Vision and Motivation: The Mayoral Candidates

What is your vision for Rye and what are your priorities?

What is your vision for Rye and what are your priorities?

Silberkleit: Teaching art was my first job. A job teaching art opened and I had no experience at that. But, I took art in college, so I just did it, and I was a great teacher. People ask me, “How do you know you’ll do a good job as Mayor?” Put me in and I’ll do a good job. I have ideas.

Sack: Restoring faith in government is number one, two, and three. Overall, we have to limit taxes, maintain essential services, and listen to the community. We’ve got to stop the decline of infrastructure and resolve union contracts.

Jovanovich: Infrastructure repair; it’s crumbling. We have 100-year-old sewers. Roads need fixing. One big difference between me and Joe is that he voted to halve the bond last time, when I felt it could have more in it. We have to pursue the same resolute path on union negotiations. I’m for Christian Miller’s “Big House” plan [which changes attic space allowed in determining total square feet allowed]. Let’s stop arguing about funding the library; my opponent wanted to slash the library funding due to its having an endowment. We have to continue funding Rye Rec and stop the losses at Whiby Castle.

What got you interested in politics; what motivates you to run for mayor?

Sack: I went to law school at night and worked for Andy O’Rourke, when he was the County Executive. I produced O’Rourke’s cable TV show, a great opportunity. He was a role model and a great man. Then, I worked for Joe Hynes in the Brooklyn D.A.’s office. Hynes was a mentor. He addressed us our first day and said, “All you have is your reputation. Do justice. Do the right thing, even when it’s hard.” I’ve always tried to do that.

I ran for City Council in 2007 and was reelected in 2011. I was on the Zoning Board, a great place to cut your teeth and engage in balance between development and preservation. I learned on the knees of the wise men of Rye.

Jovanovich: I had a long career in publishing, then had a long term illness and left to run a non-profit, the Alfred Harcourt Foundation, which provides $650,000 annually in scholarships to poor students who come from failing high schools. I became a Rye Nature Center trustee and helped guide them through the recession as Treasurer. I ran for the City Council in 2005, lost, then I was asked to join the Board of Architectural Review by then Mayor Steve Otis and learned a great deal about land use. I was also on the Planning Commission for three years, the best thing that ever happened to me.

Being CEO of a Fortune 500 company engenders humility. The mayor sets the agenda and makes appointments to committees and boards; those choices are vital to Rye.