Get to know each of the Rye City Council candidates — Laura Brett, Rafael Elias-Linero, Paula Gamache, Josh Nathan, Catherine Parker, and Joe Sack — a little better by reading our special candidate insider biographies. And remember to vote Tuesday, November 8!
Laura Brett
If you could come back in another era, where and when would it be?
I’d come back in the late 1800s, early 1900s. I would love to be there during the transition brought on by the Industrial Revolution and witness the technological, economic, and social change during that time period. My favorite authors are Henry James and Edith Wharton because of how their novels focus on those changes and what it meant to be an American during that time.
Blog you read most often
I read all of our local blogs: MyRye, Rye Patch, the Daily Rye. I don’t have a favorite — I just like to read them and see what people are posting.
Best walk/bike route in Rye
I regularly walk, run, or ride the “Milton Loop”, which is Milton to the end of Stuyvesant, back to Van Wagenen, down Forest, through Rye Town Park, Playland, and back up Playland Parkway to Milton.
Favorite things to do with your spouse (PG-rated?)
Kirk and I learned to sail a few years ago, and we really enjoy going out for a sail on a beautiful spring, summer, or fall day.
Always wanted to be…
I’ve really always wanted to be a lawyer — sorry that sounds so boring.
Bio
I grew up in both Illinois and New Jersey, and went to Trinity College in Hartford, where I met my husband Kirk. Immediately after graduating from college, I went to Fordham Law School and then began working at the law firm of Willkie Farr and Gallagher. I worked such long hours during my first few years that the doorman in my building thought I worked nights!
When we moved to Rye ten years ago, we fell in love with the community. I became active in the Rye Historical Society and am proud of the many accomplishments of our board during my years of service, including publishing “Views of Rye” with Paul Rheingold, raising awareness of the changes at Playland, working with the Historical Society to reduce costs during the recession while continuing to raise the society’s profile in the community, and our newest project, Walk Rye History, a permanent walking tour.
I’ve continued to work as an attorney, and for many years took on cases in Family Court. I’ve also volunteered with the Twig, and served on the City of Rye’s Landmarks Advisory Committee, New York State Public Affairs Committee for the Junior League, and the Rye Town Park Citizens Advisory Committee. In addition to my community involvement, I have been active in all three girls’ school activities.
Our third daughter was born in Rye over eight years ago, and we’re thrilled that we have a Rye native in our family now.
Rafael Elias-Linero
If you could come back in another era, where and when would it be?
I would like to come back in the U.S. in the 1950s. The Great Depression and World War II were over (Korea, thankfully, was over by 1953). The Yankees had Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra; we had Sinatra, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, and Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren, Brando, and Belmondo. We also had most of the modern-age conveniences (telephones, cars, electricity, airplanes, TV), and life was much simpler.
Blog you read most often
I am not a big follower of “other people’s blogs”, but I am an avid reader of comments from readers of my own blog. When online, I prefer just regular news outlets with opinion and editorials, such as cnn.com, MarketWatch, and financial and political sites like The Journal, The Financial Times, politico.com, and The Hill.
Best walk/bike route in Rye
My favorite walk is through the golf course (to the dismay of my foursome friends who cringe at my bad game). The views are amazing, the course is challenging but just enough, and ending at Whitby Castle is a great way to cap it all off.
Favorite things to do with your spouse (PG-rated?)
Carla and I love to go to plays and concerts in the City. We have seen stars like Laura Linney, Brooke Shields, Al Pacino, John Lithgow; Placido Domingo and Pavarotti at The Met; and Aerosmith, Stevie Nicks, The Stones, and Meat Loaf. We live in the best city (Rye), and only 26 miles from the center of the universe (NYC), and we try to make the best of it.
Always wanted to be…
I always wanted to be a number of things: Formula 1 driver, opera singer, movie star in the 1950s. But I ended up being the best possible of all, and something I would not change for anything: the father of the three most wonderful kids and the husband of an amazing lady.
