Absentee, Affidavit Ballots In: 2 Newcomers to Sit on Peekskill Common Council

• Drew A. Claxton (D, WF): 2,094
• Marybeth McGowan (D, WF): 2,055
• Andrew Torres (D, WF): 1,993
• Chris Hanzlik (R, I, C): 2,049
• Joe Torres (R, I, C): 2,103
• Vincent A. Vesce: 2,058

Vivian Cyndi McKenzie (D) secured 2,121 in the special election for Don Bennett's unexpired seat on the common council. 1,864 voters cast ballots for Leslie Detres (R, C).

McGowan acknowledged coming up short. She said the Democrats still hold a majority on the council and she knows "they will work in a bipartisan fashion to continue the progress we have made in re-establishing Peekskill as a Hudson Valley destination." 

"I am very proud of the work I have accomplished over the last four years and know that Peekskill is a better city today than it was when I first joined the council," McGowan said. "...While I may not be on the council come January, I will continue to devote my time to making sure Peekskill achieves all that is possible. I congratulate Mr. Vesce on his election and wish him all the success in the world."

Catalina released this statement Wednesday night:

Catalina said the issues facing Peekskill are very serious. The city is, financially, on life support.

"We intend to move quickly and aggressively to restore the city to a stable financial footing. The tax base will expand as a result of real growth and not inflation, under our administration. The voters, in a city with an almost 3-to-1 democratic majority, have spoken loudly and strongly by turning out well entrenched democratic incumbents. The city is crying out for change and change will arrive on Jan. 1, 2014."

"I have already met with key city officials who will be retained in my administration while others have expressed a desire to move on," he said. "We thank them all for their service and we wish them well. I fully expect the city manager to address the issues we discussed in private. We share many of the same concerns and I have requested, if possible, those issues be addressed before Jan. 1 so we can hit the ground running without a 'catch-up' curve. He has been advised that I will accept no deficits during my tenure and that he should estimate his revenues accordingly and to make adjustments, monthly if necessary, to the budget as the year unfolds. I have requested the City Manager to wrap up all outside contracts with consultants, advisers, outside engineering firms and to conclude all ongoing 'studies' before Jan. 1 as I campaigned on a platform that repudiated all such unnecessary spending. I have further directed the City Corporation Counsel to prepare a brief for me on all ongoing litigation so all outside counsels may be discharged effective Jan. 1. If these suits cannot be resolved, they will be handled by our very competent city attorney and his staff. The city will no longer have a public relations firm speaking on behalf of the mayor nor any department and police will not be at public meetings."

Catalina said he has already been in contact with several substantial Westchester developers who have not only expressed interest in Peekskill but are enthusiastic about the potential that can be unlocked by an encouraging  administration. Catalina declined to specifically name those developers or their proposals.

Catalina concluded by thanking Mayor Foster and council members McGowan and Torres for their service. "We all want whats in the best interests of Peekskill and while those ideas may have been compatible, the path to achieving those goals will be radically different. I wish them and their families a happy holiday season and the very best in their futures."