With 5 Candidate Endorsements, Bedford Dems Look to November

Bedford, March 19—The Bedford Democratic Committee announced today that it endorsed five key candidates for the 2013 town elections to take place on Nov. 5. Running as a Democratic slate, the candidates are:

• Chris Burdick for supervisor
• Meredith Black and Julie Vulpescu, each for town board
• Judy Aydelott for town justice
• Simone Shapiro for town clerk

Town board candidate Julie Vulpescu, who has lived in the community since 1976, including raising her family in Katonah, is a fundraiser at New York University Langone Medical Center.  

“I love Bedford, and want to do everything I can to serve the community,” said Vulpescu. “I am committed to enhancing communication to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of our government, while focusing on key issues, including the safety, security and well-being of everyone in Bedford.”

Meredith Black, also a town board candidate, is a land-use attorney with Zarin & Steinmetz, currently serving on the Bedford Zoning Board of Appeals. She has six years of experience as a member of The Stamford Museum & Nature Center’s Board of Directors. 

“As a professional, wife, and mother, I believe strongly in giving back to the depth, and richness that Bedford offers,” said Black. “I am committed to community involvement, focusing on transparency, communication, and effectiveness to establish strong master planning, financial prudence and protection for our environment.”

Justice candidate Judy Aydelott has more than 30 years of experience as a trial attorney in jury and non-jury litigation in New York State and federal courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals. 

"Bedford's town court must be a model for integrity, courteousness and fairness. All who come before the court must be treated with respect and know that impartiality will rule," she said.

Aydelott, a 2006 candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Congress, and her husband, Gordon, are longtime Bedford residents who have raised their family here.

"I'm excited about the prospect of making the Town Clerk's office as helpful and friendly as possible," said clerk candidate Shapiro. "I have been a trial attorney for many years and am comfortable in the role of advocate. I would begin to take steps toward providing the community more timely and easier access to the decisions made by their local government.”

Supervisor candidate Burdick is currently a five year town board member, first elected in 2007, and re-elected by a wide margin in 2011.  

Speaking on behalf of the Democratic slate candidates, Burdick said, “We are excited and extremely optimistic about the next several months, looking forward to working closely with the members of this community. We feel this is a unique opportunity to listen intently to our friends and neighbors to establish a collective view toward improving what Bedford’s town government can, and should be doing for its residents and businesses.”

Burdick is a senior underwriter with Stewart Title Insurance Company. He chaired Bedford’s Wetlands Control Commission for more than eight years before his election to the town board.

It is anticipated that at its April 10 meeting the committee will endorse Westchester County Legislator Pete Harckham for re-election, and one of the three Democratic candidates for county executive. Those interested in volunteering or meeting the candidates should write to len@bedforddemocrats.org.