To the editor:

The retirement of Town Supervisor Peter DiPaola, whose long and successful service to our community will be remembered fondly by many of our residents, naturally creates a period of transition for our town government. I’m excited to see Dan McLaughlin take the helm as the next supervisor. I’ve enjoyed working with both of them during my first seven months as mayor. Dan’s experience and long record of service are a testament to the continuity and leadership he can provide, and I look forward to voting for him. But as we approach the election on Nov. 5, it’s important to remember that this year, we will not just be voting to affirm or reject the town council’s past accomplishments. Elections are not about the past. They’re about the future. And we have a unique opportunity to decide what the next era in our town government will look like. I hope we take this opportunity to add new voices to the mix by electing Adam Kagan for town justice, and Kristen Burke and Maura Curtin for town council.

Kagan, who I know very well, currently serves beside me as the Village of Pelham deputy mayor. Personally, I think he’s one of the best examples of a public servant you’re likely to find, having been on the village planning board prior to his current eight-year tenure on the board of trustees. As an attorney for the last 15 years and as a local legislator, Adam’s passion for the law is obvious to all who’ve worked with him. He is fiercely independent and meticulous in every decision he makes. But what I appreciate most about Adam is his recognition that laws are rarely cut and dry. They are human. They are written by humans and interpreted by humans. If the law was always clear, we wouldn’t need judges in the first place, whose entire role in government is to rule with consistency and fairness on matters that are inherently inconsistent. Adam’s record of doing just that is one of the many reasons I think he’ll be a valuable addition to the Pelham Town Court.

His voice on the court will be refreshing in other ways, too. It may be surprising to hear, but Pelham has never had a Democrat serve as town justice. Ever. I appreciate that Kagan’s opponent intends to operate in a nonpartisan way, but, respectfully, it’s a difficult argument to make while occupying a seat that has only ever been held by one party. Adam Kagan is the only candidate for town justice who has actually served with people from a different party and has proven his ability to take positions that don’t always align with those of his own party. It is not surprising to me that he has been endorsed by former Republican Mayor Mike Volpe and the SAM (Serve America Movement) party, an organization dedicated to the belief that government at all levels should be run by people, not parties.

The SAM party also endorsed Curtin and Burke, who, I believe, will bring critically important perspectives to the town council. Maura is well-known to the Hutchinson School community as a bold champion for Pelham’s future. Whether advocating for the school bond or supporting local nonprofits like Pelham Together, Maura approaches each challenge with tenacity and a deep commitment to doing the work necessary to help our community thrive. Kristen’s passion for Pelham is equally impressive, having served in various roles through the Colonial School PTA and as a coach for travel soccer. She will bring a wealth of legal expertise to the town council, with a resume that boasts an undergraduate degree in government from Harvard University, followed by eight years as an attorney at CUNY and her current role as general counsel at Mercy College, where she leads work around employment matters, governance, policies and contracts. We’d be lucky to have Kristen and Maura serve on the town council.

On Nov. 5, we will be deciding what the next four years will look like for our town government. I can’t think of a better time to embrace new ideas and perspectives. I hope you’ll join me in wishing Dan McLaughlin the best of luck and voting for Maura Curtin, Kristen Burke and Adam Kagan.