Why Vote In an Uncontested Election?

Tuesday, March 15 is Election Day in Scarsdale for the village mayor and for three village trustees. This year, as has been the case for the overwhelming majority of the last 100 years, the election is uncontested. Four candidates are running for four positions. For full disclosure, I am one of those candidates and have been nominated to serve as a village trustee. I hope that, if you are a registered voter in Scarsdale, you will vote on March 15. Your vote is important even in an uncontested race.

Hundreds of Scarsdale residents volunteer tens of thousands of hours annually in wide-ranging activities that enhance life in our community. People who volunteer do so because they believe that their efforts make a difference. All of us know that the combined effort of so many people contributes in wonderful ways to the quality of life in our village. Men and women who serve on the village and school boards, and as mayor, are also volunteers.

Each year, the Citizens’ Nominating Committee proposes candidates for village trustee vacancies, and every two years the CNC nominates a mayoral candidate. The School Board Nominating Committee serves the same function for school board candidates. Any registered voter may run to serve as a member of one of the nominating committees and any eligible adult may appear before the nominating committees to be considered in the candidate selection process.

This non-partisan nominating process was inaugurated in Scarsdale in 1911 in order to minimize the discord that can arise in a contested electoral process.

Is the process perfect? No, but non-partisan elections have many characteristics that serve to strengthen our community. First, the nominating committees typically reach out to prospective candidates with vastly different sets of experiences and skills. The non-partisan process successfully attracts many qualified people who have expertise and civic commitment but who would not be interested in the competitive nature of a contested election, including the fundraising and sparring that comes with running against an opponent.

Candidates who are nominated through the non-partisan process are not defined by party affiliation, and they owe no allegiance to any organization, donor, or group, other than to the residents of Scarsdale. The boards are accountable only to the community.

Because non-partisan candidates have not campaigned on a platform of issues and promises, when elected, they are able to enter the debate about matters that affect the community neutrally and with an open mind. Equally, residents can feel comfortable that their representatives serve everyone. There will still be issues that are controversial. There will still be decisions that do not satisfy all people. But by means of the non-partisan process, controversy does not have to translate into divisiveness.

Your vote for in village and school board elections reflects your commitment to Scarsdale and your commitment to the volunteerism that is the hallmark of our village. Please support the non-partisan election process by casting your vote in the village election on March 15. Voting will take place at Village Hall from six to nine in the morning, and from noon until nine in the evening.

See a video of the four candidates here: