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Gedney Pres Terence Guerriere Runs for Council

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – The Daily White Plains has put together a guide for voters interested in learning more about the Common Council and county legislator candidates before the Nov. 8 elections. Each candidate was asked the same questions.

Terence Guerriere, 52, the president of the Gedney Association, is running for a seat on the Common Council. He's endorsed by the Republican Party. In his own words, here's how the Director of New York Operations for Madison Commercial Real Estate Services describes his campaign: 

Why did you decide to move to White Plains?

I moved here when I was two. I've lived in White Plains since 1961. It’s my hometown I went to Mamaroneck Avenue for kindergarten and then I went to Our Lady of Sorrows and Stepinac. I was very happy growing up here. It’s just home. So when I finished undergraduate school, I returned.

Why would you be a good representative in the coming term?

I'm someone who has been a leader in everything I’ve done. I’m a joiner. I get involved. I was president of my high school. I helped start the Stepinac Foundation, and I was on the zoning board. I think I’m a good leader and I think I could lend a hand to the council.

Last summer in the middle of the (French-American School of New York) debate it occurred to me that we have all Democrats on the council and we have people hungry for leadership positions. I was thrown into the Gedney Association presidency when I was asked to be the president. I thought I was doing a good job and felt I could bring my talents to the council and it would be a better council. Now is an appropriate time for change and a new voice for White Plains. 

If elected, what are the three biggest goals you'd work to accomplish?

The biggest issue by far is parking. The parking problems in White Plains are myriad. The shoppers, diners and moviegoers need to know they can park without getting a ticket. It’s starting to scare people and less people come to White Plains. The residents aren’t happy. We need to make it a parking friendly city so we can get sales tax revenues.

As president of a neighborhood association and growing up here in another neighborhood, it’s clear to me that neighborhoods are the backbone of this city. We need to protect and preserve those neighborhoods. Too often developers get a very easy road in and the people who are most affected aren’t consulted. We need to go back to consulting them. It’s been too long since neighborhood felt they had a voice in White Plains.

There’s a malaise in White Plains. People are feeling unhappy. A lot of it has to do with the fact that White Plains is rudderless, a little bit. It’s dirty. There’re decisions being made without discussion. We need a second or third voice to help bring issues to the public. There needs to be more voices on the council who will debate issues and represent different communities so we have a more transparent government. Right now we have a lockstep. When you have one party, there’s a need for counter balance.

Has the local government made any mistakes or had any oversights that you'd try to avoid?

The people on the council should have anticipated the problem with Ridgeway. It was on sale for two years before it was sold. So we passed a potential opportunity.

I would have raised the issue of parking and I would not have gone along with raising parking fees.  

What's the best part of White Plains?

Of course, the people of White Plains make it special to me.  However, having lived here almost my entire life – my family moved here when I was two – it is White Plains’ neighborhoods that I like the most.  I grew up in the lower Highlands and remember walking to Mamaroneck Avenue School for kindergarten class. When it was time to find a home of my own, I moved into the North End and stayed for over 17 years. When we started to expand our family, my wife, Corinna, and I moved to Gedney Farms. Each neighborhood in our city has its own distinctive character. It is remarkable that a city with such an urban center downtown – with a special neighborhood all of its own – has maintained its neighborhoods and a small town atmosphere. I believe the neighborhoods of White Plains are its backbone.  And, I will do everything I can to preserve their welcoming and friendly character.

Other related experience:

- Gedney Association President- Former member of the White Plains Planning Board- Former president of the North Broadway Citizens Association- Former member of White Plains' Planning Board, Capital projects Board, and Budget Advisory Committee- Former chair of White Plains Zoning Board of Appeals - Former youth baseball league coach- Founding member of Stepinac Foundation- Former president of Stepinac Alumni Association

Will you vote in the Nov. 8 election? Are there any additional questions you'd like us to ask candidates? What would you like to see city hall accomplish in the coming term? Join the conversation below.

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