School Board Nominating Committee Election

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

(Snow date: Wednesday, January 10, 2024)

7 - 10 a.m. and 2 - 9 p.m.

Scarsdale Middle School Auditorium Lobby

OR

Vote by Mail-In Ballot

The SBNC is the body of 30 residents serving staggered 3-year terms that vets applicants and nominates the proposed non-partisan slate for the Scarsdale Board of Education. Each year, voters elect new representatives from their neighborhood to fill spots vacated by those who have completed their SBNC service. The SBNC Resolution is the document that governs the school non-partisan election system. Proposed amendments are subject to voter ratification.

For more information, visit the Scarsdale SBNC website.

The deadline for Administrative Committee receipt of mail-in ballots at P.O. Box 172H in the Heathcote Golden Horseshoe Post Office is 4 p.m. on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. Please visit the SBNC website to download and print the mail-in ballots and for the instructions on how to complete them. 

As a voter service reminder, please remember that each ballot must be contained within its own mailing envelope bearing the voter’s full name and address, and with the voter’s signature across the seal. Multiple ballots within a single envelope will render all such ballots invalid.

State Redistricting

On Tuesday, 12/12/23, the New York State Court of Appeals issued their awaited ruling in the New York State congressional district maps case, finding for the plaintiffs and ordering the Independent Redistricting Commission to reconvene and create a new district map by February 28. An excellent explanation of what led to the court case and what is likely to happen next can be found in this opinion piece by Jeffrey Wice, an expert on New York State redistricting.

The Independent Redistricting Commission website had not been updated as of late December with any new information following the Court of Appeals ruling.

Scarsdale Village Election

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Scarsdale Public Library, Scott Room

6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

As a reminder, the 2024 Scarsdale Village Election will be held on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.

All Election Districts (Numbers 1 through 19) will be voting at the Scarsdale Public Library, 54 Olmsted Road, in the Scott Room. Hours of the election are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Happy New Year! We hope that you have a happy and healthy year ahead.

The League of Women Voters of Scarsdale had a December filled with local civic engagement. We held a Consensus Meeting on the Village Election System. Procedure Committee Chair Peri Zelig and Vice Chair Heath Sroka joined us to speak about the CNC election process and to answer questions.

As explained more fully in this month’s bulletin, redistricting is ongoing. On December 12th, in a 4-3 decision, the New York State Court of Appeals issued their awaited ruling in the New York State congressional district maps case, finding for the plaintiffs and ordering the Independent Redistricting Commission to reconvene and create a new district map for all 26 districts by February 28th. Our voter service chairs, Donna Conkling and Kathy Gray, are following the process. 

As the LWVS moves into January, we begin another busy month, which includes our School Election System Information Session and Consensus Meeting, as well as an in-person winter fundraiser event at a private home.  

We encourage you to stay involved and be active participants in our government. Your participation will serve to enhance and strengthen our democracy!

Upcoming Events:

• Friday, January 19th at 11:30 a.m., School Election System Information Session and Consensus Meeting, Scarsdale Village Hall, 3rd Floor.
• Saturday, January 27th, from 5-7 p.m., LWVS Winter Fundraiser, at a private home.
• Monday, February 5th, at 10:00 a.m., Local, County, and National League Program Consensus Meeting, at the Scarsdale Public Library.

Best wishes for a healthy and happy new year,

Heedan Chung & Jessica Zellner

January 2024

• 1/8, Monday:
• 9:15 a.m. Board Meeting, Scarsdale Public Library
• 1/9, Tuesday:
• 7-10 a.m. and 2-9 p.m. SBNC Election, Scarsdale Middle School
• 1/19, Friday:
• 11:30 a.m. Gen Membership/Consensus Mtg - School Election, Village Hall, 3rd floor
• 1/27, Saturday:
• 5:00 p.m. LWVS Winter Social/Fundraiser, Location TBA

February

• 2/5, Monday:
• 9:15 a.m. Board Meeting, Scarsdale Public Library
• 10:00 a.m. Gen Membership/Consensus Mtg - Local, County, and National Programs, Scarsdale Public Library

March

• 3/11, Monday
• 9:15 a.m. Board Meeting, Village Hall
• 10:00 a.m. Gen Membership/Consensus Mtg - Village Budget, Village Hall
• 3/19, Tuesday:
• Village Election, 6am-9pm, Scarsdale Public Library, Scott Room
• 3/20, Wednesday:
• 10:00 a.m. Gen Membership/Consensus Mtg - School Budget

LWVS Information Session and Consensus Meeting on the

School Election System

Friday, January 19, 2024

11:30 a.m.

