NORTH SALEM, N.Y. - When North Salem voters head to the polls on Nov. 4, they will cast their ballots for a mostly uncontested election. Longtime Town Supervisor Warren Lucas, Councilmen Peter Kamenstein and Martin Aronchick, and Highway Superintendent James "Bo" DePaoli will all be running for re-election unopposed.
The lone contested race will see Republican Randi Bowen and Democrat Karol DeLuce vie for an appointment as the town's Receiver of Taxes.
North Salem News offered the contested candidates the opportunity to address voters and explain, in their own words, their qualifications and what they see as the most pressing issues they will address if elected.
RANDI BOWEN
Please outline your career, leadership, and educational accomplishments.
I have over 20 years of experience in accounting, bookkeeping, and customer service. My skills include payroll processing, quarterly and annual tax filings, accounts receivable, accounts payable, collections, scheduling and routing for up to 17 service technicians at once, dispatching to technicians in the field, sales, daily deposits, interacting with banks and vendors. I have a great deal of computer knowledge, and I have never encountered a system or program I could not master in a short amount of time. I am a problem solver. I believe every problem has a solution or a compromise. I have many years in a seasonal business where the workflow changes drastically at different times of the year. I am flexible to these changes in workflow, and I have learned to adapt quickly and efficiently in this type of fast paced ever changing environment.
What are the most important issues facing the Tax Receiver’s office, and why are you the most qualified to address them?
One of the most important issues facing the Tax Receiver's office is managing resident inquiries and providing excellent customer service to all the residents of North Salem. I am a people person, and I believe everyone should be treated with kindness, respect and patience. The residents of North Salem have been receiving excellent care under Karen Roach, and I intend to continue that care for many years to come. This is where I excel. Another important issue is to constantly be moving and evolving with the rest of the world. Staying on top of current issues that may affect taxpayers is essential in this role as well as staying up to date technologically to help with ease and accessibility when it comes to paying your taxes. I will constantly be looking towards ways to improve and make the process easier for our residents.
If elected, what will be your top priorities over the next year?
If elected my top priorities for the next year will be to have a seamless transition into the role with no disruption to our residents. I'd like to personally meet each resident and master every aspect of the position. I have the drive and determination. I just need the opportunity!
KAROL DELUCE
Please outline your career, leadership, and educational accomplishments.
I have a BS in Accounting and Finance. I have been the treasurer of APICS for the last 8 years. I have 35 years of experience from Accounting Manager to Operations Manager. I am an expert in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook.
What are the most important issues facing the Tax Receiver’s office, and why are you the most qualified to address them?
The most important issues facing the Tax Receiver are learning the tax and water programs, collaborating with other officials within the local North Salem office, offering convenient payment hours during collection periods, and continuing a successful tax collection effort.
If elected, what will be your top priorities over the next year?
If elected my priority over the next year will be getting to know you, the taxpayer, keeping current on legislation, and collaborating with other tax receivers within Westchester County to ensure a smooth transition of the Tax Office.
A native of North Salem, Warren Lucas became town supervisor in 2009. Prior to that the Republican was deputy supervisor and a town councilman.
A Republican, he is an executive board member and former president of the Westchester Municipal Officials Association and its Legislative Committee member and former chair; president of the Westchester Putnam Association of Town Supervisors, treasurer of the East of Hudson Watershed Corporation, a member of the executive board and treasurer of Sustainable Westchester, and has served as a member of the board of trustees and treasurer for John F. Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers.
He is a former Energize NY executive board member, a member of the Lions Club, and a former member of the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals and of the Ruth Keeler Memorial Library’s board.
He worked for IBM for 32 years before retiring in 2010.
Kamenstein has been on the Town Board for 15 years as a councilman and deputy supervisor. If re-elected, it would be his fifth term.
A Republican, he previously chaired the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals.
Kamenstein has been a volunteer firefighter for 35 years and an EMT with the Croton Falls Fire Department. He is a lieutenant in the New York State Fire Police and an appointed member of the Office of Emergency Management.
Kamenstein is a trustee of the North Salem Open Land Foundation and is a member of the North Salem Bridle Trails Association’s board of directors.
He a director of Golden’s Bridge Hounds, past president of the Ruth Keeler Memorial Library board, and a former board member of The Nature Conservancy of New York and the Westchester Land Trust.
Kamenstein works in manufacturing.
Aronchick, an attorney and a jazz musician, was first elected to the Town Board in 2015.
A Democrat, he is a firefighter and EMT with the Croton Falls Fire Department, a trustee and co-president of the North Salem Historical Society, and a member of the local Lions Club.
He is currently attending paramedics school.
Aronchick was the Town Board’s liaison to the committee that’s drafting a master plan for the hamlet of Croton Falls, as well as the town’s Conservation Advisory Committee, the Recreation Committee, and the Historic Preservation Committee.
He is a former assistant Scoutmaster with Boy Scout Troop 1 and has been a member of the town’s comprehensive plan and open space committees.
Aronchick was a member of the executive staff of the New York State Organized Crime Task Force and an Assistant Division Chief in the New York City Law Department and a member of the executive staff of the Inspector General for New York City Construction.
Born and raised in Croton Falls, DePaoli has worked for the town Highway Department for more than 40 years.
In 2010, he became the deputy superintendent of highways.
A Republican, he is a North Salem police officer and a lifetime member of the Croton Falls Fire Department.
Carol Reif and Tom Walogorsky contributed to this report.
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