Rye Dems Add Two to Fall City Council Race
The Rye Democrats have added two candidates to the city council race, Meg Cameron and Shari Punyon. They have not produced a third for the council race and are leaving Joe Sack unopposed for Rye Mayor.
Meg Cameron: on LinkedIn; on Facebook
Shari Punyon: on LinkedIn; on Facebook
Here the the PR from the Dems:
Cameron and Punyon Selected as Rye City Council Candidates
Meg Cameron of Martin Butler Court and Shari Punyon of Glen Oaks Drive announced today their candidacy for two seats on the Rye City Council, vowing a campaign to bring fresh voices to City government at a time when the City needs new direction.
City of Rye Democratic Chair Rod Brown confirmed selection of Cameron and Punyon by the local selection committee saying, “We are very excited to bring these impressive candidates to City government. They will deliver a spirit of reasonableness and cooperation, a marked contrast to the divisiveness among Council members during the last four years.”
In a joint statement, the candidates echoed those sentiments: “As people with deep roots in Rye, we want to see the City Council focus on improving the community. Rye residents deserve careful, efficient use of tax dollars, top-notch City services, and open decision-making.”
Meg Cameron is running for the City Council to foster good government and accountability in Rye. Meg was one of the original writers for The Rye Record and her efforts helped establish the paper when it was founded in the 1990’s. She has lived in Rye for over 25 years with her husband Jim Glickenhaus. She volunteered in Rye's public schools, which their two children attended, and with Meals-on-Wheels, Literacy Volunteers of America and Open Door Family Medical Center. Meg has a Masters in Science in Immunology from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a BA/BFA from SUNY Purchase.
Meg and her husband support numerous Rye-based organizations, including Rye Youth Council, Rye Free Reading Room, Rye Association for the Handicapped, Helping Hands for the Homeless and Hungry and Sprye.
In announcing her candidacy Meg said, “People in Rye want their City governed responsibly, transparently and efficiently. The City Council can best address Rye’s problems by adding new voices.”
Shari Punyon also joins the race for a seat on the City Council. She looks to refocus city government on the needs of all residents and to encourage openness and harmony on the council. Shari belongs to the Friends of the Rye Nature Center, the Friends of Rye Town Park, and supports the Rye Free Reading Room. Shari was active with the Junior League on the Sound from 2006-2012. She and her husband Harris have lived in Rye for 14 years, and have two adult children who went through Rye schools and a 5-year old daughter about to enter Osborn School. Shari has a BA in Physics from Rutgers and has been a technical writer for the last 25 years, for the last 11 with Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics. Shari and her family have been regular users of the pool at Rye Golf Club and the Rye Free Reading Room. On the Council, she will work to help those and other important Rye institutions succeed.
Rod Brown added, “We are focusing our efforts on these two races to bring voices to the Council not tied to the dysfunction and Council infighting of the last four years. The City needs checks and balances to bring open and effective government back to Rye. We will be asking voters to insure that by electing Meg and Shari.
We discussed possible candidacies with other hopeful City Council candidates but Meg and Shari were the only two to win support of the Rye Democratic Committee.
Other people were approached regarding Council or Mayoral candidacies in the course of the last six months. Many expressed concern about the City’s decline but were not able to run for a variety of reasons.
The most common factor cited by the people who chose not to run this year was the divisiveness on the Council and personal attacks against and between Council members.
Meg and Shari are outstanding candidates who will serve the community with distinction. We believe Rye residents will support them this November.”
I, for one, wish Ms. Cameron and Ms. Punyon the very best.
Today’s Quiz:
GUESS how many of these speakers below have appeared before the city council and the taxpayers on a MATTER OF SUBSTANCE in, say, the past 12 months?
“I want to be part of the process to “Make Rye Better.”
“We were quick to identify the need to promote the ideals of integrity and accountability, financial oversight and control, openness and transparency, communication and cooperation, and common sense and good judgment.”
“I believe that my experience, coupled with my passion to keep Rye’s local government strong, will help me bring new ideas and new solutions to the Rye City Council.”
“Rye residents deserve careful, efficient use of tax dollars, top-notch City services, and open decision-making.”
“I am fully committed to serving all of the people of Rye. As a parent, homeowner, resident and someone who works in this great city, I want to assist in the process to make Rye the best place to live, visit, work and raise a family.”
