CARMEL, N.Y.—Republican voters will go to the polls on Tuesday, June 24, to pick their party’s candidates for Carmel Town Board. Three candidates are vying for two seats on the board. The two winners will face off in November against Democrat Party challengers.
Here is a closer look at the three GOP candidates, their backgrounds and their platforms.
Incumbent Mike Lugo has lived in Mahopac for 23 years and is an MHS Class of 2007 graduate. He and his wife Jacklyn have a son and own several small businesses in both Putnam and Westchester counties.
Lugo is an active member of the Lake Mahopac Rotary Club, Mahopac Chamber of Commerce, and founder of D.A.D.S (Dads Always Doing Something).
“Interacting with our community from all three angles has given me a better understanding of the wants and concerns from different groups, demographics and age groups,” he said. “I pride myself in bridging the gap between two generations that have similar goals but a different approach on achieving them. I am a strong believer in compromising, communicating and being fair across the board.”
Lugo said his plan was always to run in this year’s election for a four-year term but in 2023 an opportunity presented itself.
“A councilman [Steve Baranowski] resigned, leaving his seat vacant, giving the board an option of whether or not to appoint or hold a special election in November 2024,” he recalled. “I was the only candidate who stepped up to the plate and filled the vacancy, knowing that I would have to run again just six months later. This is a true testament on how passionate and eager I was to get to work for the taxpayers of Carmel.”
Lugo said that one of the biggest challenges in local government is simple communication.
“You don’t always have to agree but must come to mutual understanding that will benefit the majority,” he said. “This is not always the case. I understand why people have been saying they want to see some new blood and fresh faces brought to the town of Carmel, but if you continue to vote for the same old name, you cannot expect a different result. Change is sometimes frightening but necessary to move in the right direction.”
Lugo said he is a strong advocate for the Recreation and Parks Department, which is currently experiencing staff shortages and issues with some of its buildings.
“There has been some major role changes within the department that will take some time for adjustment,” the councilman said. “We have eight parks to manage with only three workers to help maintain the fields, help with special events, aid in emergencies and keep our programs running. ‘Understaffed’ is an understatement, but these are the cards we have been dealt. Hiring a hands-on maintenance supervisor along with a rec leader is top priority.”
Lugo said he will make sure to budget for these positions in the coming years while giving the taxpayers “something to show for it.”
Lugo notes that there have been several townwide projects that have been stagnant for more than a decade.
“In the beginning, I was overwhelmed by the amount of work that has been started and never finished. I implemented a priority list in the supervisor’s office that we can all be held accountable for and check off as we move along and discuss weekly,” he said. “For a small business owner like me, this seems to be a basic foundation to a successful future. Swan Cove, a rec center and improving infrastructure has been a talking point for several candidates to run on. I will not make promises that I can’t keep, but I can speak on what I know. Downtown Mahopac is a three-phase project starting with the parking lot of Swan Cove. I am confident we will go out to bid, shovels in the ground before the end of 2025 for phase 1.”
Lugo said he’s been working with the Rec Department over the last few months to put together a referendum regarding a Rec Center.
“Ask the public one last time if this is something they want to see their tax dollars being spent on. If not, remove it from our priority list and keep it moving,” he said. “No need to keep discussing or campaigning on projects that won’t get done.”
Lugo said residents should vote for him because he will always be transparent, honest and fair to the community he lives in.
“This is where I chose to raise my family, start my own business and serve our people,” he said. “Small businesses find it hard to navigate in a small town that has been run by the same old people for years. It’s time we move in a direction that is beneficial for all. No broken promises, no hidden agendas, just hard work with real results.”
Lugo said he wants to keep the town of Carmel affordable to live in while giving taxpayers something to be proud of.
“I promise to always do my due diligence before voting to spend your hard-earned money,” he said.
Former town councilman Robert Schanil was born in the Bronx and raised in Lake Carmel, graduating from Carmel High School. He attended Westchester Community College, John Jay College of Criminal Justice (bachelor’s in criminal justice), Marist College (public administration), and Manhattanville University (master’s in leadership and strategic management).
Schanil is a former police officer. His law enforcement career began with the Mount Vernon Police Department, later transferring to the Harrison Police Department, where he was promoted to sergeant. He retired in 2010 after leading the department through the state accreditation process.
Schanil and his wife, Marlene, have lived in Carmel for 27 years, raising four children, all Carmel High School graduates.
Schanil served four years on the Town Board, both as councilman and deputy supervisor.
“I learned quickly how important it was to be engaged and knowledgeable on the issues facing our town,” he said of his first tenure on the board. “Unfortunately, COVID stuck, and we were faced with many challenges. But through it all, I feel we did an excellent job in navigating the community through the pandemic.”
Schanil said that many projects were started in 2020, but COVID made it difficult to see them all through.
“Some of the projects I find important include completing and adjusting the Master Plan to current community needs, improving and revitalizing the downtown Mahopac Business District, completing the Swan Cove project, and improving our town's infrastructure by completing the Carmel Water District 2 (CWD2) upgrade and finishing repairs to the various water towers,” he said.
Schanil said he aims to demonstrate responsible fiscal management by not exceeding the tax cap while maintaining our town services.
“I care deeply about our town's future and am committed to serving with integrity, accountability, and passion,” he said. “Re-election would allow me to build on our progress to complete unfinished projects and ensure every voice is heard and respected.”
