democrats also tapped incumbents Vedat Gashi, chair of Westchester County Board of Legislators (District 4, Somers, Yorktown, New Castle, Ossining); and Erika L. Pierce, county legislator (District 2, Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, North Salem, Pound Ridge, Somers).