“People in Rye want their City governed responsibly, transparently and efficiently. The City Council can best address Rye’s problems by adding new voices.”
“As people with deep roots in Rye, we want to see the City Council focus on improving the community.”
“I would consider it a privilege and honor to serve on the Rye City Council. Being on the Rye City Council will be my number one priority.”
“I will make sure that I am well informed on all issues facing Rye, will pay attention to details and will participate in discussions and express my opinions when voting.”
“..a campaign to bring fresh voices to City government at a time when the City needs new direction.”
“I look forward to continuing to institute forward thinking and prudent fiscal management to Rye City.”
“We are focusing our efforts …to bring voices to the Council not tied to the dysfunction and Council infighting of the last four years. The City needs checks and balances to bring open and effective government back to Rye.”
ANSWER – 1 of the above has appeared before the council and the public.
(And this person in fact sits on the council and has voted in lock step with Mr. French on every major issue including The Rye Golf fraud, The Dapolite Affair and The Police Uniform Fraud.)
You mean to tell me that in this City of TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND (25,000) residents, Rod Brown was only able to come up with 2 like-minded, “even keeled” candidates??? He blames infighting among the Council members and “attacks” on Council members (whatever that means) but fails to look in the mirror and realize that Rye City politics is TRENCH WARFARE and he’s trying to handle issues with a water pistol. The City Manager is ROFLMAO. The leadership in the Rye Democratic Committee is in shambles…Rod, you simply must step down.
Mr Lamont:
As someone running for support and elective office in Rye, you should know one of the basic facts of the community you seek to represent. According to the Federal census data in the last three deci-annual surveys (over 30 years), the population of the City of Rye has been within the narrow range of 15,000 to 16,000 people. The 2010 census results show a City of Rye count of 15,720.
In more than one instance you have quoted a number of Rye residents at 25,000. Where did you get that information?
Old Garnet,
Thank you for the correction. So what you are saying is that under the “administration” of STEVE OTIS when he: pushed through the public purchase of a retail building for $6.3M that was appraised for $4.5M; so poorly managed the City that its expenses and managerial staff ballooned as much so as to cause a huge run up in property taxes and other city fees just to break even; and when he commandeered the City where litigation creation took a front seat to protections enumerated in the U.S. Constitution, that we, as Rye City taxpayers, paid a MORE DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE than I had previously assumed? Correct me if I am wrong, Old Garnet, but I believe he served 3 terms (12 years)? If so, where the hell was the Rye Democratic Blocking Committee, I mean Screening Committee, when this was going on…having water pistol fights with Rod Brown, I dare tell?
Switch the topic away from its original intent all you wish.
Fact remains that you as a candidate for Rye City Council should, at the very minimum, know the number of people you are trying to represent.
No other positions were being taken and Steve Otis has nothing to do with the population of Rye.
My understanding is Mr. Lamont is no longer a candidate for City Council. Is that correct? Talk about switching the topic Old Garnet! The topic is the lack of Democratic Party candidates. Oh, there are many reasons why. Rod Brown didn’t hit any of them. Instead, he took a page from the pathetically weak Filippi playbook, whining about divisiveness and personal attacks against candidates. This goes part and parcel with Rod’s letter to the Journal News where he tells readers they should support Catherine Parker’s County Legislator candidacy because a bunch or really old Rye Dems do. Rod says Catherine is being attacked by people with ulterior motives. Rod sounds paranoid. There aren’t ulterior motives. Catherine has put herself up as a candidate. People have every right to vet her qualifications, including examining her actions and decisions throughout the many Rye scandals during her tenure. When will the attacks on the First Amendment stop?
Anne,
You are correct! I am no longer a candidate for the Rye City Council; the Rye Democrats, still controlled by STEVE OTIS using Rod Brown as their “straw man” determined I was too dangerous a candidate for the Otis/Plunkett agenda to withstand (and they are right…lol). In my last act, I have slam dunked the Killian candidacy by catching her in violation of Federal election law (that overrides ant State or Local law) and have reported such to the Republican Chair and the uncontested Mayoral candidate who are evaluating.
Mr. Lamont and Anne McCarthy,
I noticed neither of you show up on the Rye Taxpayer rolls. You can check it out yourself right here.
https://sca-corp.com/rye3/dsp_search.cfm
Any reason why that is?
