Rye Town Councilman to Run For County Legislature

David Gelfarb has announced his plans to run for one of three County Legislature positions that will represent Harrison in 2012.

A Rye Town Councilman since 2007, Gelfarb has accepted endorsements from the Republican and Conservative parties to fill the District 6 County Legislative seat. Martin Rogowsky, who currently holds that seat, will retire after this year. The district encompasses a large part of Harrison as well as parts of Port Chester and Rye Brook. 

Gelfarb announced that he intends to work with County Executive Robert Astorino to continue to make government more efficient and user friendly. He added that he intends to minimize partisan politics. 

During his time as a councilman Gelfarb said he was a key member of a Rye Town Board that decreased taxes and spending every year during his tenure. He added that if elected he hopes to bring responsible spending to the county level, adding that Westchester County cannot thrive as the most taxed county in the nation.

“The more our community suffers from the highest tax burden in the United States, the more businesses and families will leave the area for a better tax climate," he said in a statement. "Businesses will be unable to recruit workers and residents will find job shrinking job opportunities.”

Prior to his election to the Rye Town Board, Gelfarb served as president of the Bellefair Homeowners Association in Rye Brook for two years. He graduated from Pennsylvania University with concentrations in accounting and economics and later graduated with honors from the Boston University School of Law.

He currently practices law in New York City and is married with three children, all of whom attend Blind Brook public schools.

Rogowsky, a Harrison resident, has represented District 6 for nearly a decade. A former congressional chief of staff who served briefly as a domestic policy advisor in the White House, Rogowsky announced  earlier this year.

Democrat Daniel Brakewood, a Port Chester Trustee, has also  this November.

County legislators in Westchester earn $49,200 per year.