Ready or not, early voting for the 2025 primary election in this year’s Yonkers City Council races begins in weeks. It’s time for Yonkers voters to get educated about the candidates!
Here’s the update on the City Council President’s race.
There will be five Democrats and two Republicans on the ballot. The winners of each party’s primary will face off against each other in the November elect. Here’s a list of the candidates:
Democratic Candidates
Lakisha Collins-Bellamy, a lawyer for the Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonker, is also the current Council President. She is running for re-election with the endorsement of the City’s Democratic Party.
Tasha Diaz, a current Council Member from the 3rd District.
Michael Khader, a lawyer who previously served as Council President from 2017-2021.
Chuck Lesnick, a lawyer who previously served as the Council President from 2006-2013. He is also running in the Working Family Party primary.
Peter Spano, (no relationship to Mayor Mike Spano) a philanthropist/entrepreneur who previously ran for City Council President in 2021.
Republican Candidates
Dean Politopolous, a retired Yonkers Police Lieutenant and currentlaw enforcement liaison for Motorola Solutions.
Ron Schutté, a Catholic high school administrator, who previously ran for the 5th District Council seat.
Each of these candidates qualified for the ballot by collecting over 1,000 signatures of either Republican or Democratic registered voters, and the Westchester County Board of Elections has certified their places on the ballot. Their success in the petition process indicates that all the candidates are running serious and legitimate campaigns. In an off-year election, when there are no federal or statewide offices up for election, voter turnout is sure to be low, giving each of the candidates a legitimate chance of winning if they can get their message out and then get their supports to the polls.
Where do the Candidates Stand on the Issues?
The Yonkers Ledger has submitted a questionnaire to each of the candidates on the issues that are central to the campaign. We will publish every response that we receive from the candidates, and then will seek to interview them and ask follow up questions to the answers they provided on the questionnaire. We will then publish separate stories profiling each candidate.
Here is a copy of the questionnaire:
Dear Candidate for Yonkers City Council President,
The Yonkers Ledger would like to hear from you on the State of the City. Mayor Mike Spano has delivered his 12th State of the City address and has highlighted his accomplishments and his plans for the upcoming year.
We will publish a short statement from your campaign on the following topic: How do you view the State of the City?
May 15th is our deadline and we will publish them as they are received. We will have a reporter contact you for a further election profile. We will follow up with a interview with one of our reporters.
Here are a few questions we would like you to address:
Overview
What is your view of the State of the City?
Development
- How do you feel about the large-scale developments happening in the City?
- Explain your position on whether the City Council should revisit the issue of whether the 10% percentage requirement in the affordable housing ordinance for new large residential buildings should be increased.
- Are there any neighborhoods you feel have pressing concerns that the City can address? Do you support changes to zoning to support quality of life?
- How do you view a) Mixed-use zoning in northwest Yonkers (cafes and small grocery stores in coops), and b) Accessory dwelling units in single family neighborhoods?
Budget
- What are your budget priorities and are there any changes you would like to see in the 2025-6 City budget?
- What else do you think should be a priority for the City of Yonkers Administration and City Council
- Term limits–Explain your position on term limits and if you have voted on this issue before.
- What else do you think should be a priority for the City of Yonkers Administration and City Council in the Budget?
Government Integrity
- What role do you believe the City Council should play in ensuring ethical, honest and transparent government?
- How should the City Council engage with the Yonkers Inspector General and the Ethic Board.
Meet the Candidates
As we await the candidates’ responses, it’s been fairly quiet on the campaign front. The candidates have mostly been busy posting on their social media accounts in an effort to connect with the voters. Still, given the general nature of these posts, it is difficult to determine where the voters stand on the issues.
There will be a candidates night Wednesday, May 14th at the Beczak Center and another one on May 29 at 1085 Warburton Avenue. I strongly recommend that interested voters attend. They are sure to be interesting nights.