P.S. Just like my uncle, Hugo Chavez, I too am running unopposed. Can’t wait make myself King under the guise of transparency.
Your info is correct. I am renting a house while I am looking to build…what is your point? I have a 6th grader entering RMS in September.
Oh, I’m there…look again. Put a space between Mc and Carthy. Not only am I a taxpayer (fully current) but I also have a legally obtained certificate of occupancy for my 3rd floor. I don’t mind you checking though. Hey, I didn’t see you on the taxpayer roll, Hugo Sack-vez. Or should I look under Ball-less Wonder?
Welcome back to MyRye Anne.
It is refreshing to hear from someone who actually pays the right amount of property taxes and has a C of O for their third floor.
I checked my records for Ball-Less Wonders and it came back Filippi, French, Pickup and Jovanovich’s sister Robin.
Any idea what would happen to you if you did $1,000,000+ in a complete renovation to your home including an entire new 3rd floor and then you submitted a signed a sworn affidavit to the City of Rye that it this entire renovation was only $325,000?
I can tell you what appears to have happened to the homeowner at 3 Magnolia Place and it wasn’t that they were arrested and charged with fraud.
They had their property assessment raised only 3% and lived there without a C of O for 8 years.
People in Rye get their assessment raised more for than that for adding a new deck to their homes so how is it this person gets away with this?
Shouldn’t the City of Rye know the difference between a $1,000,000 entire renovation of a house and a $205,000 renovation as was attested to in the original building permit?
Hugo Sack-less gets bitch slapped. And deservedly so, your post was wholly irrelevant and partially false. If there was ever a giveaway that you’re a French/Pickup sycophant, being stupid and incompetent is it.
I was in third grade.
PARKER NEVER SPOKE OUT ON RYE GOLF CLUB’S FRAUDULENT GM OR RM STAFFING… EVEN THOUGH SHE AND THE MAYOR MET AND WERE TO “REPORT” TO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ON IT MONTHS BEFORE “RYE’S MADOFF MOMENT” BECAME PUBLIC. SHE ALSO IGNORED A 2010 AUDITORS REPORT WARNING OF BIDDING AND INVENTORY DEFICIENCIES AT RYE GOLF CLUB… DOES (PRIMARY FOE) MURPHY HAVE THAT REPORT?
“Catherine and I are meeting on this and will report back to Council.” That is an email from Mayor Doug French in response to inquiries about the relationship between Scott Yandrasevich and RM Staffing, before hundreds of thousands of dollars of fraud was found to have taken place at Rye Golf Club.
SOME DEMOCRAT… SHE WALKED LOCK STEP WITH THIS TAX-CHEATING REPUBLICAN MAYOR FOR YEARS…
SHE SAT BY AND WATCHED HIM MAKE MONEY OFF HIS ILLEGAL INVESTMENT PROPERTY AND HID LIKE A CHILD… SHE TURNED HER HEAD AND LET A YOUNG CITY EMPLOYEE’S (ANDREW DAPOLITE) CAREER DIE… SHE VOTED FOR PICKUP’S FRUAD FILLED POLICE UNI BID HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER…
RYE GOLF FRAUD HAPPENED UDER HER WATCH… WHAT DID CATHERINE KNOW AND WHEN DID SHE KNOW IT?
Oh, Westchester so desperately needs Catherine Parker, what will we do without her.
Holding Doug French’s hand is Democratic Leadership? More like skunk piss.
Ms. Cameron and Ms. Punyon, On RyePatch, aren’t your proposals 1, 2, and 3 fairly obvious? Do you mean to tell the voters that this is all you have come up with in your 8 weeks as Steve Otis’s candidates, the things which the voters already know. Or, perhaps, this is merely a way to get your names in front of the public, where there has been an eery silence from the dens of the Rye Democratic Party, if one still exists. This has the handiwork of the “even keeled,” outgoing Rod Brown written all over it. What a shame to see what the party of FDR, JFK, LBJ, and WJC (“Bill”) has come to. To think, if FDR was even keeled, our children might all be speaking German right now; if JFK was even keeled our children might all be speaking Russian. Please tell us you have some original thoughts to bring forth before Nov. 5, and to see Lawyer lead off the comments list — does the non-existent Rye Democratic Party think we are stupid. Thank You. Charmian Neary for Chairman in 2014!!!
