LWVW Quarterly Newsletter

May 2025

In this issue:

Message from the President
Upcoming League Events
Annual Convention
Recap of Recent Events
Committee Reports
Voter Service
Important Deadlines for June Primary
Candidate Forums
Naturalization Ceremonies
Vote411.org
Directory of Officials
Youth Engagement
Running & Winning
Students Inside Albany
County Government
Changes to County Government Logo, Website, and Email
Volunteers Needed
LWVW Board of Directors and Committee Chairs

LWVW President's Message

Thoughts from Kathy Meany...

This is not our grandmothers’ League anymore – or, is it? We are facing a time of change, so I share with you news from the League of Women Voters of the United States:

On May 1, 2025, LWV launched the Unite and Rise 8.5 initiative, which aims to mobilize 8.5 million voters using the power of voter engagement as a cornerstone of our democracy. Unite and Rise 8.5 showcases the many ways voters can drive change through advocacy, mobilization, civic education, and engagement.

From its founding in 1920, the League made the choice to neither support nor oppose any political party or candidate for public office. This foundation of nonpartisanship continues today to ensure that the League’s voice is heard above the tumult of party/partisan politics, has added strength to the League’s positions on issues, and has made possible wide acceptance of League voter service and other educational activities.

It is important to recognize that while the League’s activities to influence public policy are not partisan by default, the public’s understanding and perception of partisanship changes throughout history and is directly impacted by current events as well as geographic and regional dynamics. Additionally, those who oppose the reforms and issues the League is working on may claim the League’s efforts are partisan to control how the League exercises its influence and power. This does not mean the League should curtail its advocacy or limit the public policy issues it works to influence, but rather be mindful of the external environment when deciding how, when, and with whom to engage in public policy activities.

Get involved in the League today to defend democracy and empower voters!

"The foundational principles that have sustained our democracy — checks and balances, the rule of law, free and fair elections — are under direct and sustained threat. In this extraordinary moment, we cannot proceed with business as usual. All Americans — no matter who you voted for in 2024 — need to come together, stand united, and fight back to save our democracy. We cannot afford to fail the generations to come.” --

League of Women Voters of the U.S.

Upcoming League Events

May

Tuesday, May 20, 2025: School Board Elections and Budget Vote

June

Thursday, June 5, 2025, 5:00pm at Manhattanville University, Reid Castle: LWVW Annual Convention
Saturday, June 14, 2025 through Sunday June 22, 2025: Early Voting for Primary Election
Friday, June 20, 2025 through Sunday, June 22, 2025: LWVNYS Convention
Tuesday, June 24, 2025: Primary Election

View Full LWVW Calendar

LWVW Annual Convention

Thursday, June 5, 2025, 5-8pm

Manhattanville University

East Library of Reid Castle

2900 Purchase Street

Purchase, NY 10577

Meet other local league members within Westchester County, hear what LWVW has accomplished this past year, learn what is on the horizon for 2025-26, vote on the LWVW program and budget for next year, install the incoming leadership team, and enjoy the speaker and buffet supper.

View the Annual Convention Agenda for additional details!

RSVP

Featured Speaker:

Spencer Reynolds

Topic: Protecting Liberty and Security + Bolstering Checks and Balances

Submit Questions for Spencer Reyholds, Senior Counsel in the Brennan Center for Justice's Liberty and National Security Program

Spencer Reynolds is senior counsel in the Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security Program. Previously, he was senior intelligence counsel in the Office of the General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he advised on operations and policy related to domestic intelligence, counterterrorism, social media monitoring, and other national security matters. He continues to work on those topics at the Brennan Center. Reynolds is a graduate of Wesleyan University and Washington University School of Law.

Recap of Recent Events

On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, LWVW participated in a press conference that was organized by Congressman George Latimer (U.S. Congressional District 16) in opposition to the SAVE Act and also hosted an evening educational event featuring Congressman Latimer about the SAVE Act that evening via Zoom.

On Monday, April 21, 2025, designated leaders of LWVW and the four local leagues covering areas within U.S. Congressional District 17 met over Zoom with Congressman Mike Lawler for a nonpartisan discussion about LWV's position in opposition to the SAVE Act.

