Candidate Profile: Theresa A. Mazzaro-Flora For Mt. Kisco Trustee

MOUNT KISCO, NY — Election season 2023 is here and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Name: Theresa A. Mazzaro-Flora

Age: 61

Running for: Trustee of Village of Mt. Kisco

Education: Bachelor of Science Nursing College of Mt. St. Vincent

Career/Leadership Accomplishments: Worked in hospital bedside setting, critical care trained, Rapid Response Team trained, surgical nursing and post operative care. Supervised Nursing staff, mainly NY City hospitals.

Later years worked as a Camp Nurse and School Nurse.

Family: Husband. Five adult children.

Campaign website: MKVIP.org

Why are you seeking this office?

I am seeking this office because there are major issues in the Village that need to be addressed with a much different approach than what we are experiencing under the current administration. I seek to bring back an open and inclusive government where everyone is welcome to the table. I seek to bring back truth, transparency, and trust. And I seek to protect and promote free speech.
I also hope that my stepping up to run will inspire and motivate others to do the same.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidate(s) seeking this post?

The difference between me and the other candidates (Patiño and Farber) seeking this post is that I am an independent thinker, not a go-along to get-along. I am not a proponent of "group think," and believe in healthy, respectful debate, and the free exchange of ideas.

Other differences are where my running mate (Angie Garcia Guerra) and I stand on the issues as compared with our opponents. We are against the Accessory Dwelling Unit legislation.

We seek to protect single family neighborhoods, and our parks and green spaces.

Our opponents sought to place a cell tower and new road in the forest of our deed protected park.

We seek to reduce costs and control spending and control taxes, unlike our opponents.

We seek to advance a private partnership to formalize a business improvement district.

What is the single most pressing issue facing your constituents and what do you intend to do about it?

There are many pressing issues facing Mt Kisco right now. Reducing costs and controlling taxes, by prioritizing what is absolutely necessary before incurring debt.

Protecting our single family neighborhoods. No major zoning changes without a referendum.
Safe rental housing.

Protecting Leonard Park and our trails by the most cost effective means.

How would you address the affordable housing issue in the community?

Mt. Kisco has the most varied and affordable housing of all our surrounding municipalities.

Here is the inventory:

• Section 8 Housing – approximately 206 units in project based developments ranging from 30% to 60% of AMI (Also have a voucher program where subsidy travels with the individual. No listing of number of qualifying units in the Village.)
• Mitchell‐Lama – 1 Barker
• NWH subsidized units – 60 Moore plus houses on Boltis
• Woodcrest – some number of units have income restriction 80% of AMI. Number not currently known as some have been resold at market rate.
• Pinecrest
• Landlord Registry has 355 properties with a total of 1,118 units (These include 2 & 3 family homes and larger rental properties including 119 Carpenter, and multiple locations on West Street.

How would you protect the drinking water in the community?

Byram Lake Reservoir makes up the bulk of our water supply, and a portion is from the Leonard Park wells. I would not seek to expand the trail around Byram Lake. I would seek to ensure the lake is patrolled adequately. We have protected the Leonard Park wells from potential radon contamination that could have occured from rock blasting for the construction of a road for a cell tower facility.

Keeping the mono-pine cell tower out of the park protected the wells from the micro-plastics as the fake pine needles degraded over time.

We have only a finite water supply, so adding ADUs would strain that.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Other issues include: improving public safety. Improving pedestrian safety NOW with measures such as better/safer crosswalks, and speed humps.

Responsible, safe placement of any more cellular infrastructure.

Clean streets and sidewalks.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My past accomplishments include supervising a large nursing staff, and being able to work effectively in highly stressful situations that required excellent leadership and communication skills.

And of course: “Save Leonard Park” where I successfully organized and rallied the community to keep a cell tower out of Leonard Park, even after we were told it was “a done deal."

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

“Lead, follow, or get out of the way.”

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I will listen to residents, I will be honest, I will most definitely fight for them and be their voice. I have no other interests in a Trustee seat other than love for the Village, our residents, and for making life better and safer for all.

Member of the Trail Team. Member of the Mt. Kisco Historical Society.

I and my husband own no other properties other than 348 Spring St, where I have lived for 33 years since moving to the Village. We own no business(es). In other words: I have no potential conflicts of interest unlike my opponents.