Upcoming Town of Mamaroneck Supervisor Election: Why You Should Care

There is a local election for Mamaroneck Town Supervisor on Tuesday, November 4^th.  Supervisor Jaine Elkind Eney is challenged by Melissa Manice. 

If you are a Village of Mamaroneck resident a small portion of your real estate tax is paid to the Town of Mamaroneck. Sixty percent of Mamaroneck Village residents live in the Town of Mamaroneck. The other 40% live in the Town of Rye. You are eligible to vote in your town elections.

The Mamaroneck Town Supervisor earns $42,666 annually and is eligible to receive health insurance coverage along with other employee benefits.  The term of office is two years.

Supervisor Jaine Elkind Eney is on the Democrat Party line and Melissa Manice is on the Sustainable Future Party line.

Early voting starts on Saturday, October 25 through Sunday, November 2.

Please see HERE for important information about voter registration, early voting and absentee ballots. 

The Mamaroneck Observer asked each candidate for a bio and answers to 4 questions.  The answers from the candidates were not edited and are printed as received.

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.

Mamaroneck Town Council Candidates will be profiled in an upcoming issue.

Jaine Elkind Eney

Jaine Elkind Eney Bio

Mamaroneck Town Supervisor since 2022, I previously served as Deputy Supervisor on the Town Board and as Deputy Mayor of Larchmont.  A Town resident since 1979, I raised my children here, both of them graduates of the Mamaroneck Public School System.  I earned a J.D., cum laude, from Fordham University School of Law and a B.A. from Wellesley College with the distinction Wellesley Scholar.  I maintain a local law practice concentrating on real property transactions.

Why are you running for election or re-election?

 I love being Supervisor of the Town and am very proud of my accomplishments.  I led he creation of the first Town Comprehensive Plan, spearheaded the renovation of the Hommocks Park Ice Rink, chaired the Westchester Joint Water Works Board and led the charge to settle decades long Federal and State enforcement actions, and brought $8,000,000 of grant awards to the Town last year.  I feel there is so much more that I can accomplish, taking on new challenges, securing outside funds, and improving our services and facilities to meet the growing needs of municipalities today.  I am confident that together in collaboration, we can address the Town’s most pressing issues and continue building a resilient vibrant community for everyone.

What do you believe are the 3 top issues facing the Town?

 Flooding:Flood mitigation efforts are paying off. The Waverly Avenue Bridge replacement helped to prepare our neighborhoods for the next flood. 83% of the cost was covered by grants. There is still much more to do. I will work with the Village as it implements its comprehensive plan.

Fiscal Responsibility: Sound fiscal leadership is a requisite to success.  The Town has a AAA Bond Rating, and we appointed a Citizens Budget Committee.  I am working to hold the line on taxes and deliver quality services.

Recreation: Our ice rink has been modernized.  Playing fields at Hommocks are now open year-round as a result of collaboration by the Town and the schools.  I will forge partnerships to improve our facilities and fields.

What is your position on the development of the Hampshire property and the offer to the Mamaroneck Schools to transfer property to them if the property is re-zoned by the Village of Mamaroneck that could impact the zoning of other waterfront properties?

Many people in the Village are opposed to the development of over 100 residences.  The Village Board has said it will not rezone the property to allow it.  I support the Village protecting its Marine Recreation Zone because this change could result in similar development of other waterfront areas of the Village.  Also, over 100 new residences could have a detrimental effect on our infrastructure and schools.

If the property is ultimately re-zoned by the Village of Mamaroneck, they must ensure it aligns with their long-term vision for responsible land use and does not set an unfavorable precedent for other waterfront properties.  We must protect the interests of our residents and the natural beauty of the Village of Mamaroneck and its waterfront throughout this process.

Although Village residents pay the bulk of their real estate taxes to other entities (Village, County and Schools) please describe what you would do to lower Town taxes on Town/Village residents.

I always look to hold the line on taxes.  I am constantly seeking outside sources of funding to relieve the taxpayers of the burden of paying for key infrastructure, safety and environmental projects.  Last year, using my long and close relationships with State and Local Officials and experience navigating government processes, the Town was awarded $8 million in grant funding.  This year we appointed a Citizen’s Budget Committee to provide additional expertise.  We are constantly investigating operational efficiencies within Town departments by streamlining processes and reducing redundancies.  We look for opportunities to share services with neighboring municipalities.  Additionally, I would prioritize transparent budgeting and proactive fiscal planning to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly while maintaining essential services.

Melissa Manice

Melissa Manice Bio

Melissa has spent a decade turning vision into results for the community.  She founded One Larchmont, revitalizing the two historic business districts in partnership with the Village of Larchmont leadership and 40 local businesses.  As President of Flint Park Conservancy, she led a $5M park restoration.  An experienced healthcare entrepreneur and advisor, she founded Cohero Health which she sold in 2019.  She is a proud mom of four children in Mamaroneck schools.

Why are you running for election or re-election?

Through our work in the community, we’ve seen firsthand the lack of cooperation across municipalities and the Mamaroneck School District.  This leads to wasted money and no long-term planning for big challenges like flooding, infrastructure, and growth.  When no one stepped up to challenge the status quo, we felt we had to.  We chose the name Sustainable Future Party because raising taxes year after year isn’t sustainable.  To us, “sustainable” means financial responsibility, environmental stewardship, and smart long-term planning.  We’re running to ensure resources are managed wisely and decisions are made with both today’s and tomorrow’s families in mind. Learn more at vote-lm.com.

What do you believe are the 3 top issues facing the Town?

First, the Town does not protect or maximize its valuable assets, from infrastructure to open space.  We’re committed to environmental stewardship, including protecting the Sound and investing in green solutions.  Second, housing development is moving forward without considering the impact on our already crowded schools.  We want stronger Town–School partnerships so growth happens responsibly.  Third, Town government operates slowly and inefficiently, driving up costs.  Our campaign is about fiscal responsibility and accountability, and improving intermunicipal cooperation between the Village of Mamaroneck, Village of Larchmont, Town of Mamaroneck to share costs, work smarter, and reduce the burden on taxpayers.

What is your position on the development of the Hampshire property and the offer to the Mamaroneck Schools to transfer property to them if the property is re-zoned by the Village of Mamaroneck that could impact the zoning of other waterfront properties?This dialogue really lies between Hampshire Developers, the Village of Mamaroneck Board, and the School District — the Town itself has no role in the decision.  That said, we strongly believe any rezoning of waterfront property must be handled with extreme caution given the risks to our coastline.  Protecting the Long Island Sound and ensuring long-term sustainability must remain top priorities, even as the schools and developers negotiate.

Although Village residents pay the bulk of their real estate taxes to other entities (Village, County and Schools) please describe what you would do to lower Town taxes on Town/Village residents.

Lowering taxes means spending smarter.  We’ll push for cost-sharing initiatives across the Villages and Town to cut duplicative expenses.  We’ll also look for ways to optimize Town-owned facilities and fields so they generate revenue instead of sitting underutilized. Modernizing operations, like streamlining online booking for spaces and services, can improve efficiency while bringing in new revenue and allowing for lowered taxes for all taxpayers.  These steps can ease the tax burden for all residents of the Town of Mamaroneck, including Village residents, while maintaining the services families rely on.

Editor's Note: The Sustainable Future Party candidates for Town Supervisor and Town Council submitted the same answers to the four questions posed by The Mamaroneck Observer.