…On the other side of the aisle, Peter Jovanovich has five (5) business days to voluntarily withdraw from his unlawful candidacy before the Committee for Election Equality takes it to the next level. Charmian Neary for Chairman in 2014.
“Catherine Parker, the right person to sell luggage and gifts, the wrong person to lead our communities.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njx5JLOgxMA&feature=c4-overview&list=UUSKIv_k38Xqk1FmYNjQDnzA
The Hen Islad pest is still directing Rye.
Yu may have a awat comming yet “Ray”
Rye Wit types like Rich Filippi speaks…hmmm.
Snarky..Read betwixt the lines and perhaps you will have a better insight
1. No community members willing to run for local government for fear their character will be slandered by Joe’s loyal thugs.
2. Character assassination by loyal thugs encouraged.
3. Disingenuously votes yes to Code of Ethics motion while his loyal thugs slander and assassinate the character of opponents.
4. Unable to hire RGC restaurant manager due to loyal thugs slanderous rhetoric of Rye City establishments.
5. Property values plummet due to loyal thugs slanderous statements.
6. School teachers attacked and thrown under bus while Joe say nothing.
7. Consistently throws temper tantrums as evidenced by consistently being only dissenter in Council votes.
8. Allows grudge against City Manager to influence votes at Council Meetings.
9. His BFF is Mr. Flotie.
10. Doesn’t think FOIL laws apply to him.
11. Thinks only himself is qualified to make decisions regarding the future of Rye. City Manager position should be put in the Smithsonian. Wants to burn Rye City Charter.
12. Wants to be king as Council Member in a City Manager form of government.
Thanks Joe!
THE GOOD HANDS PEOPLE?
87 percent of New York voters say corruption is a “very serious” or “somewhat serious” problem in government according to an April 2013 Quinnipiac University survey:
https://www.quinnipiac.edu/institutes–centers/polling-institute/new-york-state/release-detail?ReleaseID=1881
But unless I’m mistaken, a look at the some of the political ads and blog postings over this long weekend show Rye political class courtship rituals as oblique as usual. And that would be (as a member of Rye Golf Club might say) ‘par for the course.’
If you can’t call something by its proper name – if you’d prefer pointing fingers based on political parties – you’re not real about your true intentions if elected. Here’s my Help Wanted ad that ran this spring when supposedly no one except Joe Sack wanted to step up and run. Remember that long ago time? So let me ask – like Allstate Insurance – if you’re elected, are we in good hands?
WANTED: Rye City reform candidates for City Council who are not conventional Rye political class – i.e. – they have not been groomed for so-called “service” in other Rye minor committees or organizations in how to think, who to check first with and who to obey before expressing their opinions publicly – especially about our widespread city corruption created by them. Shrinking violets need not apply (nor half-truth specialists) and candidates should have stood before the council and cameras at city hall and expressed an opinion about a matter of significance in the last year. If you haven’t found your voice by now it’s assumed you don’t have anything to offer except more of the same.
A legal degree is not required but a brain, conscience and integrity are. Candidates must have no secrets of the type used to manipulate votes because that is a Rye city management specialty. All this counts because, to be blunt, the taxpayers don’t exactly yearn for yet another hollow shill for the discredited self-entitled ex-politicos who expect winners to throw away every election promise of note and just follow orders from them, their political cronies and their high billing, patronage hustling “advisors.”
Political party is not important. Both have damaged themselves here over the past decade. Candidates should therefore educate themselves and reflect upon; Schubert’s Pond destruction, the story of city owned 1037 Boston Post Road, the six year saga of the Midland & Palisade stop sign, the Mayor’s illegal 13 Richard Place rental house, the Dapolite Affair, Hen Island’s continued filth and West Nile Virus breeding vats, the Rye Golf Club Rip-Off (biggest in history and still unresolved) and – fresh out – the Rye Police Uniform Bidding Fraud. How much do you know?
Candidates can expect a thorough public (rather than private) vetting. Successful entrants meeting the above criteria can expect widespread public support and election to office. The Rye grassroots good government reform movement wants you – will support you – will defend you. And this city needs you.
(Past and present members of the Rye finance committee need only apply if they can bring the public written proof that the city council legally approved the removal of $5M of municipal working capital to pay the final 1037 BPR balloon payment, which has left the city crumbling around us for the past 3 years.)