Bio
Since 1995 Rafael Elias-Linero has worked for top global financial institutions including Credit Suisse, UBS, and Deutsche Bank, and is currently a Senior Financial Analyst at Credit Agricole. From 1979 to 1993, he worked at his family’s construction company (IDUSA Group) and was in charge of the design, construction and development of major urbanization and residential projects.
He is an active member of the American Association of Political Consultants and President of Political Analysis and Economic Studies, LLC in Rye. He holds a Civil Engineering degree (1987) and a Master’s in Public and Private Management (MPPM-1995) from Yale University.
In the public service arena, Mr. Elias-Linero was retained as an international consultant by Mexico’s National Action Party’s (PAN) foreign affairs office in 1999. Working from New York City, he was part of Mexico’s Presidential campaign in 2000, in charge of international campaign strategies. In that election, the PAN candidate, H. Vicente Fox, emerged victorious.
He and his wife Carla moved to Rye in 1998. They have two daughters and a son, all of whom have attended Rye Neck schools.
Paula Gamache
If you could come back in another era , where and when would it be?
I’m happy just to wake up every day and be in my life. If I had to come back in another time period, it would be in the future when the “World Peace” model is working.
Blog you read most often
Dealbreaker.com.
Best walk/bike route in Rye
Milton Point by the clubs to Playland and Edith Read Sanctuary.
Favorite things to do with your spouse (PG-rated?)
Movies, theater, spending time with the “kids”, great restaurants with close friends, discovering new corners of the world, you know, playing.
Always wanted to be…
I’ve always been happy to be myself.
Bio
Paula Gamache is a member of the Derivatives Unwind Team for Lehman Brothers restructuring. She was the most published New York Times crossword author in 2010. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and Harvard Business School.
She was elected to the City Council in 2007 and named Deputy Mayor in 2011. She is Council Liaison to the Rye Free Reading Room and Finance Committee, and a member of the Audit Committee.
A 20-year Rye resident, she lives on Lake Road in Greenhaven with her husband, Serge Nivelle. Their son Alex graduated from Rye Country Day School.
Josh Nathan
If you could come back in another era, where and when would it be?
I like to look ahead, but given the opportunity to observe something back in time, it would be The Enlightenment, specifically Paris, traveling with Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin when their stays in Paris overlapped in 1784-85, the American Revolution was over, the US Constitution had yet to be drafted, and the French Revolution had not yet happened.
Blog you read most often
I read information and blogs on subjects I’m interested in for the period of time they are relevant to a given project or pursuit. I consistently tend to read all things Rye, e.g., the local papers (both online and hard copy), the online-only local news and blog sites, and the various community and school newsletters.
Best walk/bike route in Rye
I enjoy walking (and biking) from my home to Rye Town Park, along the boardwalk and down to Playland, then along the shoreline to Edith Read Sanctuary.
Favorite things to do with your spouse (PG-rated?)
My wife and I are avid sailors. We purchased a sailboat before we purchased a home. In the winter we enjoy skiing as a family. We also very much enjoy being at home and walking and biking in and around our neighborhood.
Always wanted to be…
A dad, it’s the greatest thing.
Bio
Josh Nathan is a media lawyer and Emmy-winning executive producer of documentary, music, and lifestyle programming. He is a graduate of Cornell Law School and Vassar College. He, his wife Pam, and their 10-year-old son Hal live on Hillside Place. Pam owns a flower and special events company and is active on the Milton School PTO. Hal attends Milton School.
Mr. Nathan served as President of the Rye City School District Board of Education from 2008 to 2011, leading the District out of 2008 fiscal crisis. In 2009 and 2010, he took over the lead in negotiating the current collective bargaining agreement with the Rye Teachers Association and settled it. This past fall, Mr. Nathan led the negotiations settling the decade-old Osborn Home tax litigation against the City and the School District.
He has coached Rye Youth Soccer and Rye Little League.
Catherine Parker
If you could come back in another era, where and when would it be?
I’m a bit envious of the “greatest generation”, who experienced an America where politicians were really great leaders who gave strength to get this country through World War II. And exactly when and where would I be? I think 1943, sitting in a USO club, or maybe it’s Glen Island Casino, listening to Benny Goodman … in person.
