This June, Larchmont will hold its first-ever Democratic mayoral primary election, marking a landmark moment in the village’s 135-year history. While local elections in the Village of Larchmont are typically less competitive than larger municipal races, this year’s contest is more notable as the current mayor, Sarah Bauer, has decided not to seek reelection.
The primary will take place on June 23 and will decide which candidate will move on to the November election. The candidates, former Village Trustee Brigid Brennan and journalist Jonathan Silvers, have different perspectives that they bring to the race. Both campaigns have highlighted key local issues such as flood mitigation, downtown development and environmental sustainability.
Specifically, in an interview with the Globe, Brennan mentioned that while fulfilling her role as trustee, was the liaison to the environmental committee and was able to help get the village to bronze status in the Climate Smart Communities program. This was impactful because it allowed for more grants directed at improving the sustainability of our town. Brennan discussed her goals involving sustainability, noting how important collaboration is to addressing the problems. She stated, “Climate issues are much bigger than just our one municipality. This is an issue that we really need to collaborate with communities around us on.”
She also noted that one of her goals for the upcoming election is to move from bronze to silver status in the Climate Smart program which would open up even more grant opportunities for the community. Along with increasing transparency between the government and the community, Brennan said, “I would like to have more communication and transparency in what is happening, so everybody can see what the government is doing.” One way Brennan is trying to accomplish this is by creating a software platform that would allow members of the community to be updated on the ongoing road paving projects to see what and when things will occur in order to be more informed.
According to information on the Saybrook Productions website, Silvers, an Emmy award winning documentary filmmaker has had experience writing and doing photography for media outlets including the New York Times, The Times of London, and the Atlantic monthly. He has devoted much of his work to covering issues like global health and population changes. He founded Saybrook productions in 1996 specializing in documentary films, investigative reports, and photojournalism focused on international justice, human rights, conflict, and social issues. Silvers has lived in Larchmont for six years and, utilizing his career of asking questions and following facts, he wants to make changes in the government including improving communication, infrastructure, and managing rising taxes. If elected, he plans to have a hands-on approach to the job and work full time to help the village. He will strive to make the government in the Village of Larchmont more responsive to issues going on in the community and supportive to anyone who needs assistance.
Unlike many other political positions, Mayor of Larchmont is an unpaid job, meaning that candidates run because of their commitment to the village, rather than for financial gain. These candidates’ commitment to this position highlights their commitment to civic duty and service.
The mayor’s role is to be the spokesperson for the village, managing staff and the projects that are happening in the community. The mayor only has one vote on the board of trustees which is composed of five members with five equal votes, a setup that ensures decisions are made together with the priorities of the village in mind.
While many residents are following the primary very closely, some students remain less aware of the upcoming election. Charlie Carillo (’28) said, “I haven’t heard much about the primary, which shows that local elections don’t always get as much attention from students as national elections.”
It is interesting how decisions made at the village level often have a direct impact on the daily lives of all residents—yet they tend to be talked about less. MHS student Claire Rosenthal (’29) spoke on this, acknowledging that “the perspectives on the election are quite different for a high school student compared to a Larchmont resident that owns land or can be directly impacted by decisions made by a mayor. But it is still important to understand how the system works and the importance of elections in a community.”
We are all impacted by decisions made by our governments and it is important to understand who is making them. Great change comes from being involved and making decisions as a whole to create a better future. Brennan expressed, “I would hope my message to young people is to be involved, listen to the issues and learn about what is going on. Democracy only works if people are engorged and informed.”
As the primary election approaches, it is necessary that members of our community learn about both candidates and the issues that shape the Village of Larchmont. These elections represent not only a historic first for the village, but also an opportune moment for residents to take more action regarding our local elections.
