Mayor Cohn Says Not Again. Whispers on Who Will Race for the Top Job.
It is cold outside. But the political season in Rye is warming up. Speculation has been ongoing if current Rye Mayor Josh Cohn, who has ridden his own political roller coaster, would be trying for a third term as Mayor. He put that speculation to rest on Wednesday.
“I am not gonna do another term,” Cohn told MyRye.com. “I’m in my eighth year. Yeah, that’s a good long time as mayor.”
When he ran for a second term in 2021, he told MyRye.com “I have never had even the slightest aspiration for public office”. That year he ran in the primary versus former city council member and current head of the Rye Democrats Danielle Tagger-Epstein and won his second term.
He first ran in 2017 in a block with Sara Goddard, Ben Stacks, Josh Cohn and Julie Souza. Eventually Goddard left and Carolina Johnson came onto Council. Until an ethics scandal led to the departure of Stacks and then Johnson, Cohn enjoyed a voting block of four to drive his agenda. Now with only one secure ally with Deputy Mayor and Councilmember Julie Souza, it has become an uphill battle.
So who is next?
Nothing is official, anything could happen and they each demur, but speculation and smart money says it will be a race between a GOP backed Bill Henderson and Dem backed Josh Nathan. Both council members have a record of public service. And while the two come from different political corners of the ring, they have cheerfully teamed up at times to battle Mayor Cohn in City Council chambers.
If the election develops as the many whispers indicate, Henderson and Nathan will need to see if absent Cohn they will be able to maintain their amiable relations as they each battle for the top job in the election this fall.