New venue: Village Hall, 3rd floor

On Friday, January 19, 2024, at 11:30 am at Village Hall, LWVS will hold its annual general membership information session regarding this year’s School Board Nominating Committee (SBNC) election. The SBNC Election Chair and/or other designated representatives are invited to present and answer questions on behalf of the SBNC Administrative Committee (AC).  All members of the public are welcome to attend.

The SBNC Administrative Committee is the committee that solicits candidates for the School Board Nominating Committee and runs the SBNC election. Once SBNC members are elected in a given year, the SBNC nominates its proposed slate for the Scarsdale Board of Education.

The information session will be open to the public; the consensus meeting is for current LWVS members only. Links to the Information Session materials and resulting Consensus Statement will be posted here once finalized.

For more information, please contact Diksha Mudbhary, LWVS School Election System Chair, at [email protected].

LWVS Winter Cocktail Fundraiser and Social

Saturday, January 27, 2024

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Private Home

Enjoy a fun and festive evening with good food and League friends

All are welcome!

Stay tuned for more information closer to the date of the event.

LWVS General Membership and Consensus Meeting:

2023-2024 Programming for our

Local, Westchester County, and National Leagues

Monday, February 5, 2024

10:00 a.m.

Scarsdale Public Library

On Monday, February 5, 2024 at 10 am at the Scarsdale Public Library, LWVS will hold its annual general membership and consensus meeting to discuss next year’s programs for LWVS (to be proposed for adoption at the LWVS Annual Meeting in May), for the Westchester County League (to be communicated to the LWVW board for its consideration), and for the National League (to be communicated to the LWVUS board for discussion in drafting the proposed 2-year program to be adopted after debate and discussion by delegates at the biennial June convention).

When available, links will appear here for the Agenda for the Consensus Meeting, the Proposed LWVS Annual Program for 2024-25 to be presented for membership approval at the annual meeting, the LWVS Comments to LWVW on its programming plans for 2024-25, and a recap of any comments or proposals submitted to LWVUS.

In preparation for the consensus meeting, attendees are asked to review the current LWVS Program for 2023-24, the current LWVW Program for 2023-24, and the LWVUS Program Planning Materials for 2024-26. With regard to LWVUS programming, the LWVS will consider whether to support the LWVUS Board’s recommendation that Program 2024-26 continue its Campaign for Making Democracy Work®, which includes Voting Rights, Improving Elections, Money in Politics, Redistricting, and Abolishing the Electoral College. Locally proposed amendments to LWVUS’s bylaws will also be addressed.

For more information, please contact Heedan Chung and Jessica Zellner, LWVS Co-Presidents.

LWVS Information Session and Consensus Meeting on the

Village Election System

On Monday, December 4, 2023, LWVS held its annual information session and membership consensus meeting regarding the Citizens Nominating Committee (CNC) election. The Information Session Agenda and Consensus Questions were distributed via eblast, website posting, and social media in advance. Procedure Committee Chair Peri Zelig and Vice Chair Heath Sroka presented and answered questions. 

The LWVS consensus statement will be circulated via eblast and posted on the Local Programs and Positions page of our website in the near future.

Students Inside Albany (SIA) Conference

Sunday, May 19, 2024, through Wednesday, May 22, 2024

In Albany

Deadline for Application: Date in February TBD

LWVS SIA 2024 Application and Instructions

(Coming Soon)

In keeping with longstanding practice, LWVS invites high school students to submit applications to attend the Students Inside Albany (SIA) Conference. Any 10th grade, 11th grade, or 12th grade student who attends Scarsdale High School or who resides in the school district is eligible to apply. 

