The Truth About the BoE Election

This post is a direct, honest message to our Somers community. With the Board of Education election on May 20 fast approaching, it's time to speak clearly about what’s at stake.

While the Board of Education is supposed to be apolitical, that hasn’t been the case for quite some time. Case in point, why would the active BoE president feel the need, as an incumbent, to run alongside three other candidates, essentially on the same ticket (Kandel, Olsen, Gallino)? I'll tell you why: They are aligned on their ideology.

What’s baffling is how this town, one of the last remaining conservative strongholds in Westchester County, has consistently had a left-leaning board for over a decade. Is it any wonder why academic performance continues to slip?

Let’s rewind two years. Pat Varbero and Dom DeMartino were elected as trustees, each drawing an unprecedented 1,800–1,900 votes… a historic turnout. With their election, the board began to reflect a more balanced perspective. However, that turnout was fueled by many factors; parents were still upset about mask mandates, comments made by prior BoE Trustees regarding "white privilege" and ultimately DEI.

With Demartino and Varbero on the board, and trustees like Nick Mancini and Ifay Chan — both registered Republicans or Conservatives — there was at least some hope for pragmatic, taxpayer-focused decision-making. However, many conservatives were disappointed by the lack of consistency between Mancini and Chan's votes and party affiliations. That hope began to fade even further last year with the election of Darryl Mundis and Margaret DeLorenzo, which tipped the board back toward a progressive majority.

This May, three long-serving trustees are up for re-election. And here's the bottom line:

If you're comfortable with a $113 million budget funded by taxpayers, declining academic performance, and a Board of Education that talks about accountability but consistently aligns with state-driven ideology over local priorities (Not Somers First!), then Amanda, Chad, and Ifay are your candidates. Despite their reassuring words, their actions tell a different story...But if you're concerned about where this is all heading, this is your moment.

BoE Math and Why It Matters

If conservatives lose all three seats this year, the board shifts to a 5–2 progressive majority. Next year, Dom Demartino and Pat Varbero will face re-election. If they choose not to run, and who could blame them after enduring years of personal attacks for simply asking hard questions that drive accountability. This potentially leaves the board in three scenarios: 7–0 leftist majority, 6–1 (leftist majority), or a 5-2 push, which is why Ms. Kandel and her sidekick Chadwick Olsen +1 have aligned on a single ticket (no Ifay). This year is their killshot.

Now let’s connect the dots. A new superintendent, Dr. Bronshtein, is set to begin in July 2025. If the board is dominated by progressives, he’ll face pressure to align with their agenda; if he doesn’t, don’t expect him to last beyond his initial three-year contract. At that point, the board, potentially a full progressive majority, will steer decisions to hire a new superintendent who fits their ideological mold...and they’ll likely lock that person into a five-year contract to cement their long-term vision. That vision will almost certainly include Regionalization and the redistribution of Somers' tax dollars to neighboring, or less affluent, districts. The result? Potentially eight years of ideological control, academic decline, and taxpayer frustration, before we even have a chance to reverse course.

That’s why this election matters more than ever.

If you care about preserving balance, accountability, and common sense on the Somers Board of Education, the path forward is clear: Show up at Somers Middle School on May 20 and vote for Rinaldi, Ritacco, and Vela.

If this election is lost, most Primrose parents will age out of the school system before there’s another real chance to change direction. By the time a course correction is even possible, your kids could be in college, and the damage will already be done.

Make no mistake: the left is counting on this moment. A progressive sweep on May 20 would cement full alignment with the state’s agenda, including Regionalization and the redistribution of local tax dollars. This election hands them the power to implement that vision at the local level — and lock it in for years to come.

This is about protecting our schools, safeguarding our children’s education, and preserving the values that make Somers what it is. If that matters to you, show up and vote on May 20.