Peekskill Republicans Endorse Candidates for Mayor, Common Council

 From the Peekskill Republican Committee: At a meeting of the Peekskill Republican City Committee (PRCC) Sunday evening, the District Leaders unanimously endorsed a slate of highly qualified individuals with deep roots in the community, sterling records of civic involvement and proven accomplishments in both the public and private sectors.  Committee Chairman, Vincent C. Vesce, announced that the local Republicans are fielding a full slate of candidates for this November’s elections who will provide Peekskill’s voters with stark differences in style and substance when compared to the current incumbents

Tony Washington received the Republican designation to run for Mayor of Peekskill and Joe Brady, Barbara Kerasiotis and Steve Woods were given the stamp of approval by the PRCC to join Tony and run for the 3 City Council seats that will be up for election this fall. The local Republican candidates are expecting to receive the nomination of the Conservative Party as well as the Independence Party.  Vesce said,

“We are thrilled to present such a dynamic group of candidates.  Each one has a deep affection for Peekskill and its citizens and they bring a wealth of proven ability and commitment to their community with a “get-it-done-but-get-it-done-right-attitude”.  Peekskill can get back on the right track and these are just the people to lead that charge.”

Tony Washington, a product of Peekskill High School’s Class of 1970, has developed a significant career spanning 40 years in the chemical industry right here in Peekskill working under three different successor companies.

He began his career with the Mearl Corporation where he was rising through the ranks when the company was acquired by the Engelhard Corporation. His career continued on a straight upward path during this time. When BASF Corporation bought the local operations in 2006, Tony was promoted to Northeast Regional Training Coordinator in BASF’s Talent Development and Strategy segment of corporate Human Resources. In this significant role he is responsible for addressing the learning and development needs of staffers located in over 25 manufacturing, research and information service sites, while also delivering corporate leadership and management development seminars across the United States. 

Tony serves on the Board of Directors of the Peekskill Education Foundation, the Board of Lincoln Society in Peekskill and the African American Advisory Board to the Westchester County Executive, Rob Astorino.  Tony is also a member of the Peekskill Rotary Club and the American Society for Training and Development.  He and his wife Leslie reside on Riverview Ave.

Joe Brady, one of the most well known individuals in the greater Peekskill community, brings city council experience to the Republican ticket as he served on the Peekskill City Council from 1996 to 2000.   Joe holds a BBA in Finance, Real Estate from Iona College and is a Senior Account Executive for the Castle Oil Corporation.  He is a founding member of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee and in 1998, he and his wife Ann were honored as the co-Grand Marshall of that years’ parade.  A prolific bagpiper, Joe has been an Eastern U.S. Pipe Band Association Adjudicator since 1990.  In addition, he is an Officer in the NY State Guard, Regimental Piper, 69^th Regiment, NYARNG.

As a member of the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation, the Knights Templar and the Ancient Order of the Hibernians, Joe has provided a great deal of leadership and hard work to help each of these organizations exceed their respective missions.  He is a recipient of the AOH “Man of The Year Award” and a stalwart on the Republican City Committee.  Joe is also an FAA Certified Private Plane Pilot.  He and Ann have 4 daughters, all of whom were raised and educated in Peekskill.

Barbara Kerasiotes is a lifelong Peekskill resident and graduate of Peekskill High School.  Her family owned and operated the Academy Restaurant in downtown Peekskill for 35 years.  She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Marketing and English Literature, Summa Cum Laude from Mercy College; Master’s of Science in Counseling from Fordham University and Master’s of Science in School Administration as well as holding a Certificate in Staff Development from the College of New Rochelle. Following 15 years in the business world where she held a number of positions in finance, marketing and sales management, she became an educator and is currently a Guidance Counselor at Lakeland High School.

Barbara is a Trustee of the Lincoln Society of Peekskill as well as a Trustee of the Putnam/Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center.  She is a member of the Paramount Center for the Arts and is a past board member of that Peekskill institution.  For the past 15 years, she has served on the Rotary Lapolla Scholarship Committee and has also been a member of the American Association of University Women and the Educational Advisory Board of St. Basil’s Academy.  She is also Vice President and Co-Founder of the Westchester Hellenic Association Board of Trustees as well School Principal of the Westchester Hellenic Association Afternoon Greek School.

Steve Woods is also a lifelong resident of Peekskill who grew up and was educated in Peekskill graduating from PHS in 1982.  He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Technology from Buffalo State College and currently works at Turner Logistics, a Division of Turner Construction, as the Supply Chain Product Manager for Electrical/Emergency Power.  Prior to joining Turner 8+ years ago, he held a variety of sales and purchasing positions at H.O. Penn Machinery and Nortrax.

Steve is an active member of the Peekskill Presbyterian Church where he has served the congregation in a number of positions. He has been a member of the church Corporate and Business Committee and is currently Vice-President of the Church Session which is the Governing Board of the church and is the co-chair of the Pastoral Nominating Committee.  He has been an active participant as coach and manager with the Peekskill Lapolla Little League and AYSO.  While he grew up in Highland Park on the North side of the City, he currently lives with his wife Charlene on Ringgold St.