Luzio For Mount Kisco Mayor In 2023 Primary | Candidate Profile

MOUNT KISCO, NY — In 2023's election, residents of the Hudson Valley will be voting for local officials. In several contests, there are primaries as candidates vie for their party's ballot line in November.

In Mount Kisco, there is a Democratic primary with two people seeking the party's nod in the election for mayor in November: Lisa C. Abzun and Tom Luzio.

Check out Patch's full Q&A with Thomas Luzio:

Your Name: Thomas G. Luzio

Age: 62

Position sought: Mayor (Mount Kisco)

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Family: Wife Erica Van Patten, Daughter Sylvie Luzio, Son Charles Luzio, Stepdaughter Sam Berlind.

Education: Juris Doctor, Brooklyn Law School (1988); B.A., Duquesne University, 1983

Occupation: Attorney - 35 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:

Appointed Assistant District Attorney, Kings County DA, 1988.
Appointed Assistant District Attorney, Queens County DA, 1993.
Appointed Deputy Bureau Chief, Queens County DA, 1996.
Appointed Bureau Chief, Westchester County DA, 1998.
Appointed Senior Assistant Deputy Attorney General, OCTF, NYS Attorney General, 2017.

Why are you seeking elective office?

Mount Kisco deserves new action-oriented leadership. My qualifications and experience and my connection to Mount Kisco and Westchester have prepared me to be that leader. After signing a petition opposing the siting of a cellular tower in Leonard Park, I discovered several disturbing reasons about the mere consideration of that (see below). So I joined the MK Democratic committee and listened to their concerns about several other issues. When the current mayor indicated that she was stepping down, I saw this as another call to duty in a long career of public service.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Ethics: I will insist on a stronger code with full financial disclosure. We must eliminate any appearance of impropriety among our trustees, various board members and high-ranking village employees.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I believe in a stronger code of ethics that includes full financial disclosure, in order to avoid ANY appearance of impropriety. I worked under this type of ethics code, as well as the stringent NY State bar code of ethics for prosecutors, for my entire career, including my tenure at the Westchester District Attorney's Office (1998-2017). My opponent has not committed to either of those positions since her entry into the race. Yet as Trustee she has regularly voted on real estate, zoning and leasing matters, despite owning an interest in approximately seven properties in Mount Kisco.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

My opponent has failed to adequately protect our shrinking green space from future development. She (and they) consistently entertained the placement of a cellular tower in Leonard Park, ignoring the voices of our community, as well as the terms of the Leonard Park deed, federal law concerning the requirement of a "significant gap" in cellular service, and the drastic negative environmental impact on Mount Kisco. She is now exhibiting signs of the same in her lack of concern for the placement of a cellular tower at 180. S. Bedford Road. I must add here, that she and some members of the current board have consistently failed to fully notify residents (typically renters) of new projects and zoning decisions that could affect them.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Shortly after her appointment to the Board, my opponent was put in charge of addressing our traffic hot spots. Lists of concerns have been presented to her and the Mayor by various residents. After one year of analysis and "meetings," my opponent stated at a recent Board meeting was that we needed a "comprehensive" plan to address those issues. She later added that her hands were tied because some of the roads were County or State roads. I learned recently that $100,000 had been budgeted for this analysis and that nothing would even be in place until at least December of 2023. Our residents deserve to know when these problem areas are going to be dealt with before the next tragedy. Throughout my career in law enforcement, if a town PD came to me with a problem, I set out to deal with that problem as soon as possible. I have a long history of success when working with local police departments to solve their crime issues. Studies are nice, but sometimes there are pressing needs that can't be ignored. Secondarily, there is a failure to communicate with our residents - to even let them know there is a "traffic concerns list" and approximately when and how it might be fixed. Transparency, which is currently lacking, is critical in this regard.

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

For several years, I worked my way up in government, from clerk to an attorney who investigated and tried dozens of felonies, including murders and organized crime cases. I then operated at the highest level for another 20+ years, supervising staff, managing investigations and grants, working on budgets, interacting with innumerable other agencies when setting out to achieve a common goal, and negotiating thousands upon thousands of deals. I am proud of doing my part in keeping Westchester safe throughout my law enforcement career but equally proud of creating Road to Recovery in Westchester County, an alternative to incarceration program for non-violent felony offenders, seven years prior to legislation requiring it in NY State. Additionally, my creation of an Overdose Response Initiative in the middle of the opioid epidemic demonstrates both my commitment to enforcing our laws while at the same time as addressing the needs of those addicted to drugs. The same concerns and that same balance will be necessary as Mayor.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

There are few "bad" ideas, only bad decisions. As a manager, listen to your team, value their input and expertise, and put your ego aside when making the final decision. Be humble and understand exactly how smart you are not. And always recognize the contributions of others. And from Muhammad Ali "the will must be stronger than the skill."

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

My positions are clear for our government: a stronger code of ethics with full financial disclosure, better communication, more transparency, protecting our remaining green space, including Leonard Park, and addressing our pressing traffic safety concerns as soon as possible. I have a long work history in government that will enable me to mesh with those folks who provide the great services we have here, such as the Westchester County PD, our volunteer firemen and EMS workers and the men and women of our DPW (to name a few). I hope to make us as energy efficient as possible by 2027, both buildings and vehicles. I will insure that neighborhoods are not rezoned on the whim of others in government. I will continue our tradition of downtown events, such as the various festivals and farmers market. And I will listen to all, including those who do not shout out their concerns at board meetings.

As for myself, a few personal things I would like our voters to know: while at Brooklyn Law School, I received the American Jurisprudence Award for the highest score in Administrative Law (the rules of government). While at the Kings County DA, among 30 trial wins, was a two-defendant murder that began a mere 3 years to the day I had started in the office. While at the Queens DA, one of my cases (with NYPD) was named "Investigation of the Year" in 1997 by the International Association of Asian Crime Investigators. I was also certified as an Instructor by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy at Harvard University. While I have noted much of my Westchester work career above, I will add that I was one of two lawyers named attorney of the year by the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York in 2000. Including my final two years in the Organized Crime Task Force of the New York State Attorney General's Office, I worked 11 years for Republicans and 20 years for Democrats. As a result, I know how to unite and I know how to meet in the middle.

I raised two children in Mamaroneck and coached them both in recreational league soccer. Both are grown and off to successful starts to their careers. I married a Mt. Kisco resident, Erica Van Patten, and was lucky to play a big part of her daughter's life here, where she attended school from K through 12, before heading off to college. Between 2010 and 2020, I also worked a part-time job at the NY Sports Club and saw Mill Club East here in Mount Kisco, teaching spinning classes with the same passion and enthusiasm that I hope to bring to Kisco government. Before spinning, I had started cycling through rehabilitating a complete tear of my right Achilles on my 40th birthday.

While in the hospital I made a promise to myself to ride a little harder, faster or longer each day of my rehab. That continued for 12 years, and led to 20 amateur cycling wins, two Empire State games gold medals and being ranked as the #1 ranked cyclist over age 45 in New York State in 2008-09. Yet it was the 100 races that I almost won that kept me working hard at my "hobby." It is that same determination that I will bring to Mount Kisco, if elected. While I rarely race these days, I still ride every day. One of the most satisfying rides occurred in 2021 when I helped a friend put on a charity event by leading a 100K ride out of Katonah that raised approximately $20,000 for City Harvest to help feed the homeless in NYC.