LETTER: Mayoral Candidate Rick McCabe – Why Do I Want To Be Mayor of Rye?

In mid-April, MyRye.com approached all three candidates running for Mayor of Rye – sitting Councilmembers Bill Henderson (GOP) and Josh Nathan (Dem), and head of the Rye Recreation Commission Rick McCabe (Ind.). We asked each candidate to write an open letter to you, our MyRye.com readers, on why they want to be mayor. 

Henderson and Nathan declined our request, both for the same reason – they wanted to wait and see if McCabe – the independent – collects enough signatures to gain a place on the ballot (gathering signatures is an arcane craft and the independent filing deadline is Tuesday, May 27th). We are keeping our promise – to you the reader, to ourselves and to McCabe, who submitted his letter. We hope (and expect) Henderson and Nathan will play ball after May 27th.

We will create as many opportunities as possible for our readers to meet and understand each of our local candidates.

Another note: we encourage readers to comment on our stories. Unlike social media, our comments are moderated. Please keep things civil and relevant to the story you are commenting on.

Here is McCabe’s letter:

Why Do I Want To Be Mayor of Rye?

By Rick McCabe

I’ll start with everyone’s favorite game – answering a question with a question: why wouldn’t I want to be mayor of the great city of Rye, New York?

Why wouldn’t I want to help lead a town I love that’s given so much to me and my family?

Why wouldn’t I want to work cooperatively with passionate, dedicated neighbors also willing to do what’s right for this city?

Why wouldn’t I try to do this as an independent – unbound by the two major political parties – leaving the best interest of this jewel of a community as my only loyalty once elected?

Here’s my real answer:

Rye is a special place. I’m not practicing some form of vague exceptionalism. You can see it all around us. The pride. The history. The natural beauty. The opportunity.

I believe this great city is at a crossroads. We can continue with the same old “business as usuals” of personality conflict and party tribalism. 

Or, we can choose a fresh start, a new path – one that embraces the challenges and opportunities of this moment and tomorrow’s, with innovation, optimism and non-partisanship.

I want to be mayor to play a positive role in making that tomorrow a reality.

The core issues in this election and for the near future of Rye are pretty obvious: maintaining our fiscal stability, sustainable infrastructure and storm resilience, protecting our natural surroundings, responsible development and comprehensive planning and enhancing our parks and athletic facilities. 

We can and we should have good-natured debates about these issues and other prospects Rye faces. But those debates shouldn’t continue to be driven by petty rivalries or outdated talking points whose time has passed.

Our leaders on the City Council should be:

• Solution-oriented – not just concerned with checkmating opposing views. 
• Innovative – seeking responsible new ways to accomplish goals together.
• Civil – heck, courteous or kind wouldn’t hurt either. 

None of this is meant to be easy. As has often been said, democracy is messy. I’d guess my opponents in this race who have both admirably volunteered to lead our community would agree.

But, at this level of government, as important as it is to citizens of this city, it doesn’t need to be as combative, partisan or retaliatory as we’ve witnessed the past few years.

I believe that many people in Rye – of both parties and no party – seek leadership that turns down the temperature, pushes drama aside and simply aspires to getting things done. 

Humbly, I’m hopeful that I can help deliver that kind of leadership to the town we all love.