The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Town Election 2019

Team New Castle

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(L-R): Team New Castle Lauren Levin, Jim Smith and Sean Marawynes

We Can all be Grateful for What We Have in New Castle

We love our community and are grateful to call New Castle home. The great privilege of our campaign has been the opportunity to knock on new doors. Those conversations were about what could be better, yet they also revealed incredible people living together in a beautiful place with common interests and goals. For that we can all be grateful: our Town has all the building blocks to turn our challenges into opportunities and then results.

Vote for Results

Your vote for Team New Castle’s Smith, Levin and Maraynes on November 5th will be a vote for results. We are political newcomers that bring fresh ideas and solutions to age-old problems. We are dynamic leaders. Active listeners. Creative problem solvers. And we bring the energy and urgency needed to move ideas beyond plans and ideas.      

We bring a positive and inclusive tone.  We created a local Independent Party–Team New Castle–to make it clear that we reject polarizing national politics. We focus squarely on local issues. We seek out diverse viewpoints and know how to collaborate, resolve conflict, and make difficult decisions without being adversarial.

Team New Castle

Relevant expertise and experience, pragmatism, good business judgment, and common sense define our slate.

Jim Smith, candidate for Town Supervisor, has been a planning board chairman for more than a decade, has a Harvard MBA, and is a business leader helping governments and companies solve complicated finance and infrastructure problems; his leadership and common sense, along with strong analytical and creative skills, are a powerful combination. 

Lauren Levin, a candidate for Town Board, is the former Vice-President of the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce and creator of Wine around Town; her work on the Chamber and the Downtown Streetscape Committee makes her a natural leader to help renew our business districts.

Sean Maraynes, a candidate for Town Board, is a third-generation Chappaqua resident, trial attorney and board member of the Open Door Family Medical centers; his negotiating skills and unique family perspective on New Castle make him a true advocate for all residents.

The Challenges of 2020 and Beyond

Taxes and Property Values

Although Town finances are solid, there is widespread concern about the ever-increasing tax burden and with that, declining property values. If elected every decision we make will consider the economic impact on residents and their properties. We will focus on the numbers to look for ways to make living in New Castle more affordable for everyone from newcomers to our seniors.

Infrastructure

Except for downtown Chappaqua, we continue to be reactive instead of proactive on Town infrastructure. This is an expensive posture that also leaves residents with crumbled roads and a demand for more facilities including sidewalks, sewers, and recreational amenities. We won’t promise to get everything done; we will ensure efficiency and effectiveness in our government so that more resident priorities can be met in a fiscally responsible way.

Hamlet Renewal

Making our Chappaqua and Millwood hamlets successful and vibrant has long been a challenge. We believe the Town Board plays a vital role in promoting our Town and supporting efforts to find and grow hamlet businesses and special events that bring the community together. The next Town Board will also decide on the new Chappaqua hamlet zoning ordinance which includes building heights and whether the train station parking lot will be developed. We take resident input and any vote on this zoning very seriously.     

Quality of Life Issues Big and Small

Many residents come to New Castle for good schools, but they also seek a high quality of life where everyone is safe and can enjoy time with friends and family. We believe town-wide preparedness, safety on our roads, in our schools, and public spaces, are our primary concerns. Environmental problems such as airport noise and the condition of our ecosystem are also incredibly important. There are many issues big and small that impact our quality of life. We believe our government should address these issues faster. It requires more Town Board leadership and time, improved communications with our Town departments, and more collaboration alongside our many boards and committees.   

Team New Castle has demonstrated a positive and collaborative tone throughout this campaign. We’ve recognized the existing Town Board for their hard work and successes. And we are clear where there is room for improvement. We will govern the same way we campaigned throughout this season – humble, determined and unafraid of hard work. We will take ownership of our actions and will welcome accountability from our community.

