Larchmont-Mamaroneck 2012 Election Guide

As we look ahead to November’s elections, Larchmont-Mamaroneck Patch is devoted to bringing you the information you need about every race, issue and candidate in town.

Here are a handful that residents are already talking about:

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Redistricting is affecting Rep. Eliot Engel (D-Bronx), who is seeking re-election after almost two decades in the House. Engel currently represents a region that includes the northwestern part of the Bronx, traveling north up Yonkers, the Rivertowns and part of Tarrytown, and connects to southern Rockland via the Tappan Zee Bridge. Now, , remaining in the Bronx while picking up part of Lowey's southern Westchester area. His district will be renumbered from the 17th to the 16th.

There will be a Democratic primary on June 26 in the 16th district between Engel and Aniello A.M. Grimaldi (D).

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Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer (D,WF-37th Senate District) will not seek re-election this fall, opening a senate seat she has held for 28 years. Oppenheimer made the announcement in January, citing an upcoming shoulder surgery. Republican Bob Cohen, who came within a small margin of upsetting Oppenheimer in 2010, has already announced his intent to run again. Cohen has accepted the GOP nomination for the seat, but will still likely face a primary election against fellow Republican and North Castle Councilwoman Diane DiDonato Roth. 

On the other side, Democrat Assemblymen George Latimer has announced he will run for the seat as well.

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Attorney Jennifer E. Bienstock-Cohen is running for an open Village of Mamaroneck Justice seat and has been endorsed by the Village of Mamaroneck Republican Committee. 

George Belsito, Dennis P. Cucinella and Michael Sudano on the Village of Mamaroneck board that will be vacated by Democrats Toni Pergola Ryan, Sid Albert and John Hofstetter. All candidates have been endorsed by the Village of Mamaroneck Republican Committee. The Village of Mamaroneck Democratic Committee has not yet released their candidates running in November's election.

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Incumbent Jaine Elkind Eney (D) will be running in November for the remainder of an unexpired term as councilwoman on the Town of Mamaroneck (TOM) Board of Trustees. She was appointed by the Town Board in 2011 to fill the seat vacated by Town Supervisor Nancy Seligson and sworn in as councilwoman on Jan. 18, 2012.  

Incumbent Ron Meister (D) will also be running in November for the remainder of an expired term as town justice for the TOM He was appointed by the Town Board to fill the seat vacated by retiring justice Dolores Battalia in Feb. 2012.  

Republican candidates have not yet been announced for November's election.

Both Elkind Eney and Meister will run for full terms in 2013.  

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As the race for the White House heats up and commandeers headlines, Patch will focus on how the national election affects local residents. While President Barack Obama faces off with his republican challenger Mitt Romney, we'll keep communities engaged with stories and polls . We'll also be tracking the Republican primaries, which come to a close in June 26.

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Incumbent U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand will face off against the GOP pick. The GOP primary is June 26; Bob Turner, the public servant who grabbed Anthony Wiener's seat and then had it redistricted out from under him, is already running against Gillibrand. Also on the GOP ballot are Wendy Long, George Maragos, Colila Clark of the Green Party and Dr. Scott Noren as an Independent are running, as well. Patch has an interview with Noren, of Ithaca, here: http://patch.com/A-vjgF

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Patch readers have a unique opportunity to become involved this elections cycle, beyond news tips and comments. If you're serious about a certain post, candidate or issue, use our blogging feature to connect with other residents and sound-off on the political stage. To get started, click here. ( and Orangetown supervisor Andy Stewart already have blogs.)

Editor's Note: A previous version of this article stated that Republican candidates running for the Village of Mamaroneck board were incumbants; Mike Sudano previously served on the board. Also, candidates for the Town of Mamaroneck elections and additional information on the Democratic primary between Rep.Eliot Engel and Aniello A.M. Grimaldi were added to this article.