Blog you read most often
One of my best friends has been fighting cancer. She blogs every day (www.evilcrab.com). I am always amazed at her candor, strength, and humor.
Best walk/bike route in Rye
My family and I love to bike around Rye. Our usual route is down around Milton Point, through Oakland Beach to Playland, behind the Edith Read Sanctuary to Manursing, and then home. We are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful community.
Favorite things to do with your spouse (PG-rated?)
David and I love to go out on our tandem kayak, either out into the Sound or up the estuary. Of course, we enjoy kayaking in the Caribbean too!
Always wanted to be…
Strangely enough, I feel like I get to be exactly what I have always wanted, but if not me, then I think I could enjoy being Oprah Winfrey.
Bio
Catherine Parker has played a pivotal role on the Rye City Council since being elected in 2007. Having already made her mark in the community as a business leader, she stepped in as chairwoman of the Retail Strategy Task Force and oversaw the Central Business District Streetscape Study Group. The pedestrian safety improvements that have been appearing downtown resulted from that work.
Early 2010 saw big changes in local government. The new Westchester County administration was talking about making major changes to Playland. Ms. Parker recognized the need to evaluate the current business model, but also saw the importance that Playland holds as part of Rye’s identity. She pushed successfully to create the Playland Strategic Planning Group to protect Rye’s interests as the County proceeded with its evaluation of proposals.
Ms. Parker owns Parkers, the travel and lifestyle store at 43 Purchase Street, which she opened in 1996. She helped re-start the Rye Chamber of Commerce in 1998 as the Rye Merchants Association, serving as President from 1999-2003. She continues to serve both as a board member and liaison to the City Council. She is a graduate of Providence College.
Her affiliations include The Rye Lions Club, The Rye Arts Center Advisory Board, The League of Women Voters of Rye, Rye Brook, and Port Chester, and Rye Presbyterian Church, where she is a Sunday school teacher. Ms. Parker is a registered Independent.
She and her husband, David Walker, and their children Julia (11) and Aidan (3) live at 460 Milton Road, in Millpond Cottage.
Joe Sack
If you could come back in another era, where and when would it be?
I am an avid reader of American history, and the volumes of the Civil War trilogy by Shelby Foote are some of my all-time favorites. I would love to come back during that period, and meet the great leaders of both the North and South, including President Lincoln and General Lee.
Blog you read most often
I am not really a blog reader. However, I am a big consumer of good, old-fashioned daily print newspapers, and read at least five a day, including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Journal News, the New York Law Journal, and the New York Post. Of course, I always follow the local Rye news outlets, including The Rye Record.
Best walk/bike route in Rye
I don’t have to leave my own block. Thorne Place is a cul-de-sac with hardly any traffic. In fact, a car that doesn’t belong gets a close look from all the neighbors. There are about 20 homes with at least 30 children, and we all love it as a great place for the kids to safely play together. I am biased, but there is no better street in Rye!
Favorite things to do with your spouse (PG-rated)
Kerri and I are both working parents, and our three young daughters are quite involved in soccer, basketball, dance, and gymnastics. So between jobs and kids, we don’t have a ton of spare time. On the unfortunately-too-infrequent date night, we just like to have a quiet evening to ourselves, and prefer a not-too-crowded bar with two stools next to each other.
Always wanted to be…
My grandmother was a writer, and I have always thought that I have some of her blood in me. I hope to have the discipline to apply myself to this interest one day. I also truly enjoy interviewing interesting people, and luckily as a Councilman I am able to take full advantage of the incredible opportunity to produce the “Eye on Rye” shows for RyeTV.
Bio
Joe Sack is a securities litigation attorney with his own practice in Westchester and on Wall Street. He attended Regis High School, Holy Cross College, and Fordham Law School.
He was elected to the City Council in 2007, and has served on the Rye Town Park Commission since 2010. From 2004 to 2007, he was a member of the Rye City Zoning Board.
He and his wife Kerri, also an attorney, moved to Rye right after 9/11. All three of their daughters were born here. “And this is the only place we want to raise our family,” said the Councilman.
