VIDEO: Meet the Candidates, Dr. Iris Pagan

Election season is upon us again, and White Plains has races on Nov. 8 for three seats on the White Plains Common Council, as well as a seat on the Westchester County Board of Legislators.

Read below to learn more about one of the candidates, and click  to find out who else is running.

Meet the Candidate: Dr. Iris Pagan, running for a 2-year term on the Westchester County Board of Legislators

How Long in White Plains/Where: has lived in White Plains for more than 30 years, currently lives in the North Broadway neighborhood

Age: 56

Family: husband Aubrey Moncrieffe; and two adorable cats

Job Title/Profession: I am an educator and taught middle school science since 1985. For the last year, I have been researching educational theory and practice for a monograph expanding on my doctoral thesis. Since August, I have been devoted to my campaign on a full time basis

Education: M.A., M.Ed. and Ed.D. in Science Education, Columbia University Teachers College; B.S. Biology, Pace University

Other activities and current/past involvement: works with minority and disadvantaged students to encourage their interest in the sciences through extracurricular programs run by various local organizations; Former Treasurer and President of the Westchester County Women’s Republican Club; member of Rob Astorino’s County Executive transition team focusing on Labs and Research; current member of the Westchester County Hispanic Advisory Board

Website: irisforwestchester.com

Run for office before: No

Party: Republican

Endorsements: Republican

Why are you running to represent District 5 (White Plains, Scarsdale) on the Westchester County Board of Legislators?

First and foremost, I am running because I want to give back to my community. I have called Westchester my home for over 30 years, and as a community we are facing a critical moment.

I believe that I can offer a fresh perspective and the energy sorely needed on the Westchester County Board of Legislators as we address the difficult choices ahead.

I am also running as a voice for the women of Westchester, especially the older ones among us, who have much to offer but have not been heard. Women have unique perspectives and we have a wealth of experience to share that I believe can help to bridge the divides that have fractured our public discourse. 

What makes you the best candidate for a seat on the board? What would you bring to the board as a legislator? 

As an educator, as a woman, and as a minority, I will bring a unique perspective to the Westchester County Board of Legislators. Having grown up with a single mother who struggled to raise me, I know firsthand the hardships many in our community are facing.

As a person who spent many years building a career, I know that hard work and sacrifice are keys to success and that success is rightly enjoyed when earned. Having worked in the service of others to help them realize their potential and pursue their dreams, I know the intelligence, strength and leadership of which we are all capable and which we need to draw upon at this time.

I will invite the debate of ideas and prompt the board to face up to the difficult questions before us. I will work to build trust and consensus across party lines and political interests so that we can work together toward the practical solutions we need.

I will bring an aggressive and fair approach to County spending, seeking ways to make County government more efficient and transparent with the goal of alleviating the burden on taxpayers while continuing to fulfill the County’s obligations to residents.

What do you think are the biggest issue facing Westchester County? How would you address these issues? 

The biggest issues facing Westchester County are the high property taxes and the related problem of inefficient County government. The former is intimately connected to the latter. By improving the effectiveness and efficiency of County government, I believe we can both lower taxes and continue to provide the services the residents of Westchester need and expect.

Specifically, I will:

• Make sure that County services are properly and fully utilized, thereby reducing waste
• Promote transparency in all phases of County government, especially in spending and the award of contracts
• Seek out opportunities for efficiency by identifying and eliminating redundancies, and considering the advantages of economies of scale
• Seek cost effective management of County facilities like Playland
• Diligently work to limit the scope of County government and expand it only when residents give a strong mandate to do so.

What are some issues or things taking place in the county that are promising and exciting?

When I think of Westchester, I am encouraged by the following:

• Westchester continues to develop as a diverse and sophisticated cosmopolitan area with an ever-growing array of cultural and social opportunities that enrich our lives
• Area schools continue to maintain the highest standards in the country 
• With the revitalization and growth of urban centers like White Plains, New Rochelle and Yonkers, we are glimpsing a promising new phase in Westchester’s development 

What is your favorite thing about Westchester County?

The people. Ever since I moved here, I have found the people on a whole to be kind, fair and open. They are the reason Westchester is such a wonderful place to live and work.

Anything else you would like to add?

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your questions.

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