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Community Corner

Letter to the Editor: Port Chester's Race for Mayoral, Village Trustee Seats

Residents supports Pagano, Kenner, Terenzi and Ferrara in March 19 elections.

I’d like to take a moment and share with my fellow Villagers what the March 19 Port Chester election means for me, and why I will be supporting Neil Pagano for Mayor and Joe Kenner, Sam Terenzi, and Frank Ferrara for Village Trustees.

After graduating from the University of Houston, I moved to New York to work for IBM.  After a few years of renting apartments around Westchester, I decided it was time to buy a home.  I knew I wanted to be in mid-lower Westchester, and in an area that was culturally diverse and reasonably affordable.  While Port Chester fit this profile perfectly, what really drew me to this community was its potential.  When I think several years down the road and what this Village could be like, it is easy to see that others may not have realized the abundance of opportunities that exist here.

I look at the national political scene and all I see is policy gridlock, deficit spending, and an extended lack of focus on key priorities like creating jobs and expanding the tax base.  If any of you have watched some of our Village Board meetings, you may have noticed some of the same problems – a general lack of consensus, no comprehensive strategy to address Village infrastructure projects, and a lack of focus on pursuing future development opportunities that will bring tax relief, jobs, and new amenities for all.

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An interesting fact to consider: In Port Chester’s Comprehensive Plan there are 43 separate recommendations spanning transportation, infrastructure, housing and municipal services.  Given that each Board meeting takes over six hours, how much confidence do you have that the current Mayor will address these 43 unique recommendations?

In his own words Mayoral candidate Neil Pagano has said, “I am impatient.”  That means to me that Mr. Pagano will not “wait” to deliver results.  As a lifelong businessman, he knows that customers don’t pay for effort; they pay for a quality final product.  What you'll get in Neil Pagano as Mayor is not just promises “to do” great things, but someone who will actually “deliver” great outcomes.

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Supporting this commitment to deliver great outcomes, Joe Kenner (Republican), Sam Terenzi (Conservative), and Frank Ferrara (Democrat) have joined forces with Mr. Pagano (no affiliation) on a UNITY ticket.  And unlike what’s happening on the national level, where both parties are unable to reach across the aisle to do what’s right, we have a rare opportunity to have these four uniquely qualified individuals, who have forged a UNITY platform, in advance of the election, represent us in Port Chester.

I’ve personally met Neil, Joe, Sam, and Frank.  I believe they are all committed to serving because they love Port Chester and want to see its potential fully realized.  Their diverse business backgrounds and political views will ensure that all decisions they consider will be fully aired and alternatives considered.  Let’s do our part on March 19 by going to the polls to support Neil Pagano for Mayor and Joe Kenner, Sam Terenzi and Frank Ferrara for Trustees.

Jing Xie

Port Chester

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