A Rye Town race to happen after all

Highway superintendent resigns, creating an opening

By Jananne Abel

After the contentious race for supervisor and two Councilpersons last November, there was no Rye Town election on tap for this year. However, when Superintendent of Highways Robert Harris unexpectedly submitted his letter of resignation at the end of August, which became effective Sept. 5, an opening was created.

Supervisor Joseph Carvin read Harris’s letter of resignation at the Sept. 16 Rye Town Board meeting.

While the Democrats knew about the resignation at the end of August, the Republicans found out quite a bit later and had to act quickly to get a candidate on the November ballot.

The paperwork had to be submitted to the Board of Elections by Sept. 16.

“We really only did it to give people a choice,” said Rye Town Republican Chairman Dan Paniccia. “We wanted to make sure if the Democrats did submit a name, there would be a choice, and John was the natural choice for us.”

He referred to John DeCrescenzo of Rye Neck, who ran against Harris, a Democrat, in the November 2007 election and only lost by 8 or 9 votes.

In his resignation letter, a Rye Brook resident, Harris said that with two children in college, he needed to reallocate his time to his business interests.

“I think he’s done an absolutely wonderful job, worked hard, was very diligent and carried it out in a very professional fashion,” said Carvin, a Republican, of Harris. “I even called him and tried to get him to stay.”

Carvin, who beat longtime Democrat Robert Morabito for supervisor last November, said there are a lot of bridges for the town to maintain and they are a big liability. “It’s an important job and he fulfilled that job very, very well. I felt very confident he was right on top of it.”

DeCresenzo said he was disappointed about Harris resigning because “if you’re going to run for a four-year job, you should be able to make a commitment for four years, you should be able to do the job. To only lose by 8 votes and to have this happen, it was even more disappointing.”

DeCresenzo, 46, is a real estate property manager in the Village of Mamaroneck and a lifelong resident of the Town of Rye. He said he goes over the bridges the highway superintendent is responsible for maintaining every day and therefore feels uniquely qualified for this position.

DeCresenzo feels the highway superintendent is an important facilitator between the Village of Mamaroneck and the Town of Rye to maintain these bridges.

“There needs to be a liaison between the town and the village because there is work to be done,” said DeCresenzo. “It may not seem important, but bridges are key components to some of the areas in Rye Neck.”

The Democrats have selected Tom Nardi, 47, of Port Chester as their candidate for the position.

“He was interested in running for the position in the past but didn’t have the time to do it and now he has the time to do it,” said Gary Stracuzzi, Rye Town Democratic chairman. “We are honored he is following in his father’s footsteps.”

Nardi owns his own plumbing business, as did his father, and is a volunteer with the Boy Scouts and Elks Club.

His father Frank was the Rye Town superintendent of highways and the Rye Brook plumbing inspector for a total of more than 30 years, said Stracuzzi.

Stracuzzi, too, was surprised about Harris stepping down. “He seemed to be enjoying it and put in a lot of work,” he said.

Carvin said the Rye Town Board can appoint a replacement to serve between now and Jan. 1 when the candidate who is elected will take over. He said no decision had been made on that yet and any interested parties should contact his office at 10 Pearl St. (939-3075). He said DeCresenzo was one of the people they would look at to assume the job.

The job pays $2,500 per year with no benefits.

Paniccia admitted that this election would get lost on the November ballot since it is the only local one among state and national races in Port Chester and Rye Brook. However, he said, Mamaroneck has a village election and therefore Rye Neck residents may pay more attention to it. “Everywhere else they will be looking at national candidates,” he said.

Rye Town encompasses the Village of Port Chester, Village of Rye Brook and the Rye Neck section of Mamaroneck.

This is part of the October 3, 2008 online edition of Rye Brook Westmore News.

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