Rye Mayoral Race: Maybe There IS Another Choice...A WRITE IN Vote!

As I walk through Rye and talk to people over the last few months and recent weeks, the growing discontent with the "choices" for Rye Mayor in this year's election is amazing. Two Republicans who are essentially at each others' throats, no Democratic nominee and a newcomer who, while she deserves kudos for being brave enough to enter the ascerbic climate prevailing in Rye politics today, does not seem to be well informed enough about the issues to serve as Mayor.

I have listened to both Joe Sack and Peter Jovanovich. And am I sold on neither one. Of biggest concern for me personally, among the plethora of controversial issues that have been going on in this town for the last few years, is Playland, Sustainable Playland and now at the forefront of that issue, their proposed plan for a "Field Zone" which will occupy Playland's parking lot with outdoor astro-turf soccer fields and a 95,000 square foot, year round use, indoor sports facility that will wreak havoc on the local traffic, parking, neighborhood property values and quality of life.

Until the City Council meeting of 10/23/13, both Joe and Peter have unequivocally supported SPI since its inception, all the way, straight across the board, with no questions asked. In October of 2012 they unanimously voted with other Council members to endorse the plan, which at the time included the Field Zone. Mack Cunningham and Steve Vasko both spoke out against it that night, the Council didn't listen. I got up at the March 20th Council meeting, and then the following meeting again on April 3rd and spoke out against the SPI plan...neither Sack nor Jovanovich looked into it at that juncture. Then I got up and railed on them at the October 9th Council meeting. Still nothing. It took until October 23rd, when there was finally a packed room of angry citizens for each of them to start their own version of back peddling and damage control on this very serious issue facing Rye residents.

Not good enough. Too little, too late. Right in keeping with each of their tenures on City Council to date.  It's an analogy for their approach to all the serious issues facing Rye, line by line, pretty much without exception.

The voice that has been speaking out against it the longest, with the most rationale, making the most sense? Mack Cunningham.

You DO have another choice next week, Rye. It's called a 'Write In" vote. If, like myself, you were reluctantly planning to vote for one of what you consider to be the "lesser of two evils" or are so disgusted that you weren't planning to vote for Mayor at all, exercise your right to use this option.

I'm going to write in a vote for a well respected non-candidate, who's not even running, but who clearly has the common sense this City badly needs: former Councilman Mack  Cunningham.

Please join me. It may seem like a long shot, but stranger things have happened.

Deirdre Curran, Rye, NY