This year, the State League Education Foundation and the Scarsdale League of Women Voters will fund the expenses for one highly qualified Scarsdale student, selected from an outstanding pool of applicants. The conference will continue to be free for students to attend.

The program is designed to immerse students in the process by which public policy is proposed, enacted and changed in New York State and educate them as to how they can influence and affect this process. Traditionally, the conference brings approximately 60 students from across the state to Albany to get a first-hand education about their state government. The highlight for most students is the opportunity to shadow their state representatives, with many students getting the opportunity to attend a session on the chamber floor.

Scarsdale students who attended this program in the past were unanimous in their enthusiasm about the program. Follow this link to read an article about SIA written by Scarsdale’s two student representatives who attended the in-person conference held in 2019. 

For more information, view LWVNYS’s recap of the conference held in 2023 and LWVNYS’s SIA 2024 brochure. 

Please contact [email protected] for more information.

Annual Finance Drive

Please support your local league by donating to the

League of Women Voters of Scarsdale!

We need your support! Please be generous.

Your contribution will directly support our programs:

Candidate Debates

Voter Information

They Represent You

Students Inside Albany

Speaker Programs

and

Our studies on local issues and budgets

It’s time to renew or join the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale (LWVS)! In the year ahead, will you help us promote active participation in our democracy? Whether you are new to our distinguished organization or have been involved for years, the LWVS invites you to become a member for the 2023-2024 year. Your membership in the LWVS automatically grants you membership in the county, state and national leagues. 

Here in Scarsdale, the LWVS works to provide clear and accurate voter information, hosts candidate forums, studies and evaluates policies impacting our community, and educates residents about issues. Our activities also include:

• Speaker programs and other membership events;
• Information sessions and consensus meetings on Village and school elections and budgets;
• Fall and Spring book groups;
• Winter Social;
• Youth Engagement through voter registration, mock elections, civics jeopardy, and Students Inside Albany

Please join the LWVS and stay engaged, informed, and active! Your membership will enhance and strengthen our democracy.

If you have any questions, please contact LWVS Membership Chair Diksha Mudbhary at [email protected]. 

LWVS Nominating Committee



The LWVS Nominating Committee 2023-24 is calling for nominations to fill League Board Officer and Director positions for the 2024-25 year. The LWVS Nominating Committee will also fill off-board member positions on the Nominating Committee 2023-24.

If you would like to nominate yourself or a friend to be considered for the League Board or the LWVS Nominating Committee 2023-24, kindly contact Nominating Committee Chair Leah Dembitzer at [email protected].

Here is a list of our 2023-24 Nominating Committee members, all of whom are able to receive nominations for discussion and consideration:

Leah Dembitzer* (Chair)

Kerry Hayes*

Laura Liu*

Susan Lee

Diksha Mudbhary

*Off-Board members were approved at our annual meeting in May, 2023.

Stay Connected!

The LWVS Bulletin is published monthly. To ensure that you receive our news directly, please provide your preferred email and physical mailing address when you renew your membership or join for the first time.

Bulletins will be sent via eblast and posted on our website and Facebook page.

Contact us at [email protected] with any questions about your membership status or to change/update your contact information.

Thank You

The LWVS relies on the support of our community of volunteers. We would like to extend thanks to the League volunteers who contributed much time, energy, and thought during the month of December.

Thanks to Diane Baylor for her thorough preparation for the Village Election System Information and Consensus Meeting. 

Thanks to Dana Matsushita for her diligent and detailed work on the LWVS Bulletin as well as on the informational eblasts to our members. 

Thanks to Diksha Mudbhary, Erika Rublin, and Jenny Tabak for their diligent work on membership. 

Thanks to Diksha Mudbhary for her work on the School Election portfolio.

Thanks to Dalya Khan and Nan Eileen Mead for their detailed and thoughtful

work on the School Budget portfolio.

Thanks to Abbi Ruane and Nan Mead for their work on the ERA Taskforce.

