Peekskill Democrats Change Slate As Primary Looms

PEEKSKILL, NY — The Peekskill Democratic City Committee has endorsed a slate of candidates and other Democrats have formed a rival slate, leading to a primary battle in June.

The committee chose Deputy Mayor Vivian McKenzie as their candidate for mayor, plus incumbent Council Members Ramon Fernandez and Dwight Douglas. They also endorsed Peekskill businessman Rob Scott, a replacement for their original pick, Steve Kolias, who withdrew due to a family medical emergency.

“I’m honored and humbled to accept this nomination,” Scott said in an announcement about the revised slate. “Peekskill is a unique and wonderful community that is so welcoming and I’m eager to continue the work that my friend Mayor Rainey has done to get Peekskill moving in the right direction. While I want to build on that welcoming spirit, if elected I will also be a strong voice for affordable housing, for our children, for conscious capitalism, and for balanced development. I’ve had too many customers tell me ‘this is my last juice’ because they couldn’t afford to live here anymore, and we need to do a better job on that front.”

Scott is the owner of PK Blendz Juice Bar. He lectures on nutrition in the Peekskill city school district and has recently started a not-for-profit to subsidize the cost of nutritious juices for kids. At his business, he also engages the community in discussions of various social and civic issues, and has held open houses for community members to meet Democratic candidates running for council and for Congress.

“Rob is an outstanding candidate and I’m proud to have him running on our slate,” said PDCC Chair Drew Claxton. “He brings a unique perspective and a deep commitment to public service. I also want to thank Steve Kolias for stepping forward and then stepping back — it’s never easy to drop out of a race, but having spoken to him I know that decision was for the best. I look forward to continuing to work with him in the years ahead.”

The choice drew fire from Democrats on a competing slate called Progress 4 Peekskill, the Examiner reported. Councilwoman Vanessa Agudelo, who was not endorsed by the committee in her bid for a second term, said the committee did not invite the members of Progress 4 Peekskill to meet with them.

Local progressives created Progress 4 Peekskill with a platform calling for focus on equitable growth, participatory government and housing justice.

It includes Conor Greene for mayor. He is co-founder and chairman of Peekskill Walks, a resident-led nonprofit advocating for safer, more accessible streets. Agudelo, the youngest person ever to be elected to the Common Council, is seeking a second term. Amy Perlow, running for a council seat, is a founding member of the Peekskill Equitable Housing Coalition. The fourth member of the slate is Amy Vele, a legislative aide for Westchester County Legislator Colin Smith who ran the Democrats’ campaign in 2019.

Peekskill Republicans have not announced their slate. Two years ago they endorsed a cross-partisan foursome.