Republicans Backing Peekskill School Psychologist for Bennett's Seat

Republicans are endorsing Leslie Detres, a school psychologist in the Peekskill City School District, for the Peekskill Common Council seat left vacant by Don Bennett, who announced his resignation last month.

District leaders of the Peekskill Republican City Committee made the unanimous decision at a meeting Tuesday night, according to a press release.

Detres, a Peekskill resident for the last 13 years, is assigned to Oakside Elementary School. Originally from the Bronx, Detres holds a Master of Science degree in school psychology. She is also the mother of 8-year-old twins.

"As a registered Independent with no party affiliation, I felt especially honored to be selected by the Republican Party to be their candidate for City Council," she said in a statement. "My family and I love Peekskill but it no longer seems like a city on the rise as it did when we bought our home here 13 years ago. If elected, I pledge to work very hard to put the fundamental needs of all of our citizens as the first priority. Restoring basic city hall services that have been cut back in favor of frivolous pet projects that in the end do nothing for our youth, seniors and citizens in need of assistance is what is most needed to once again make Peekskill a desirable place for people to move to and raise their family. I know that is what Frank Catalina is dedicated to do when he is elected Mayor and I support that effort 100%.”

Democrats announced their pick for the seat earlier this month. The winner of the election will take office immediately and finishing the two years left in Bennett's term.

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Here's some addition information about the candidate, as provided in the committee's press release:

Mrs. Detres is a native of The Bronx who at the age of 13 began working to assist her family. While working full time as a young adult, she began attending college and in 1999 earned an Associates of Science Degree in Psychology from Bronx Community College and four years later earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Child Psychology from Fordham University. During this period, she married her husband, Jose Detres, and they have lived in Peekskill for the past 13 years. They currently live on Rolling Way in Peekskill with their 8-year-old twins, Emily and Joseph. While balancing her work related responsibilities with those of being a mother of twins, she never lost sight of her dream career, which was to become a child psychologist. In 2011 she earned a Master of Science Degree in School Psychology from the College of New Rochelle. She began her work for the Peekskill School District in January of this year and prior to that, held positions related to school psychology at the Sunshine Development School and in the Ossining Union Free School District. She is a NYS Certified School Psychologist as well as a NYS Certified Bilingual School Psychologist.  

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In a joint statement from Frank Catalina’s campaign, Mayoral Candidate Frank Catalina and City Council Candidates Chris Hanzlik, Joe Torres and Vinnie “Boo” Vesce said, “Leslie is a person who will bring a great deal of additional perspective to the fresh start our administration will create in Peekskill.  She understands people, what motivates them and what it takes to get the most out of whatever we have. We all believe that Peekskill is not what it can or should be. All of us are thrilled to have her as part of our team and we look forward to campaigning with her throughout the City right up until Election Day.”

Republican Chairman, Vincent C. Vesce, said, “Party labels do not matter. Leslie came to our Committee and was immediately embraced with open arms because of her enthusiasm, her great personality and her vision for a better Peekskill. The manner in which she has strived to make a better life for herself and her loved ones is a great example for all of us. She will be a tremendous addition to the city council and we intend to work very hard to help her and the entire Catalina Team get elected in November.”

Frank Catalina has secured the Republican and Conservative lines for Mayor in the coming election while Chris Hanzlik, Joe Torres and Vinnie “Boo” Vesce have secured the same lines for City Council. Leslie Detres is also receiving the backing of the Conservative Party. Catalina, Hanzlik, Joe Torres and Vesce are awaiting the certified results of the Independence Party Primary, which the unofficial returns indicate they have won.