Committee Reports

Voter Service

Important Deadlines for June Primary on Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Early Voting: Saturday, June 14, 2025 to Sunday, June 22, 2025

Saturday, June 14, 2025 (Golden Day, ten days before the election): Early voting begins (follow link for all early voting polling times and locations in Westchester County); last day for NYS voter registration form to be received by the Board of Elections; last day for an early mail ballot application or an absentee ballot application to be received by the Board of Elections if requesting that the ballot be sent by mail.

Sunday, June 22, 2025: Last day of Early Voting.

Monday, June 23, 2025 (one day before the election): Last day to apply in person at the Westchester County Board of Elections (25 Quarropas Street, White Plains, NY 10601) for an early mail or absentee ballot.

Tuesday, June 24, 2025 (Primary Election Day): In person voting only at your assigned polling location that may be found using the Westchester County Board of Elections Find a Polling Place webpage; last day to postmark a completed early mail or absentee ballot (must be received by Tuesday, February 18, 2025) or to submit an early mail or absentee ballot in person to the Westchester County Board of Elections or at any polling site throughout Westchester County by the close of the polls.

Candidate Forums

Numerous candidate forums have been planned and scheduled for offices in the upcoming school board election and the June primaries. Chair Alice McNamara of LWV of the Rivertowns has been diligently providing guidance to the local leagues and other organizations that are hosting these events and has been assigning moderators as requests come in.

None of these candidate forums would be possible without the generosity of LWVW-trained moderators who graciously donate their time and energy to make these nonpartisan candidate forums a success. Moderators are needed throughout the year for candidate forums relating to the November general election as well as the March Village and Town elections, the May school board elections, the June primaries, and any special elections. Training is provided at no charge. Email westchesterlwv@gmail.com to get involved.

Naturalization Ceremonies

Coordinated by Co-Chairs Barbara Shore and Diane Tabakman of LWV of White Plains, Westchester's local leagues have continued to participate in the monthly Naturalization Ceremonies at the County Court House in White Plains. Newly minted citizens receive a copy of First Vote and LWVW’s trifold flyer, Welcome New Citizens.

Vote 411.org

VOTE 411 has all your election information to:

Check your registration status
Find your polling place
See what is on your ballot
Learn about the candidates
View recorded candidate forums

Directory of Officials

Now Available for Purchase!

This year's Directory of Officials for Westchester County is an interactive, searchable user-friendly flipbook to open in your preferred browser with functioning hyperlinks and color graphics for visual appeal. It contains updated email and phone contact information for elected and appointed officials along with their party affiliations and term start/end dates, as well as municipality URLs and social media handles, links for streaming of public governmental meetings, organizational charts, legislative district and municipality maps, tables showing legislative districts by municipality and by local league coverage, and more.

2025 Directory Pricing:*

$10/hard copy for black & white printed version plus unlimited flipbook access through March 2026
$5/user for unlimited flipbook access through March 2026

*All 2024-25 fiscal year donors to LWVW will receive a complementary flipbook subscription but are welcome to purchase printed copies.

Purchase a Subscription to the LWVW 2025 Directory of Officials

Youth Engagement

Recent Event for Students: Running & Winning

The League of Women Voters of Westchester and AAUW-Westchester, with financial support from the New York Community Trust and other sponsors, hosted the 13th annual Running & Winning Workshop on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Female elected officials from all levels of government were invited to attend and share with female high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors how they got into politics, the challenges they faced and its rewards. The day began with a panel discussion featuring Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace, Tuckahoe Mayor Omayra Andino, Ossining Mayor Rika Levin, and White Plains Councilmember Victoria Presser. Then they and all of the other officials in attendance rotated among the tables of students for small group interviews and frank conversation. Next, the students worked in teams to develop a mock campaign, choosing an issue, candidate, campaign manager, speechwriter, fundraiser, and public relations director to present with a slogan and fundraising idea. Half of the student campaigns focused on creating a community center for immigrants with resources to help support people new to our country and communities. The other half focused on mental health support for youth and the community at large. Feedback received from the students was extremely positive.

There is an urgent need for more women to run for and be elected to public office. One way to reach greater representational parity for women is to develop leadership potential in our young women, and that is exactly the goal of Running & Winning. To get involved in planning or participating at next year's event, contact the Running & Winning Co-Chairs.

