Larchmont Mayor, Trustee Races Heat Up
Republicans Line Up Behind Mayoral Incumbent, Challenger
by Judy Silberstein
(January 19, 2005) The fallout from last week’s political bombshell, news that Republican Trustee Liz Feld will challenge incumbent Republican Mayor Ken Bialo, continued to reverberate through the Village of Larchmont this week. (See: Two Republicans Vying for Larchmont Mayor.) Both major parties have now announced they will hold their caucuses on January 31, the last legal date, while the Independence Party, which in recent years has met right after the GOP, will caucus earlier, on January 30. The Democrats announced the name of their second candidate for trustee, while Republican leaders began lining up behind the incumbent or the challenger.
Dems Field Another Candidate
The Democrats will be running two candidates for the two trustee spots on the ballot this year: Trustee Marlene Kolbert, who announced last year she will seek re-election for a third term, and newcomer Jim Millstein. No decision has been reached on the mayoral position. On Wednesday evening, approximately 14 Democrats held an information meeting where they also heard from Jim Millstein and Liz Feld.
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 Democrat Jim Millstein Trustee Candidate |
“We’re thrilled that Jim is interested in running,” said Carol Miller, co-chair of the Democratic Party. “He has a terrific record of community involvement,” she said, and listed Board of Trustees of Larchmont Library, Board of Trustees of Sound Shore Medical Center and coach of soccer and basketball. Mr. Millstein, age 50, grew up in Rye Neck, attended Princeton, Berkley, and Columbia (Law), and moved back to the Larchmont/Mamaroneck area in 1993. He was a partner, until 2000, with the law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton. In 2000, he switched to banking, and has been a managing director at Lazard Freres since then. He and his wife, Carolyn Millstein, have two girls attending Chatsworth Avenue School.
“I’m looking forward to a spirited but civil debate about Larchmont’s future,” said Jim Millstein.
What’s next for the Democrats? “The question is whether we offer Liz Feld the Democratic line,” said Trustee Anne McAndrews, whose spot is not up this year. “This is a decision which may come up at the Democratic Party caucus [on January 31] where all can participate.”
GOP Mum on Trustees; Support for Incumbent & Challenger
The Republicans have not yet announced who, if anyone, will be running for the two trustee seats, including the one being vacated by Trustee Liz Feld. Mayor Bialo said, “If I were to lose the Republican nomination for the office of mayor, I will not be running for trustee. However, he added, “I would not exclude the possibility of seeking an alternate line, if I were to lose the Republican nomination.” Ms. Feld stated firmly, “I will not be a candidate for trustee – no matter what the outcome [of the caucus] – I am a candidate for mayor.”
Further, she said she is not recruiting any Republican trustee candidates to run with her, at least not at this time. “I applaud Jim [Millstein] for stepping forward to serve the Village,” she said. “I know he will have the support of many Republicans as well as Democrats – I am a big supporter of his,” she added.
One name that has come up as a possible Republican candidate is that of Phil Johanson, who ran unsuccessfully in 2003. He’s not ruling out another run, he told the Gazette, and said he will decide soon. On the top spot, however, he was ready to go public. “I think it’s terrific that Liz is going to run for mayor,” he said. “Her focus as mayor would be less on implementation and more on the forward direction of Larchmont. I told Ken he’s done an unbelievable amount for Larchmont, but on the flip side, Liz is a natural leader and her ability to bring people together irrespective of political party is something this village needs.”
How is the mayoral contest sitting with other Republican leaders? Dick Mumma, a former Republican trustee (from the late 1970’s) and husband of former Democratic Trustee Mary Ann Mumma, said, “I feel that the tone of [Mayor Ken Bialo’s] meetings as well as the tone of his dealings with people in the community can be unpleasant. I think a change in leadership on the board is very important, and that Liz Feld would be an excellent candidate because of her willingness to work with people in both parties. She has proven ability as a person who can get things done.”
However, Republicans who have held office more recently were behind the incumbent. Tom Constabile, who served in the late 1980's, said, “I’m unquestionably and unqualifiedly a supporter of Ken Bialo. I’m surprised and disappointed at Liz’s behavior. This is a person who has been supported by the party, been brought along by Ken and named deputy mayor four times by him,” he said. “Then suddenly, she turns around and stabs him in the back - I think it says something about her concept of loyalty.” Bruce Cauley, another past board member (in the late 1990's), said, “I’m certainly in favor of Ken Bialo’s renomination. I think he’s done a great job and am puzzled by Liz’s actions.” He was hoping the process would be “cordial and professional.”
The other current trustee, Republican Mike Wiener, told the Gazette, “I will be supporting the incumbent for mayor. And I’ll tell you why – I think he’s done a great job over the past four years, has accomplished a lot and achieved most of his objectives.” However, he is not happy about the situation: “I’m stuck in the middle between two friends.”
“I think it’s a shame it had to happen. I hate an infight and that’s what it’s come down to,” he added. By his estimate, Mayor Bialo would probably have been ready to step down in two years, leaving the field open for Ms. Feld. “She would probably have been the next mayoral candidate anyway – this didn’t have to happen,” he said.
Other Republicans also consider themselves friends of both candidates and have told the Gazette they will have difficulty voting at the caucus. It’s unclear whether caucus participants will be able to vote by secret ballot or whether an open vote is required; these and other rules are being researched in preparation for the first contested caucus Larchmont has seen for many decades.