Schanil said the issues at the Recreation and Parks Department need to be addressed.
“The outdoor parks and ballfields are highly used. For this reason, extra care is needed to maintain them. This would require additional funding for maintenance and staffing,” he said. “Indoor pickleball courts, basketball courts, and large gathering spaces enhance the enrichment of relationships among the community. The town has talked about creating a new community center. Seniors have to attend meetings off-site at the firehouse, which recreation pays rent for. Having a new and improved recreation building at Sycamore Park would make it possible for seniors to meet there.”
Schanil proposes using some ARPA money to address the recreation problems.
“The town has received approximately $3.4 million in ARPA funds, which have been appropriated for various projects,” he said. “I propose allocating additional funds for recreational improvements, specifically for parks and ball fields. This could be achieved using any remaining ARPA funds or sales tax revenue returned to the town by the county.”
Schanil said there are several outstanding projects he would like to see finished, including the CWD2 water treatment upgrade.
“ARPA money was used to purchase the property to build a new facility. I think the town should continue to build the new facility,” he said. “They have vetted the project out again to new engineering companies. This should be revisited, and technology has changed. I would be in favor of a smaller facility with greater capabilities.”
He said the sewer project will be a challenge but needs to be completed.
“Some restrictions will keep us from full expansion. I do believe it is possible to extend the line to Baldwin Place,” he said. “We will have to decide who will have access to it. As of now, the Kohler Center and the shopping center across the street should be connected. Depending on the leftover capacity, it can be decided what else could be connected to it.”
Schanil added that the Swan Cove project and the Mahopac Downtown revitalization should be completed using funds wisely. Mitigating the water at Swan Cove is most important.
“Once this is achieved, a parking lot can be created for the business district. In addition, a nice passive park can be put in place using minimal funding,” he said.
Schanil said that with 24 years of public service experience, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Town Board. As a police officer in Harrison, he says he successfully secured nearly $8 million in grants, demonstrating the ability to identify and obtain critical funding.
During his first tenure on the board, he oversaw the installation of electric car charging stations, the cleanup of the Fowler Avenue gas station, and he secured several grants.
“Currently, as the assistant director of security, I have managed projects during a transformational period between hotel management companies,” he said. “My ability to collaborate effectively with individuals of diverse viewpoints and work cohesively to achieve goals is my greatest asset to the Town Board.”
Ken Schmitt served as the Carmel town supervisor for 14 years—the longest running tenure in town history. After several attempts at re-election, the former CPD sergeant is now seeking a seat on the Town Board as a councilman.
Schmitt is a lifelong resident of Mahopac and is a 1976 MHS graduate. He is the father of three grown sons and has four grandchildren.
Schmitt began his law enforcement career in 1981 with the NYPD. He moved to the Carmel Police Department the following year and retired in 2007. He is also a lifetime member of the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department.
Schmitt said his “love and passion for the community” is the driving force behind his decision to get back into town government, this time as a councilman. He said that controlling property taxes is the biggest challenge currently facing the Town Board.
“This should always be the priority of elected officials,” he said. “Any decision regarding capital projects must be made with the taxpayer in mind. Elected officials have a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers. Cutting costs and reducing expenditures [is crucial].”
Schmitt said he believes that the town’s Recreation and Parks Department needs bolstering.
“Under my tenure as supervisor, we broke ground on three major rec facilities in Carmel. We completed them under budget. The Rec Department has come a long way, but we need to expand on them, like with a town swimming pool and work toward a community center. There are a lot of residents who would benefit, I would be willing to look into that to see if we can do it. We have a [recreation] master plan and we need to go back and review it. If there are staffing issues, we have to start hiring people. Let’s do our due diligence to see if it's needed. We need to have a comprehensive review to find out if the staff is adequate.”
Schmitt said he would like to see the town’s ARPA funds and money garnered from the plan for the county to share sales tax revenue used for projects that have been on the books for a long time.
“For example, the business district renovation, Swan Cove, and the purchase of the treatment plant across from town hall, which would pave the way for a sewer line down Route 6.
“I want to move forward with the sewer treatment plant in an expeditious manner,” he continued. “We have been talking about it for years and were very close to signing an agreement in principle. I don’t know what happened, but it didn’t move forward, and I want to pursue it. That would be priority of mine. It has been too many years. We need less talk and more action. Once we have sewer and water – we need both – then that will open up those properties on Route 6 that cannot currently be built out. That will open us up to commercial development. We need the infrastructure.
“No taxpayer dollars should be used until we have exhausted all outside funding—both state and federal grants.
“I believe ARPA funds have been dedicated to certain projects,” he added. “I don’t know how much is left. And the sales tax revenue should be used to help the tax levy during budget time and keep costs down.”
Schmitt said his experience in town government makes him the best choice for the Town Board.
“I strongly believe that my past leadership and experience, along with my knowledge of municipal governance operations, will be beneficial to the town of Carmel,” he said. “I promise to bring positive energy and always put people over politics. I pledge open communication and transparency with the taxpayers on all town projects and initiatives.
“That must be followed to ensure residents are in the loop on all fiscal impacts or quality of life concerns,” he continued. “The health, safety and welfare of our residents will always be my priority.”
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