New Rochelle Election: Bramson Re-elected, New District 4 Goes Democratic

Democrats on the New Rochelle City Council picked up a fifth vote as a result of the election Tuesday.

Democratic Mayor Noam Bramson handily won a second full term, coming out on top of Councilman Richard St. Paul, R-District 4.

According to unofficial tallies, at midnight, with 63 districts out of 81 reporting, Bramson lead St. Paul with 79 percent of the vote.

"I am honored and humbled to represent ... the people of New Rochelle," Bramson said, "in the north, east, west—and south."

He characterized the vote as the largest landslide in the history of New Rochelle.

With the election behind everyone, Bramson said it was time to get back to work on issues that matter to the city.

"When the celebration is over, we have an obligation to come together," he said.

Bramson completed the unexpired term of Tim Idoni, who was elected county clerk, and was elected to his first full term four years ago.

St. Paul said Democrats have ruled New Rochelle for the last 20 years.

"We are small, but tough. … We must keep the fight up," he said.

The mayor serves a four-year term and currently receives a salary of $89,000.

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In District 1, incumbent Councilman Louis Trangucci, a Republican, bested business owner Roberto Lopez, who previously served on the City Council. Trangucci held onto 52 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results with seven of nine districts reporting.

Trangucci said he would continue to fight for taxpayers.

"I want to pull down city costs and try to bring in new forms of revenue through retail and commercial," he said.

Incumbent Republican Councilman Albert Tarantino was in an uncontested race for District 2.

Tarantino said he wants to take a hard look at development and maintain services such as fire, police and sanitation.

"The idea is to create businesses that will bring sales tax revenue and bring people with disposable money into the city," he said.

Vying for his first full term, Councilman Jared Rice, a Democrat and an attorney, easily won over Republican challenger John Earvin, a state certified private investigator, to represent District 3.

With all districts reporting, unofficial results showed Rice with 89 percent of the vote.

Rice thanked family and friends for helping him through the campaign, adding that he and his wife were expecting a baby in May.

He was elected in 2010 to fill the final year of the term of Councilman James Stowe, who died in office.

"Four years is a better term than one year," Rice said. "Let's get a lot of work done."

In District 4, owner Ivar Hyden, a Democrat, won with an impressive lead over Republican Kevin Barrett. With eight districts out of 11 reporting, Hyden took 80 percent of the vote.

Hyden thanked all the people who worked on his campaign.

"I'm looking forward to getting started," he said.

For District 5, incumbent Councilman Barry Fertel, a Democrat, won against clinical psychologist Ilyse Spertus, a Republican. Fertel took 55 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results with 11 out of 16 districts reporting.

Fertal said he was proud to represent District 5 and New Rochelle for the next four years.

"(The race) was really a wild ride," he said. "We do have a lot of work to do now."

In District 6, attorney Shari Rackman, a Democrat, defeated Republican Stephen Mayo, founder of a linoleum manufacturing company. With 10 out of 15 districts reporting, Rackman had 59 percent of the vote.

Rackman thanked, among others, outgoing Councilwoman Marianne Sussman, D-District 6.

"I am up for the challenge," she said, "but when I have questions, I know I can call her."

Rackman said she would be ready to get to work in January, "with my sleeves rolled up."

Councilmembers are elected to four-year terms and currently receive a salary of $33,000.

After voting at New Rochelle United Methodist Church, Dr. Abraham Walfish didn't volunteer the names of the candidates for whom he voted.

But he did have criteria on which he based his voting decisions.

"Experience counts," Walfish said, "and so does past performance."

D = Democratic
R = Republican
WF = Working Families
IN = Independence
C = Conservative
(I) = Incumbent

Unofficial returns as of 12:06 a.m. Thursday.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article has been modified from its original version to include comments from Richard St. Paul, Albert Tarantino and Louis Trangucci.