Ecklond Sworn in as Tuckahoe’s New Mayor

Tuckahoe’s newly elected mayor Steve Ecklond and trustees Tom Giordano and Greg Luisi were sworn into office in front of a full house at village hall Monday night as the board held its reorganization meeting.

After Rev. Michael Bird from Bronxville’s Christ Church said the invocation and local cub scouts led the group in the Pledge, Judge David Fuller had Ecklond, Giordano and Luisi take the oath.

Ecklond, who was elected to his first term as mayor in an uncontested race , will serve a term of two years. A trustee since 2004, he also had served as deputy mayor for the last four years. 

Ecklond thanked his family, members of the GOP of Tuckahoe and Eastchester, employees of his company as well as former mayors Phil White, Michael Martino and John Fitzpatrick.

“I must thank the residents of Tuckahoe for honoring me with your trust. I will revere the oath I have taken today and will always respect the office you have elected me to uphold,” he said.

Ecklond also offered his congratulations to the other trustees on the board.

“I believe we have a very strong and sound board representing all corners of our village,” he said.” Working together with the respect we have gained for each other will allow us the ability to move forward in making sound decisions based on what’s best for all Tuckahoe residents.”

Trustees Giordano and Luisi will also serve terms of two years. For Giordano—who later in the meeting was appointed deputy mayor—this will be his first full term after being named to the board in July to fill the unexpired term of current Eastchester councilman Luigi Marcoccia.

Giordano thanked those who “are enabling this board to be here tonight,” the Republican, Independent and Conservative parties and his family, among others.

He also spoke about Ecklond, noting that his great-grandfather had served as deputy mayor.

“[Ecklond’s] been serving on the board for eight years as trustee. He knows the ropes, he knows the issues, he knows the village, and he knows its people and he knows how to get things done,” Giordano said.

He went on to talk about both trustees Luisi and Stephen Quigley and touched on some of the issues facing the village, including renting the village hall space and Marbledale Road, among others.

Luisi also addressed the audience, first relaying a story about how when he and his family moved to Tuckahoe in 1984, a neighbor came over with a bundt cake, welcoming them to the neighborhood.

‘This simple gesture made us feel that we surely had moved into the right community…” he said.

Luisi also addressed the village’s future. He said he and the board would take a fiscally prudent approach to the village’s operations, would encourage development but make sure its suitable for the village, maintain the infrastructure, and ensure that the village could be an affordable place to live.

“This is a crucial period not only for Tuckahoe but throughout the country. I will work together with the board to explore new revenue sources in an effort to keep village operating expenses down,” he said.

A few members of the audience, including former mayors of Tuckahoe and various local officials took to the microphone to offer their congratulations, advice and best wishes to the board members.

In addition the three board appointments, a number of re-appointments also were approved at the meeting, including that of acting village justice Michael O’Toole, who is now serving his 21st term.

The next village board meeting will take place on April 11.