Upcoming Event for Students: Students Inside Albany

LWVW is pleased to announce that it will be sending Chloe McKeon from Westlake High School in Thornwood to LWVNYS's Students Inside Albany program in Albany from Sunday, May 18, 2025 through Wednesday, May 21, 2025. This conference is an intensive training 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. Additionally, students are afforded the opportunity to observe Assembly and Senate sessions and to shadow both their Assembly members and Senators.

County Government

Government Logo and Communications Changes

Westchester County Government has transitioned its website from a ".com" to a ".gov" domain, as well as moving to a new email marketing platform in which communications will come from @westchestercountyny.gov. In conjunction with these changes, Westchester County has begun rolling out its new logo, chosen to symbolize its interconnected community and enduring commitment to innovation, natural beauty, and shared progress.

Volunteers Needed

Join or Chair a Committee!

To become involved in any of the LWVW activities and committees, please email westchesterlwv@gmail.com and include your areas of interest in the subject line.

League of Women Voters of Westchester

Officers:

President: Kathy Meany (Northwest Westchester), 2023-25

1st Vice President: TBD, 2024-26

2nd Vice President: Mary Kirsch (New Castle), 2023-25

3rd Vice President: Louise Perez (Larchmont/Mamaroneck), 2024-26

Secretary: Adie Shore (Scarsdale), 2024-25

Treasurer: Mary Beth Gose (Scarsdale), 2024-26

Treasurer: Marylou Green (Scarsdale), 2024-26

Board of Directors (elected):

Joan Alexander (New Rochelle), 2023-25

Diane Baylor (Scarsdale), 2023-25

Mary Pat Campbell (Northeast Westchester), 2024-25

Liz Gereghty (Northeast Westchester), 2024-26

Crystal Joseph (Rivertowns), 2024-26

Susan Schwarz (Rivertowns), 2024-25

Deb Pekarek (Scarsdale), 2023-25

Denise Povolny (Rivertowns) 2024-26

Board of Directors (appointed):

Emma Freeman, Youth Representative (Larchmont/Mamaroneck), 2024-25

Max Szuchman, Youth Representative (Larchmont/Mamaroneck), 2024-25

Committee Chairs:

Civics Education: Liz Gereghty (Northeast Westchester)

Civics Education: Denise Povolny (Rivertowns)

Communications/Technology: Diane Baylor (Scarsdale)

County Government: Mary Pat Campbell (Northeast Westchester)

Directory of Officials: Diane Baylor (Scarsdale)

Environment: Susan Schwarz (Rivertowns)

Fundraising: Steve Meyers (Rye/Rye Brook/Port Chester)

Fundraising: Robyn Weintraub (Rye/Rye Brook/Port Chester)

LWVW Budget: Mary Beth Gose

Naturalization Ceremonies: Barbara Shore (White Plains)

Naturalization Ceremonies: Diane Tabakman (White Plains)

Nominating Committee: TBD

NYS ERA Taskforce: Adie Shore (Scarsdale)

Running & Winning: Denise Povolny (Rivertowns)

Running & Winning: Adie Shore (Scarsdale)

Social Media: Robyn Weintraub (Rye/Rye Brook/Port Chester)

Speaker Programs (Annual Meeting, Holiday Luncheon): Kathy Meany (Northwest Westchester)

Students Inside Albany: Deb Pekarek (Scarsdale)

Voter Service (Candidate Forums): Kathy Meany (Northwest Westchester)

Voter Service (Inter-League Coordination): Kathy Meany (Northwest Westchester)

Voter Service (Moderator Scheduling): Alice McNamara (Rivertowns)

Voter Service (Moderator Training): Kathy Meany (Northwest Westchester)

Voter Service (Registration): Joan Alexander (New Rochelle)

Voter Service (Vote 411): Mary Kirsch (New Castle)

Youth Engagement: Crystal Joseph (Rivertowns)

Local League Presidents:

Larchmont/Mamaroneck: Louise Perez and Elisabeth Radow

New Castle: Leslie Kuhn

New Rochelle: Joan Alexander

Northeast Westchester: Lisa Pizzurro

Northwest Westchester: Rene Artale

Rivertowns: Susan Maggiotto

Rye/Rye Brook/Port Chester: Roz Carvin and Liz Rotfeld

Scarsdale: Heedan Chung

White Plains: Alan Cass

Visit our Website

Donate to LWVW

League of Women Voters of Westchester

520 White Plains Road, Suite 500, Tarrytown, NY 10591

westchesterlwv@gmail.com | 914-366-7312