Candidate Profile: Alex Payan For Rye Town Councilperson

TOWN OF RYE — 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: Alex Payan

Age: 46

Hometown: Port Chester, NY 10573

Running for which office: Rye Town - Councilperson

Education:

• Pace University - B.B.A. in Marketing Management
• M.B.A. & M.P.A. - Graduated with distinction magna cum laude, Long Island University
• M.Ed. & M.P.S. - Graduated summa cum laude and with Kappa Delta Pi honors, Manhattanville College

Political Experience:

• Former Port Chester Village Trustee
• Police Commissioner & Fire Warden, 2019-2022
• Former Chair, Village of Port Chester Board of Ethics, December 2014 – August 2016
• Former Board Member, Village of Port Chester Board of Ethics, June 2013 – December 2014
• Former member, Village of Port Chester Waterfront Commission, Nov. 2011 – July 2013

Work Experience:

Alex has a strong background in strategic brand positioning, leading and managing fundraising and marketing programs, and strategy development, with over a decade of marketing research experience in number of multinational companies such as Kraft Foods, Synovate, The NPD Group, and Horowitz Associates.

Family: Married with three adult children - Alyson, Miguel, and Anthony

Campaign website: https://pcnygop.com/

Why are you seeking this office?

After proudly serving as a Village of Port Chester Trustee, I am now running for Rye Town Council to continue to serve the community. My educational and professional background prepared me to critically analyze complex problems and formulate solutions while working with a diverse team of individuals and delivering results. My experience and involvement in the community will serve as a strong and clear voice on the decisions that impact daily lives.

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

My education and experience in marketing research, government, education, and non-profit including community engagement and outreach have prepared me for this role. Having grown up in Rye Town (Port Chester) I have an understanding of our ethnically diverse community. I will continue to be an effective liaison with the youth, parents, seniors, families, local businesses, and community organizations.

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

We need to make Rye Town more affordable for our low-income families and raise awareness of our parks, the Crawford Mansion, and Rye Town Beach. Rye Town constituents are unaware of what we have to offer and it's truly a Westchester County gem. Rye Town needs to be more inclusive. We will need to create a robust community outreach plan and ask constituents for their feedback on how we can improve not only our parks and beach but also what other types of programs and services we can provide to the community.

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

As a professional at a non-profit agency in Westchester County, I manage, consult, and provide assistance, education, and outreach of fair housing laws, including the protected classes, to agencies in Westchester, Rockland, Dutchess, and Putnam and immigrant/LEP advocacy organizations. I am also responsible for investigating fair housing complaints.

I will work with Rye Town residents & municipalities, the Port Chester Housing Authority, NYS Human Rights Commission, Westchester County Human Rights Commission & NYS Attorney General’s Regional Office, and HUD’s NY regional office to formulate the action steps to address this issue.

How would you protect the drinking water in the community?

This needs to be a collective coalition from the Rye Town municipalities, residents, state/county, and the water company. I would create a Community Advisory Committee from all three municipalities including representatives from the State, County, and Veolia to form part of this group. I would set clear objectives with timelines and report out to the community on a quarterly basis.

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

When I am elected, my first 100 Days in office I will meet with Rye Town Depts. to hear what their vision of Rye Town is and understand their needs and concerns.

My focus for the next 4 years will be:

Rye Town Strategic Plan: With the help of the Rye Town Council, Rye Town Depts., and the community, we will implement a formal strategic plan for the next four years. Part of the Rye Town Strategic Plan will be to create and adopt a Mission Statement which will lay out the foundation of our objectives.

Sound Fiscal Policy: Work to optimize Rye Town resources to keep taxes, spending, and debt low. Work to keep our Rye Town budget fiscally sound and our property taxes low. When we’re elected (Noelia Candelaria, Pat Lagana, and I), in our first year, we will cut taxes and our salaries by 50%.

Public-Private Partnerships: Welcome and seek out capital that will support and enhance our community projects thereby reducing the burden on the taxpayer.

Reinstate the Board of Ethics Term Limits: Let’s promote democracy with innovation and fresh Ideas by ensuring accountability, increasing voter & civic participation, and balancing experience & diversity.

Continue to support Environmental Initiatives including making Rye Town a Blue Zone. Blue Zones are areas of the world where people live the longest lives, consistently reaching the age of 100.

Quality of Life Policies: Work with the Rye Town Council and municipalities to implement strategies and solutions.

Seniors & Youth:

• Develop a policy that will be inclusive and raise the priority and awareness of the issues revolving around seniors and youth.
• Increase support services and programs to youth and seniors in the community.

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

Payan is also the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including: the Village of Port Chester Award in Outstanding Leadership and Dedicated Service; Port Chester Police Youth Community Award; New York State Senate Proclamation Award for Vision, Leadership, and Outstanding Citizen; New York State Assembly Award for Outstanding Community Service; Village of Port Chester Proclamation for Dedicated Service and Outstanding Contributions; Westchester County Board of Legislators Proclamation Award; Town of Rye Proclamation Award; Office of the County Executive, Westchester County for Dedication and Commitment to Westchester County; and the NAACP Award for Community Leadership.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

"Your health is your wealth."

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

I am the founder and Executive Director of Port Chester Community Gardens, Inc.

In November 2017, I founded Port Chester Community Gardens, Inc. (PCCG) with the mission of promoting access to locally grown food; to inform the community about healthy eating and sustainable living; to reuse vacant or underused land; all through the operation of community gardens and advocacy and education about the benefits of these gardens.

I have a passion for traveling, gardening, exercising, watching movies, and community service.