-By Chris Urban
By an 11-vote margin, Halli Gatenio became the newest member of the Rye Neck Board of Education after an unprecedented runoff election on July 1.
Gatenio was elected to a three-year term over Martin O’Reilly by a vote of 414 to 403; previously the regular election on May 21 between Nikki Barker, O’Reilly, and Gatenio resulted in 628 votes for Barker and 429 votes for both O’Reilly and Gatenio.
Initially, the run-off election between Gatenio and O’Reilly was set for June 20. However, to ensure compliance with New York State Election Laws, the district legal counsel recommended rescheduling it for July 1. The Board approved this change on May 31.
Gatenio, an active member of the Rye Neck community with three children in the school district, began her career as a corporate meeting and event planning manager.
She served on the Rye Neck PTSA as vice president for two schools, the Rye Neck Booster Club, and on several Principal Advisory Committees.
Gatenio told The Record, “Transparency and accountability are important to me, and I believe serving on the board would allow me to make a meaningful impact, helping to create a supportive and enriching environment for all students and educators in our district.”
The board held back-to-back meetings on July 2 for restructuring and a regular session with new members Barker and Gatenio.