Southeast-Brewster Voters Guide 2023: Local, Regional Elections

SOUTHEAST, NY — Voting starts Saturday in the 2023 general election, which features local races. Registered voters in Brewster and Southeast don’t have to wait until Nov. 7 to cast their ballots — there will be nine early-voting days before the General Election.

On the ballot

Propositions

There will be two state-wide constitutional amendment proposals on the ballot this year. Both involve debt limits for local governments and school districts.

The first removes the special constitutional debt limitation now placed on small city school districts, so they will be treated the same as all other school districts. The second extends for 10 years the authority of counties, cities, towns, and villages to remove debt for the construction of sewage facilities from their constitutional debt limit.

Hudson Valley

There is an election for Supreme Court Justice in the 9th Judicial District. Vote for four.

• Francesca E. Connolly (Democrat, Conservative) *
• Charley Wood (Democrat, Conservative) *
• Rolf M. Thorsen (Democrat, Conservative)
• Larry J. Schwartz (Democrat, Conservative)
• John A. Sarcone III (Republican)
• Karen A. Ostberg (Republican)
• Susan M. Sullivan-Bisceglia (Republican)
• John Ciampoli (Republican)

Putnam County

District Attorney Robert V. Tendy is unopposed in his bid for re-election.

Three lawmakers are up for re-election to the Putnam County Legislature; two are being challenged.

District 2

• Maggie Ploener (Democrat, Working Families)
• William J. Gouldman (Republican, Conservative) *

District 3

• Kathy Kahng (Democrat)
• Toni E. Addonizio (Republican, Conservative) *

District 8

• Amy E. Sayegh (Republican, Conservative) *

Carmel

Michael S. Cazzari is uncontested in his bid for re-election. For the town council, four people are vying for two seats.

• Jerome K. Mitchell (Democrat)
• Kathleen M. Valletta (Democrat)
• Robert T. Kearns (Republican, Conservative)
• Frank D. Lombardi (Republican, Conservative) *

Kent

Supervisor Jaime F. McGlasson is running unopposed. Three people are vying for two seats on the town council.

• Courtney M. Steininger (Democrat)
• Christopher C. Ruthven (Republican, Conservative)
• Shaun C. Boyd (Republican, Conservative) *

Patterson

The town supervisor is challenged by a Republican.

• Michael J. Sudol (Republican)
• Richard D. Williams, Sr. (Conservative) *

Four people are running for two seats on the Town Council.

• Joseph P. Capasso (Republican)
• Laura E. Russo (Republican)
• Peter W. Muentener (Conservative)
• Shawn E. Rogan (Conservative)

Philipstown

Town Supervisor John J. VanTassel is unopposed. Three people seek two seats on the town council.

• Judith A. Farrell (Democrat, Team Philipstown) *
• Robert Flaherty (Democrat, Conservative, Team Philipstown) *
• Neal A. Tomann (Republican, Conservative)

Two people are vying for the town justice post.

• Angela Thompson-Tinsley (Democrat, Team Philipstown)
• Randall J. Chiera (Republican, Conservative)

Putnam Valley

Jacqueline Annabi is unupposed as she runs for re-election as town supervisor. There's a race for town council.

• Brooke O. Anderson (Democrat)
• Sherry A. Howard (Democrat, Conservative)
• Louis N. Luongo (Republican, Conservative) *
• Patricia A. Villanova (Republican)

There is also a race for Highway Superintendent.

• Shawn M. Keeler (Democratic, Conservative) *
• Mark H. Pawera (Republican)

Southeast

Two people are vying for the Town Supervisor post, as Tony Hay is not seeking re-election.

• Nicholas R. Durante (Republican)
• Robert S. Cullen (Conservative)

Two people are running for two seats on the Southeast Town Council:

• Wendy Lewis (Republican, Conservative)
• Alessandro Mazzotta (Republican, Conservative)

Town Clerk Kathleen A. Chiudina is unopposed in her re-election bid, as is Highway Superintendent Michael E. Burdick.

Brewster

Mayor James J. Schoenig and Trustees Christine M. Piccini and George J. Gaspar are uncontested for re-election.

Early voting

Putnam County has two early voting centers, both accessible to voters with physical disabilities.

• Putnam County Board of Elections at 25 Old Route 6 in Carmel.
• North Highlands Fire House, 504 Fishkill Rd., Cold Spring

If you are a registered voter in Putnam County, you may vote at either site.

The early voting days and times are:

• Saturday, October 28: 9 am to 5 pm
• Sunday, October 29: 9 am to 5 pm
• Monday, October 30: 9 am to 5 pm
• Tuesday, October 31: 12 pm to 8 pm
• Wednesday, November 1: 9 am to 5 pm
• Thursday, November 2: 12 pm to 8 pm
• Friday, November 3: 9 am to 5 pm
• Saturday, November 4: 9 am to 5 pm
• Sunday, November 5: 9 am to 5 pm

If you cast a ballot during early voting, you are then not eligible to vote on Election Day. The results from early voting will be reported after 9 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7.

Voting on Election Day

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Not sure if you're registered or where to vote? Use the state Board of Election's handy online tool.

Absentee ballots

• Voters can request an absentee ballot in person at the Putnam County Board of Elections until Nov. 6.
• Nov. 7 is the last day to postmark a General Election absentee ballot by mail. The ballot must be received by the Board of Elections within 10 days.
• Nov. 7 is also the last day to deliver a General Election absentee ballot in person to the Board of Elections or at any poll site throughout the county, by the close of the polls on election day.

Due to a recent change in law, New York State voters are no longer permitted to cast a ballot on a voting machine if they have already been issued an absentee ballot for that election. Voters who have already been issued an absentee ballot can still vote in person using an affidavit ballot. The affidavit ballot will be kept separate until the election is completed. Election officials will verify whether the voter’s absentee ballot has been received. If the voter’s absentee ballot has been received, the affidavit ballot will not be counted. If the voter’s absentee ballot has not been received, the affidavit ballot will be counted.

More information is available on the Putnam County Board of Elections website. You may also contact the Putnam County Board of Elections at (845) 808-1300 or via email.