Politics & Government

Rye Golf Club Commission Candidates Step Up in the Wake of Corruption

The Rye Golf Club is holding a RGC Commission candidate's forum at 6 p.m. at Whitby Castle Wednesda, Aug. 28. There are three open seats on the Commission, for which seven golf club members are running. Incumbent John Duffy, who has been serving as Chair after former chair Rich Verille stepped down last year, is running for one of the open seats. 

The other candidates are Akhil Kumar, Angela Sposato, Barry McGowan, Bob Dimaggio, Leon Sculti, who can be credited with bringing the Rye Golf Club staffing scandal to light, and Mack Cunningham, a former City Council member who has been vocal about problems at RGC.  

The Commission, its membership, power and authority has come under scrutiny since the Rye Golf Club scandal was uncovered last fall. 

Currently, the Commission consists of nine members with one non-voting city council liaison. The Commission will discuss the mayor's proposal to change the Commission's membership by adding three members - nine elected by the membership, one a city council liaison, one from the club's finance advisory committee and one additional appointment, at their 7 p.m. meeting following the forum.

Over the last few months, the Commission and City Council have held workshops on how to run the club and on how much authority the Commission should have. Here are the Commission's proposed changes submitted in June. 

Members can vote by email or at a kiosk in the membership office. The date of the election is expected to be set at the forum tonight, said commission member and chair of the marketing and membership committee Pat Geoghegan. 

Read each of the candidates statements here:

Leon Sculti: 

If you want somebody to fight for you and this club, to pushback and not accept 'no' for an answer from dishonest, arrogant or incompetent employees or city council members, I've got your back.

If you want someone to find out how much money was stolen from us and to fight for reimbursement from the city, allow me.

Find out what's happening in Ryewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If you'd like someone to make sure that members of this club are never again treated with the type of disrespect that led to the largest theft of funds by a city employee in the history of Rye, I'd be happy to.

If you feel City Hall is an immovable object–or that a long, hard, battle to free RGC from a destructive government apparatus isn't a worthy cause, I'm not your guy.

Find out what's happening in Ryewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If you believe in yourself, and you believe that together we can do great things, by all means, vote for Leon.

Mack Cunningham

Rye Golf Finance Committee 2013-

o Led the 2013 RGC's bond refinancing reducing Club's interest expenses approximately $85,000 through 2018.

o Initiated the idea to leverage Westchester County's pool chlorine contract reducing 2013 Club’s chlorine expenses approximately $10,000.

o Reduced the Club's credit card transaction expenses negotiating lower terms with vendor.

Statement:

Overall current Club Pool Operations replacing outside lifeguard contractor with local labor. Invest limited Club capital dollars in upgrading pool amenities.

Commission should move forward with Whitby Castle’s banquet and food proposals still permitting Member and public access.

Reduce Club operating expenses rather than historically increasing revenue by raising membership dues.

Rye Community Resume:

Rye YMCA Board of Trustees Rye Recreation Commission Rye City Council Rye Youth Lacrosse Board

1985-1997 1998- 2003 2006-2009

2007-2010

John Duffy

I've been a member for 17 years. I've been the chair of the Commission since November 2012. After confronting our former manager in June of 2012 about his conflict of interest. I've been fighting for transparency and proper oversight. We have made progress in many areas, but some fundamental structural changes need to be implemented. I wish to finish the job and appreciate your support.

Bob DiMaggio

I have been a member at Rye Golf for over 30 years. I have lived and owned a business in Rye for over 20 years. I truly appreciate this facility for what it offers to the community.

I have been active in attending both the Commission meetings and City Council meetings, particularly over the past year. Presently I serve on the Greens Committee.

If elected, I will do my best to represent the membership and strive to make the club a well run, member-friendly facility. In addition, I would like to see that those employed at the Club, regardless of their position, have only the best intentions for the members and the facility.

Finally, I invite all golf and pool members to future Commission and Council meetings to allow your voice to be heard!

Barry McGowan

I believe the Rye Golf Club is a fantastic club that offers members great facilities in a wonderful setting. But I also believe that it can be managed a bit better, particularly with regard to promoting membership in the club, as well as events.

RGC has a natural base of members from the local area as well as a draw all the way to the Hudson Valley. Foreign expats as well as people relocating to the area from other parts of the country are particularly attracted to the club, which I feel gives it an interesting membership.

I have been a member of private clubs both in Rye and abroad and every year travel to other countries to play golf at different clubs. I think this gives me some perspective on what might be possible at RGC.

My background includes recently serving 3 years on the Board of Directors of the Munich International School, a prestigious non-profit K-12 school in Germany. There I was the Board Member responsible for overseeing the planning and launch of the campus re-development, currently underway

My profession is real estate investment, which I do primarily on behalf of international pensions and insurance companies. As a result I also have experience with managing and negotiating all forms of contracts, leases and operating agreements, as well as audits. My educational background includes an MBA (Harvard ’91) and a BA (Brown ’84).

I love Rye Golf Club and believe I can bring a number of relevant skills and experiences to the table, as Member of the Board.

Angela Sposato

Hi, my name is Angela Sposato; I had the great pleasure of joining the RGC commission in January 2013. Over the last 7 months I have been able to participate in bringing new ideas to the club, engaging the membership and assisted in making changes that have enhanced the member experience and club.

I have been a member at Rye Golf Club for over 30 years. I am the first ever non- resident commission member, I chair the tournament committee and manage the ladies association. I spent all my summers at the pool and grew up with members that I play golf with today.

I have enjoyed my time on the commission and would like the opportunity to continue this journey to bring new ideas and changes to the club that will drive membership enrollment, ensure members are engaged and to be the voice of the members.

I am a Human Resources professional with a solid background in human resources and business operations. I feel with my personal and professional experience will continue to bring diversity and a different perspective the commission.

Akhil Kumar

I have been a resident of the city of Rye since 2004 and a member of Rye Golf Club since 2009.

Growing up in India, I was fortunate enough to start playing at the age of 10 and have been hooked on golf since. I have competed at all levels including playing Division III college golf at Manhattanville College.

Currently I am a partner at Arch Global Advisors a successful financial advisory practice in New York City.

I would like very much to serve on the board of Rye Golf club and bring a younger more energetic face to the board and hopefully add some new, creative ideas that we are all looking for to improve our club.

My wife, Kristin who is a teacher at the Rye Presbyterian Nursery School and I enjoy living in Rye and are looking forward to getting more involved in the community.


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