Mayor, Trustee Challengers Crop Up in Sleepy Hollow

Incumbents in Sleepy Hollow were expecting an easy reelection this year, but they aren't likely to get it.

Three local residents are throwing their hats into the ring for this year's village elections.

Mayoral candidate Daniel Scott and trustee candidates Sumantha Sedor and Jack Gasko have completed a write-in campaign to appear on the March ballot as independents. The Westchester County Board of Elections still has to certify the petitions, which were due today.

In Sleepy Hollow, Mayor Ken Wray, Trustee Bruce Campbell, Trustee Evelyn Stupel and Trustee Barbara Carr will all run again to hold their positions.

Daniel Scott, Mayoral Candidate

Scott is an attorney with Chabourne & Parke LLP in Manhattan. He currently lives with his wife and two children in Ichabod's Landing and has been a resident of the village for about four years. 

Scott became interested in running after he attempted to volunteer as part of a village committee, which, he said, went no where. Scott said his own experience has led him to base his campaign on opening up village government.

"I think what this village needs is good leadership that will help bring the village together and start getting people excited about Sleepy Hollow again," he said. "I want to get the village back involved in their government."

Aside from tackling big issues like GM and downtown revitalization, Scott also wants to set up initiative programs, overhaul the village website, start youth programs, make the local budget more accessible to residents and begin a comprehensive plan process. Scott wants to do much of this by consolidating services and relying on home-grown talent.

"You don't need to spend money, we need to accomplish a lot without spending more money," he said. "We need to welcome village volunteers."

Jack Gasko, Trustee Candidate

Jack Gasko is a long-time village resident who has been living here since 1962. He ran a successful tree service company until 2002, when he sold the business. Gasko currently lives on Webber Avenue.

Gasko said that he has two main concerns when it comes to the village; how the village is handing the police department and what will come out of the General Motors property development.

"We've gone through four police chiefs in less than four years, its caused a good deal of rancor to have senior officers passed by for chief," he said. Gasko's son is also a member of the Sleepy Hollow Police Department.

Gasko expressed dissatisfaction with an preliminary idea to merge the local police force with the county, saying that the village wouldn't get the same service.

As for GM, Gasko thinks the village has lost a lot of time on the project, and said he didn't have faith that the current board could see the project through to completion.

Sumantha Sedor, Trustee Candidate

Sedor moved into Philipse Manor with her husband on the eve of Halloween in 2008. She is also a corporate law attorney at Chabourne & Parke LLP in Manhattan with Dan Scott.

She feels her law background gives her a firm grasp to handle contract reviews, litigation and general governance. She also has a finance and marketing degree from Boston College that she said would help when it comes to tackling the budget.

She believes that she will bring a fresh face to the village, a "clean slate" without a connection to "local politics". 

"That will allow me to focus on what the issue is and making the correct decision, not basing it on whose feelings will be hurt," she said.

Sedor is only 32, but already knows that she wants to stay in Sleepy Hollow and raise a family.

"I love being in a village," she said. "This place is the hidden gem in Westchester... I plan on being here a long time."

Village elections will take place on Tuesday, March 15, 2011. Once petitions are certified by the Westchester County Board of Elections, we will conduct a follow-up interviews with all candidates.