We ask for your trust and your vote on Tuesday, November 5th.

website: www.TeamNewCastle.org

email: teamnewcastle@tnc2019.org

New Castle Democrats

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(L-R): New Castle Democrats Jeremy Saland, Ivy Pool and Jason Lichtenthal

Dear Neighbors,

We are New Castle Democrats 2019 – Ivy Pool for Town Supervisor, and Jeremy Saland and Jason Lichtenthal for Town Council. We are running for office because we want to make this community a better place for ourselves, our children, and future generations.

  • We are experienced leaders who have built trust in the community. Currently, Ivy and Jeremy serve together on the Town Board, and Jason is an elected Millwood Fire Commissioner.
  • We are dedicated to the community. We are volunteers, troop leaders, coaches, PTA members, faith community members, neighborhood association leaders, and more.
  • We are focused on results. We understand the issues that are important to residents, and we have the skills and the experience needed to deliver results for our community.

In today’s political environment, local elections matter more than ever. We need strong local leaders who will support and promote our shared values.

Ivy Pool for Town Supervisor

Since her election to the Town Board in 2017, Councilwoman Ivy Pool has earned a reputation for responsiveness, hard work, and creativity. A career public servant, Ivy held senior policy roles in Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration and in the office of Governor Andrew Cuomo. She earned an undergraduate degree from Columbia University and a Master’s in Public Administration from NYU. Ivy and her husband have lived in New Castle since 2010, and have two children who attend Grafflin and Bell.

Jeremy Saland for Town Council

Councilman Jeremy Saland was elected to the Town Board in 2015, having previously served as Town Prosecutor from 2010-2015. Jeremy is known for his honesty, integrity, and dedication to public service. Jeremy manages his own law practice, specializing in criminal defense, Title IX proceedings, Family Court matters, and victim advocacy. He began his legal career as a Manhattan prosecutor under District Attorney Robert Morgenthau. Jeremy and his wife moved to New Castle in 2006, and have three children at Grafflin, Bell, and Horace Greeley.

Jason Lichtenthal for Town Council

Since 2016 Jason Lichtenthal has served as a Commissioner of the Millwood Fire District, where he is known for his leadership and dedication to protecting the safety of the community. As Senior Vice President at PURE Insurance, Jason has expertise in contract negotiation, project management, and financial management. Jason attended MIT, Brooklyn College, and holds a Master’s in Computer Science from Binghamton University. A Millwood resident since 2004, Jason and his wife have two children who attend Horace Greeley. 

For most of us, our home is the most significant investment we will make. New Castle Democrats 2019 will protect your investment by maintaining property values. To do this, we must hold property taxes flat while improving Town services and enhancing our overall quality of life. Our commitment is to:

Create Thriving Hamlets

Our two hamlets– Chappaqua and Millwood–each have unique strengths, challenges and opportunities. New Castle Democrats 2019 is committed to creating thriving downtown hamlets, which will spur economic development, improve property values, and enhance the quality of life for all residents.

Invest in Capital Planning and Modernize Infrastructure

When it comes to local government, there is perhaps no more visible yard stick by which to measure success than infrastructure. Roads, sidewalks, and sewers are the critical to property values as well as residents’ experiences of their community. We pay a lot in property taxes and we have the right to expect modern-day infrastructure.

Create a Climate-Smart and Resilient New Castle

We believe that that local government has a considerable role to play in instituting climate-smart policies to protect our planet and create a resilient community. While individual residents must share in the responsibility for protecting our natural environment, we believe that local government can and should enact thoughtful, strong, and enforceable policies to do the same.

Enhance Recreation Opportunities and Improve Community Spirit

Whether you are new to town or have lived here for generations, New Castle residents share a passion for recreation and strong sense of community. We will seek to strengthen both.

Engage in Responsible Municipal Management

We will diversify appointments to boards and commissions, make communications a two-way street, and improve intergovernmental cooperation with the State, County, and neighboring municipalities.

We love New Castle and our focus is on making this community a warm, welcoming, and wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.

Please vote on Nov. 5th, or during early voting from Oct. 26th-Nov 3rd. We thank you for the confidence you placed in us when you elected us to our current roles, and we look forward to continuing to serve our community.

Sincerely,

Ivy, Jeremy, and Jason