Editor’s note: This statement was provided by Democratic town council candidate Kristen Burke, who is also on the Serve America Movement line.

Those who know me know that I am extremely passionate about many things, but most especially, my work, my family and my community.  I have been a resident of Pelham for almost 10 years, along with my husband Sid Burke, and two kids, Henry (9) and Hannah (6).  Some of my volunteer work in Town has included being head coach of Henry’s Pelham Travel Soccer Team “Nitro,” serving as a member of Pelham Country Club’s Legal and Governance and Golf Committees, as well as past President of the Colonial School PTA for two years and head of the Huguenot Parents’ Committee for two years.

I am currently General Counsel for Mercy College, where I head the legal department of the four-campus, over 10,000-student educational system.  Prior to that, I worked as Associate General Counsel for CUNY for 8 years, and before that, I was a Rackets Bureau prosecutor in the Bronx DA’s Office for almost 6 years.   At Mercy College where I work, our motto is Inserviendo Consummere, which means consumed in service.  It is an important motto for me, and it guides the work that I do both as a lawyer, and in Pelham every day.

I hope to be able to bring my passion, skills and experience to Pelham’s Town Council.  While I am grateful for my neighbors who have served as Town Council members before me, I believe there are opportunities for improved communication to residents regarding the roles and responsibilities of Town officials, services offered, budget, policies, and more. For example, other Towns and Villages commonly livestream their meetings, and the video is readily available through local websites. We can do that as well, making it much easier for residents to participate at their convenience.  For the Town to tell community members, as it recently did, that they should have to come meetings that take place once per month to obtain information about the goings on in Town government, is in my belief, insensitive to the busy lives of our community members, and is also out of touch with how most local governments are currently run (i.e. by livestreaming information, and sending out communications via email and Facebook, etc.).

In addition, there are several innovative ideas that can be implemented, such as online forms, easier access to services, and broader services offered, especially through the Recreation Department and the Senior Advocate, such as community trips to baseball games and Broadway shows.  While many of us are grateful for the steps taken recently to have online sign-ups for Recreation programming, there are still deficiencies with that across all programs, as well as a lack of information regarding the activities themselves.

Finally, I believe the Town Council must represent both Villages, and all residents, reflecting a wide range of needs, including those of families, young adults, adults without children, and retirees (like my mom, who lives in the Manor on a fixed income). Our Town government should serve all residents; but not all residents are aware of how Town government can serve them, and not all residents are equally vocal about their needs, in particular concerning the Recreation Department and Library. I intend to meet with people from the various constituencies to identify issues to help the Town be more responsive to everyone, and to expand our outreach.

In short, I am excited about this opportunity to use my passion and experience to serve the Town of Pelham. I promise to dedicate the same level of energy and commitment that I bring to other aspects of my life to the Town Council, and I ask for your support for my candidacy.