SOMERS, N.Y. - In Somers, Republican incumbent Robert Scorrano was celebrating after besting his Democratic opponent, Teresa Clifford, in the race for town supervisor.
The latest unofficial results, published by the Westchester County Board of Elections at 1:45 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6, three days after the election, showed Scorrano with 6,055 votes, or 56.97 percent of the ballots cast, and Clifford with 4,572 votes, or 43.02 percent.
(There was one write-in.)
Scorrano’s running mate, Councilwoman Gina Arena, a Republican who’d been appointed last year to the Town Board, was likewise elated. She was challenged by Democrat Rita Romeu, who previously served as mayor of Chesterfield Township, N.J.
The results were delayed because Westchester County election workers had to tabulate thousands of ballots that were cast but could not be read by machines on Election Day.
The BOE, as of Friday, was still elbow-deep in recount mode for many other contests around the county.
Early in the counting process, it looked as if Romeu would prevail in the race for the Town Board seat. But when the final numbers rolled in, it was Arena who emerged as the winner with 5,525 votes, or 51.94 percent.
Romeu garnered 5,108 votes, or 48.02 percent.
(There were four write-ins.)
The snafu with the voting machines was a big topic of conversation at the Town Board’s Thursday, Nov. 5, work session, though everyone made it clear that they weren’t expecting to get the final totals until later that night.
“It was a fascinating and interesting election day that’s for sure,” said Arena, emphasizing Thursday evening that the counting was still going on.
“But do I have to say that whenever you run for office there’s a lot that goes into it and every candidate who steps up to the table should always be proud of themselves and the community should be proud of them. It doesn’t matter which side of the aisle you’re on, there’s a lot of hard work that goes into it and we should just be thankful that we have people that want to come and do it,” she said.
On Friday, after getting word that Somers’ unofficial count had been finalized, Arena issued the following statement:
“I’m honored and humbled to share that I will serve the remainder of this term as your Somers Town Councilwoman!
“Thank you to Rita Romeu for stepping up to run. Putting yourself forward takes courage, and your commitment to our community is appreciated. To everyone who supported me, thank you for your trust.
“Somers has given so much to me and my family, and I’m grateful for the chance to give back. What I love the most about this town is its kindness, generosity, and real sense of community.
“As we move forward, I’ll keep my focus on Home Rule, affordability, and protecting the character of our wonderful town.
“I’ll work hard, listen, and advocate for every resident.
“To my family, supporters, and volunteers: thank you from the bottom of my heart.
“Somers is home and serving you is an honor.”
She signed off with a heart emoji.
For those following the supervisor’s contest, it might have seemed like déjà vu all over again.
(Supervisors serve two-year terms. Councilmembers serve three-year terms.)
Scorrano, who first took office in 2022 after beating Democrat Stephanie Keegan and then ran twice more uncontested before the latest election, had to hit the campaign trail again this year due to a recent change in state law that shifted most elections for town and county offices outside New York City from odd to even years.
In a statement sent to Halston Media on Friday, he thanked residents “for once again placing their trust and confidence in me.”
“It is an honor to continue serving as town supervisor, and I do not take that responsibility lightly,” he wrote, thanking Clifford for “her willingness to serve our community.”
“We have accomplished a great deal together, but there is still important work ahead. My focus remains on protecting taxpayers, investing in our community, and delivering results that make a difference in the lives of our residents,” Scorrano said, adding: “Regardless of how you voted, I will continue working hard for all of Somers. This community has always been my home, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving it.”
Romeu congratulated Arena on her win and wished the incoming board “a productive year.”
“I am incredibly grateful to everyone who supported my campaign and to the dedicated team of volunteers who worked tirelessly throughout this process. Your time, commitment, and encouragement have meant a great deal to me. Although the election has come to a close, my commitment to serving and advocating for our Somers community has not. I look forward to continuing that work in the weeks and months ahead,” she said in an email sent to Halston Media.
Clifford also conceded graciously.
“Congratulations to Rob Scorrano on his election as Somers Town Supervisor. I'm proud to have been part of this election, and I look forward to continuing to give my time and energy to the community I love,” she wrote in an email.
Scorrano was among those carefully monitoring the vote-counting process.
(The glitch with the machines not accepting the paper ballots has reportedly been traced to a software programming issue.)
Yes, there were technical problems, but that’s why, he said Thursday, there are measures in place to ensure that people were still able to vote and “make their voices heard.”
The ballots were transported under police escort to a county facility in Ardsley, where they were processed through six machines.
“I give it up to the county, it wasn’t an easy task,” Scorrano said, praising all involved for working together “across the aisle” to make sure that everything was done by the book.
“I was there and I can assure you of that,” he asserted.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here