The race for Westchester County Board of Legislators District 1—which includes Cortlandt and parts of Peekskill and Yorktown—matches three-term incumbent Democrat Colin Smith of Peekskill against Republican Kevin Byrnes, chairman of the Yorktown Republican Committee since 2019 and a 24-year town resident. We sent each candidate written questions. Their responses are unedited except for formatting.
Colin Smith was born and raised in Peekskill, where he still lives. An attorney and small-business owner with long family ties to northern Westchester, Smith said his work helping local families protect their homes, plan for the future, and navigate county and state systems shaped his practical approach to policy. On the Board of Legislators, he said he has focused on funding road and drainage projects, expanding youth and senior programs, supporting affordable housing, and strengthening consumer protections. He is seeking a fourth term to continue investing in infrastructure and flood prevention, expanding mental-health and senior services, and ensuring county resources are distributed fairly across northern Westchester.
Why are you running for County Legislator District 1? I was born and raised in Peekskill, where I still live today. My family’s roots in northern Westchester run deep, and I’ve always believed that strong communities depend on people staying involved. Peekskill and Yorktown are close neighbors with shared priorities — from infrastructure to affordability to public safety. I ran for County Legislator to make sure local voices are heard at the county level and to bring steady, results-driven leadership that puts residents first.
What are you most proud of in your work as a legislator what are your biggest priorities? As an attorney and small-business owner, I’ve spent my career helping local families protect their homes, plan for the future, and navigate county and state systems. That work taught me that good policy is practical — it solves problems people actually face. On the Board of Legislators, I’ve focused on exactly that: securing funding for roads and drainage improvements, expanding youth and senior programs, supporting affordable housing, and strengthening consumer protections. My goals are to continue those efforts — investing in infrastructure and flood prevention, broadening access to mental-health and senior services, and ensuring county resources are used efficiently and fairly across northern Westchester.
What are this district’s biggest needs? Yorktown, like its neighbors, is balancing growth with preservation. The town needs sustained investment in infrastructure, drainage, and broadband, as well as thoughtful development that keeps housing attainable and protects open space. I’ll continue working to direct county funding toward those priorities, partner with Yorktown officials to coordinate services, and make sure the county remains an active partner in addressing traffic, stormwater, and environmental concerns. My approach is straightforward — listen to residents, identify where the county can help, and follow through until the job is done.
Why should Yorktown residents vote for you? Because I take the work seriously and do it for the right reasons. I’m not interested in headlines or partisanship; I’m focused on outcomes that improve daily life. Voters can count on me to be accessible, transparent, and responsive. I’ve built a record of collaboration — bringing people together to fix problems rather than argue about them — and I’ll keep doing that for Yorktown and all of northern Westchester. Public service is about trust, and I work every day to earn it.
Kevin Byrnes, a 24-year Yorktown resident, is a retired NYPD Detective Sergeant and chairman of the Yorktown Republican Committee. He earned a master’s degree in homeland security management and has worked in school security at Lakeland High School. Byrnes has long been active in community service, serving as a Boy Scout leader, Yorktown Conservation Board member, and co-chair of the town’s Community Emergency Response Team. He said his priorities include public safety, fiscal responsibility, and supporting first responders. Byrnes is running to represent District 1.
Why are you running for County Legislator District 1? I have been a proud Westchester County resident for nearly five decades, having moved from Brooklyn to Pleasantville as a child, and spent the last 24 years in Yorktown where my wife and I put our children through Lakeland Schools. My professional journey includes 25 years in law enforcement with the New York City Police Department, culminating in retirement as a Detective Sergeant. Afterward, I continued contributing to the safety of my community by working as a security monitor at Lakeland High School. I earned my master’s degree in Homeland Security Management from Long Island University in 2023.
Community service has been a core part of my life since my youth, with early roles such as altar server and Boy Scout, followed by volunteering as a firefighter and ambulance corps member as a young adult. Over the years, I’ve coached basketball for the Shrub Oak Athletic Club and, since 2006, have served as a Boy Scout leader. My commitment extends to leadership positions; I serve on the Executive Committees of both the Yorktown Elks and United for the Troops (since its founding in 2007). I’ve also served two terms on the Yorktown Conservation Board and currently co-chair the Yorktown Community Emergency Response Team.
For the past 15 years, I have been a member of the Yorktown Republican Committee, serving as Chairman since 2019. While I have long preferred supporting candidates behind the scenes, my experience and encouragement from others led me to run for County Legislator this year.
What are your policy priorities and what do you see as the district's biggest needs? Throughout my career—especially my time on solo patrol in the subway—I developed strong skills in handling challenging situations and calming individuals under stress. These abilities served me well in roles as a youth officer, in narcotics enforcement, and as a Sergeant in charge of a squad of Detectives.
Public safety will be my top priority. I am committed to supporting our first responders and ensuring they have the necessary resources to protect Westchester residents. I advocate overturning the 2018 County Immigrant Protection Act, which I believe restricts communication between local and federal authorities and risks the loss of substantial federal funding due to the county's sanctuary status.
Fiscal responsibility is also important to me. I will work to reduce unnecessary spending and oppose excessive rate hikes imposed on residents by NYSEG and Con Ed. I support the reopening of Indian Point with improved technology, as its closure has increased reliance on fossil fuels and contributed to soaring energy costs.
The above stated goals are especially relevant to Yorktown, which has faced direct consequences from the Immigrant Protection Act, such as the tragic death of a local teenager last year linked to failures in notifying federal immigration authorities. Yorktown residents are also burdened by rising energy costs and New York City’s congestion pricing.
Why should Yorktown residents vote for you? I am seeking election to represent District 1, which includes parts of Yorktown, Cortlandt, and all of Peekskill. Yorktown has been my home since 2001, and I remain deeply involved in its organizations and activities. As a retiree, I am prepared to dedicate myself fully to serving as your next County Legislator, making it my sole professional focus. For all of these reasons, I humbly ask for your vote.
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