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News 12 Staff

Chuck Lesnickcitycouncil

5 people are vying to be the Democratic candidate for the Yonkers City council president seat. One of those is Chuck Lesnik. He previously held the role for 8 years. Some accomplishments he says he made during that time include restoring funding for arts, music. Sports in Yonkers public schools also creating the first affordable housing ordinance that affected Southwest Yonkers. He says if elected again, he plans to fight out of control inflation by lowering costs for taxpayers and working to keep the city safe. My message hopefully will resonate with the voters, uh, voters who want a safer city, they want higher quality of life, they want good education, they want Yonkers to be what it's always been, uh, a large city but a small town where people can come together and help their neighbors. Two names are also on the Republican ballot. Those are Ronald Schte and Dean Polatopoulos.

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LakishaBellamycitycouncil_2025-06-19-22-04-24

Well, the primary is inching closer for the five people fighting to be the Democratic candidate for Yonker City Council president. Now one of those is current council president Lakesha Collins Bellamy. She was first elected in 2021. That's when she became the first African American woman elected to the post. Since then, she says she has made big strides on issues like affordable housing, education, and public safety. The last 4 years working alongside my colleagues on the council and Mayor Spano, we have been able to accomplish so much as far as public safety, Yonkers remains one of the safest cities of its size in the country. So I feel like I've been doing a wonderful job. Promises made, promises delivered. And we will be hearing from the rest of the candidates tonight and Friday. There's also two names on the Republican ballot Ronald Chute and Dean Polatopoulos. The winners of each party's primary will face off in November.

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PeterSpanocitycouncil

Well we're hearing from more of the candidates battling to be the Democratic candidate for Yonkers's city council president. 5 people in all, including Peter Spano, he's touting his background in entrepreneurship, coaching, and being involved in the community. He said if he gets that job, Spano will focus on issues like affordable housing, education, and public safety. He said he wants to provide the best quality of life in Yonkers. I'm the only one who has yet to serve on the city council, and I have a proven track record of helping to do some amazing things in the city without the position, and I know once in office, I'd be able to do a lot more with the help of the leadership in the community. There's also two names on the Republican ballot, Ronald Schutte and Dean Politopoulos.

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5pmcitycouncil620

Well, we're inching closer to the finish line for the 5 people trying to be the Democratic candidate for the Yonkers City Council president. Now one of those is Councilwoman Tasha Diaz. During her time so far on the city council, she says she's proud of her work, investing in parks, working with the police department, and staying engaged with the community. She tells us going forward that she wants to make the city council president's office a full-time position. I don't just advocate for my district anymore. I've always been an advocate for the entire city of Yonkers. Some people get kind of like, you know, upset when you go outside the district, but I feel like I'm a Yonkers person. I was born and raised here, so I just feel like I need to advocate from all aspects of Yonkers. And we will hear from another candidate later tonight. There's also two names on the Republican ballot Ronald Cutte and Dean Poladopoulos.

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mikekkhadar620citycouncil

The race to be the Democratic candidate for Yonkers's city council president is heating up. We heard from one of those candidates tonight. Mike Cater previously served as council president. He says his campaign will focus on affordability, public safety, and overall quality of life. He tells us his campaign is about the people. Affordable housing is on the ballot. Quality of life is on the ballot. Affordability is on the ballot, and that's the commitment that my negotiation skills, my legal skills, my past government experience that I'm gonna bring to the city council chambers. There are also two names on the Republican ballot, Ronald Schutte and Dean Palattopoulos.

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Here are the five Democratic candidates running to be Yonkers City Council president.

Meet the 5 Democratic candidates running to be Yonkers City Council president

Here are the five Democratic candidates running to be Yonkers City Council president.

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Chuck Lesnick

Lakisha Collins-Bellamy

Peter Spano

Tasha Diaz

Mike Khader

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