Rye Voters Pick Three New Common Council Members

RYE, N.Y. -- Rye voters elected three new members to the Rye Common Council on Tuesday.

Rye Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican, will be working with two new Democratic Common Council members in 2016 following Tuesday's election.
Photo Credit: *Jon Craig*

11/04/2015 10:00 a.m.

There were three seats up this election, with council members Richard Slack and Laura Brett deciding against running for reelection.

The top finisher in a six-way vote for three seats was Democrat Emily Hurd with 1,572 votes, or 19 percent, according to unofficial returns from the Westchester County Board of Elections.

The top Republican vote-getter on Tuesday, was Richard Mecca -- with 1,408 votes or 17 percent, according to unofficial returns. Mecca was appointed by Rye Mayor Joe Sack to fill an unexpired term in January 2014.

Democrat Danielle Tagger-Epstein won the third council seat with 1,395 votes, according to the early returns. The next two candidates finished within 50 votes of Tagger-Epstein.

The Democrats' campaign theme was: “Fresh Voices, New Ideas.” Placing a close fourth was Democrat Jeff Taylor, an assistant professor of Arts Management at SUNY Purchase and a board member at Rye Arts Center. Tagger-Epstein is a former human resources consultant. Hurd is an attorney.

Mecca was joined on the Republican Party ticket by Jim Culyer, a former Rye Board of Education president, and Leon Sculti, chairman of the Rye Golf Club Commission. Their campaign theme was: “Tested, Tried, and True.” Mecca is a White Plains electrical inspector and volunteer firefighter in Rye. He grew up in Port Chester.

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