Thanks to Anne Lyons for her work on the LWVS Winter Finance Drive and for her wise counsel.

Thanks to Cindy Yau for her careful planning of Students Inside Albany.

Thanks to Donna Conkling and Kathy Gray for their important work on Voter

Service. Thanks to Kitt Rosenthal for serving as our liaison to the LWVW and for her encouraging support. Thanks to Debbie Miller for her wise counsel.

Thank you to the entire League Board for robust and thoughtful discussion of local, state, and national developments. 

We look forward to the upcoming year and all that we will accomplish. 

Thank you, 

Heedan Chung and Jessica Zellner

Village of Scarsdale

As of December 31, 2023

Board of Trustees

Justin Arest, Mayor

  Term ends April 2025

Randall Whitestone, Deputy Mayor

  2nd term ends April 2024

Sameer Ahuja

  1st term ends April 2025

Karen Brew

  2nd term ends April 2025

Jeremy Gans

  1st term ends April 2024

Dara Gruenberg

  1st term ends April 2025

Ken Mazer

  1st term ends April 2024

Board of Education

Ronald Schulhof, President

  2nd term ends June 2025

Suzie Hahn, Vice President

  1st term ends June 2025

Colleen Brown

  1st term ends June 2025

Jim Dugan

  1st term ends June 2024

Robert Klein

  2nd term ends June 2026

Jessica Resnick-Ault

  1st term ends June 2024

Amber Yusuf

   2nd term ends June 2026

League of Women Voters of Scarsdale

2023-24

Officers

Co-Presidents: Heedan Chung and Jessica Zellner

[email protected]

First Vice President: Jenny Simon Tabak

Second Vice President: Anne Lyons

Recording Secretary: Diane Baylor

[email protected]

Corresponding Secretary: Dana Matsushita

[email protected]

Treasurer: Erika Rublin

[email protected]

2023-24 Elected Board Members

Donna Conkling

Susan Lee Foley

Dalya Khan

Nan Eileen Mead

Diksha Mudbhary

Jyoti Ruta

Rachana Singh

Shilpa Spencer

Cindy Yau

2023-24 Appointed Board Members

Kathy Gray

Debbie Miller

Kitt Rosenthal

Abigail Ruane

Committee Chairs

Advocacy: Rachana Singh 

Audit: Amber Yusuf 

Book Group: Dalya Khan

Budget: Nancy Michaels (Off-Board) 

Bylaws, Policies, and Procedures: Diane Baylor

Communications:

• Bulletin Editor: Dana Matsushita 
• Eblast: Dana Matsushita  
• Publicity:  Heedan Chung
• Social Media: Dana Matsushita 
• Website: Diane Baylor 

Development/Finance Drive: Anne Lyons

Environment/Sustainability: Shilpa Spencer

Hospitality: Kitt Rosenthal

Local Budgets:

• School Budget: Dalya Khan and Nan Eileen Mead 
• Village Budget: Shilpa Spencer 

Local Election Systems:

• School Election: Diksha Mudbhary 
• Village Election: Diane Baylor 

Luncheons: Anne Lyons

LWVW Liaison: Kitt Rosenthal

Membership: Diksha Mudbhary 

• Membership Statistician: Jenny Simon Tabak 

Nominating Chair: Leah Dembitzer (Off-Board) 

Planning and Zoning: Shilpa Spencer

Program/Education: Cindy Yau

Voter Service: Kathy Gray

• Candidate Forum(s)
• Naturalization Court
• Voter Registration Drive(s)

Youth Engagement:

• Civics Jeopardy: Susan Lee Foley
• Mock Election: Susan Lee Foley
• Students Inside Albany: Cindy Yau

Democracy is Not a Spectator Sport – Get Involved!

The League of Women Voters

Creating A More Perfect Democracy 

For Over 100 Years

The League of Women Voters of Scarsdale (LWVS) is a volunteer nonpartisan political organization which promotes political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government. The League is nonpartisan in that it does not support or oppose any candidate for public office; it is political in that it takes positions on selected governmental issues after serious member study and consensus.