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YORKTOWN, N.Y. -- Yorktown resident Evan Bray officially announced Monday he will seek the Democratic endorsement for Town Board in the upcoming November election.
Bray moved to Mohegan Lake in 2010 with his wife and believes his background as a building and zoning code inspector in New York City would bring a “fresh perspective” to the council. His interest in politics was sparked by his personal dealings with the zoning and planning board, as well as the 2012 dispute over the proposed Costco Wholesale Club.
"I just came to a realization with my background I had some intelligent things to add,” said Bray, a fervent follower of Yorktown news. “I just thought I should get involved instead of getting snarky in the comments.“
Bray said he will draw from his 12 years in New York City to make Yorktown’s government more "usable." He said average residents have a difficult time dealing with departments and boards when it comes to building something as small as a fence.
"It’s not a broken system but there’s definitely room for improvement," he said.
Both the Democratic and Republican town committees will endorse two candidates to run for seats held by Vishnu Patel (D) and Terrence Murphy (R). Patel will seek re-election, though Murphy has not publicly announced his intentions.
“Political labels at this level are nominal,” Bray said. “I'm not entering the race run 'against' any particular board member. I feel that I have a skill set not offered by any of the other candidates.”
Bray was born and raised in Canon City, Colo. and moved to New York City in 1996 to attend Cooper Union, where he received a bachelor’s degree in architecture. He has three children and a fourth on the way.
He said he acknowledges that his relatively new residency in Yorktown and lack of political background could hurt him in the eyes of voters.
“I certainly think I won’t get past 'hello' with some people because I don’t have Yorktown roots,” he said.
Bray is keeping expectations tempered but is running because he and his neighbors "deserve better," he said.
“I don't always agree with the board or its positions and believe all of the current members are decent people trying to do the right thing," he said. "I do believe that my fresh perspective and strong professional background uniquely qualify me to serve the people of Yorktown.”
Comments (20)
Mr. Bray, Read an article the other day about you and beavers. I thought that your idea of letting the beavers win and thus flooding the roadway was a stupid idea? Have you got anymore bright ideas? If you do, you should certainly keep them to yourself. There is an old saying , "it is better to be thought a fool than opening your mouth and proving it ". I do certainly hope you don't get elected, we will be all riding in horse and wagon with your ideas. (wink)
Route 202 looks like crap now with the empty buildings and unsold properties. Are they widening the road to speed us through the eyesore?
Best of luck Mr. Bray...
The failing septic systems need to be addressed by sewering more homes before adding new homes with sewers.
Truth, where have you been for the last 20 years? Susan Siegel has been fighting for the "unsewered" for at least that long . For all her efforts, nothing has been done. I don't blame her. She is a fighter . Do you have an suggestions on getting those with septic's, sewers?
Good luck Bray....the following items need to be addressed.
Garages turned into illegal apartments.
Fences on ppls' properties...it's so not neighborly when your neighbor has a Fortress fence surrounding the property. Code enforcement does nothing.
Code enforcement - the house on Broad street near Brookside school should have never been built that way. Again, no code enforcement and zoning.
Let's hope Murphy doesn't run again...I can't take him standing in front of the supermarket telling everyone taxes are too high and using the same campaign speech and rhetoric for all his campaigns, and even the same photo.
YorktownVoter, good fences make good neighbors. Prov. It is easier to be friendly with your neighbor if neither of you trespasses upon the other's property or privacy.
Thanks. Those issues are right up my alley. I think administrative code enforcement could be more consistent and assertive across town and, if done right, generate a modest revenue stream. No shame in enforcing existing, valid codes.
Mr Bray, please remind the readers where you stand on Costco again.
I am of the position that the proposed 150K+ big box store and gas station proposal runs contrary to the guidance given in the Comprehensive Plan for this specific area, the Bear Mountain Triangle.
Well that goes contrary to the majority of Yorktowner's, doesn't it? You will be just like those people on the old planing boards that cost Yorktown taxpayers, like me, a ton of money because Yorktown was deemed unfriendly to business. Do the taxpayers a favor, please look to run in another town. We need business here in Yorktown, and many of us aren't as well off as you. Just a thought.
Can you cite a referendum a majority of YT is for Costco or is that just your opinion?
You are making a bold assumption about my finances which is way off base. I wish you were right.
Well it was just an assumption on my part because Costco would bring money into the already overpriced school system. With that in mind, I guessed you don't need any help in paying these high school tax bills. I'm on a fixed income and I do need the help. As far as I know most of the people that I have spoken to, want Costco here in Yorktown. Maybe I have been speaking to the wrong people?
Unfortunately I pay into the Lakeland School District, not Yorktown Central so my tax bill stays the same regardless of whether it gets approved or not. I couldn't agree more that taxes and spending need to be reigned in. I just don't believe that Costco is the answer.
But is certainly isn't part of the problem, is it? Maybe if the lake;land school district got some of the money, you might change your mind?
I think it's time for a new person with a fresh perspective on what Yorktown should be. I like the idea that Mr. Bray wants the Yorktown gov't to be usable, it's needed. It always seems impossible to get things done and they completely ignore Mohegan Lake, the side with Walmart and strawberry rd. The town had enough nerve to say they don't have anything slated like repairs, for that area for another 10 years! We pay Yorktown taxes on strawberry rd, we'd like to get some of their help too. I think Mr. Bray may be able to help us. I hope so :-)
LOL okay then.
I know my odds of success are long, but I think it's worth a go. Can you expound on your LOL?
It is worth a go. My LOL was more towards the fact that I've been here since the 1980s and NOTHING has ever changed. Even when we have people who want to make a change, they just get sucked into the system and no changes are ever made.
I appreciate the candor. And I know one person on a board of 5 can't unilaterally implement change. Luckily we have a lot of good people who volunteer their time and expertise. I think of Ray Arnold, and the like. People who volunteer their time and expertise so selflessly. I think some of these people, along with myself, can positively affect change in the building/zoning/permitting processes of Yorktown.
It is worth a go. My LOL was more towards the fact that I've been here since the 1980s and NOTHING has ever changed. Even when we have people who want to make a change, they just get sucked into the system and no changes are ever made.