POUND RIDGE, N.Y. - On Nov. 4, Pound Ridge voters will decide the race for Town Supervisor and a pair of seats on the Town Board.

Supervisor Kevin Hansan, running on the Democratic line, will contend with John McCown on the Pound Ridge Party Line.

On the Town Board, incumbents Diane Briggs and Dan Paschkes will be seeking another term against challengers Peter Avellino and Ron Asaro. Briggs and Paschkes are running on the Democratic line while Avellino and Asaro are on the Pound Ridge Party Line.

Receiver of Taxes Drifa Segal (D), will be running unopposed for another term.

Before Election Day, The Mt. Kisco-Bedord Times offered the candidates a chance to address voters and explain, in their own words, their qualifications and what they see as the top priorities if elected. (Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.)

TOWN SUPERVISOR

KEVIN HANSAN

Please outline your career, leadership, and educational accomplishments.

I’ve had the honor of serving as Pound Ridge Town Supervisor for eight years, leading with fiscal responsibility, infrastructure investment, and community engagement, priorities shaped by my experience building and managing a successful technology company that develops software solutions for government agencies across New York State.

I also serve on the Executive and Legislative Committees of the New York State Association of Towns and am a founding board member of the New York Municipal Empowerment Foundation, giving me statewide perspective on the challenges local town governments face.

I’m honored to be endorsed by the New York League of Conservation Voters and local leaders including Former County Executive and Congressman George Latimer, County Executive Ken Jenkins, County Legislator Erika Pierce, Assemblyman Chris Burdick, and State Senator Shelley Mayer, all strong partners in keeping Pound Ridge moving forward.

A resident of Pound Ridge for 30 years, I hold a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Virginia Commonwealth University.

What are the most important issues facing Pound Ridge, and why are you the most qualified to address them?

Our most pressing issues are improving water quality in the Scotts Corners business district, maintaining fiscal health amid rising costs, and preserving our small-town character while encouraging thoughtful economic vitality.

Under my administration, Pound Ridge has remained below the state property tax cap every year, increased reserves to more than $1 million, and secured over $10 million in state and federal grants to enhance our business district, upgrade our town park facilities, and improve government services. The Town has earned a “No Designation” rating — the highest level of fiscal stability from the State Comptroller’s Fiscal Stress Monitoring Report.

Our key challenge is improving water quality in the Scotts Corners business district to ensure its economic vitality. When PFAS contamination was discovered, we acted immediately, securing $7.6 million in state funding for a new public water system that will source clean water from Stamford, Connecticut. The grant covers 70% of the construction cost, and we’re pursuing federal funding to offset the rest.

I’ve led with results, not rhetoric, ensuring Pound Ridge remains financially strong, environmentally responsible, and true to its character.

If re-elected, what will be your top priorities over the next year?

If re-elected, my top priority will be advancing the Scotts Corners drinking water project, finalizing district approval, completing regulatory steps in both states, and securing additional funding if available.

At the same time, I’ll continue to keep operations under the state tax cap, pursue new grants, continue to modernize Town operations, and expand transparency through my weekly newsletter, the Town website, and open forums.

I’m proud of Pound Ridge’s progress from our revitalized business district and new Village Green to our strong finances and community spirit. My approach is pragmatic and nonpartisan: focus on facts, bring people together, and deliver results that strengthen our town and protect our property values. Pound Ridge is a special place, and I’m committed to preserving its charm while preparing for the future.

JOHN McCOWN

Please outline your career, leadership, and educational accomplishments.

My career spans more than four decades of experience in the shipping industry as both an operator and investor after obtaining an MBA from Harvard Business School. Prior to that and after getting an undergraduate degree in business from Louisiana State University, for a few years I was a corporate loan officer at a large NYC bank. I co-founded a container shipping company I grew, took public and led as CEO for 15 years. In 2005 that company ranked #1 among more than 50 container shipping companies in the world in terms of profit margin. I’m the holder of two maritime related patents. I managed up to $700 million of investments as transport sector head of a $20 billion hedge fund. I’m presently a Senior Fellow at the Center for Maritime Strategy, the Navy League’s think tank, where my research and writings focus on sealift and other matters where shipping intersects with national security.      

I’m running to bring fiscal responsibility, transparency and inclusion to town governance in Pound Ridge.  Residents deserve leaders with financial and strategic acumen, leadership that delivers required financial reporting completely and on time, every time, and does not risk increasing the interest rates the town pays.

Residents deserve financial planning that makes the most of every tax dollar and avoids wasteful spending. I’m running to deliver radical transparency, and to put an end to closed door decision making.

What are the most important issues facing Pound Ridge, and why are you the most qualified to address them?

The current administration falls short on measures related to financial management and open government.  In each of the last 8 years, the town has been late in filing legally required annual financial reports with the NYS Comptroller’s office. On average, they were 17 months behind, taking more than 6 times the months compared to the deadline. In one case, the filing was 27 months late. Letters to management from the town’s independent auditor have repeatedly noted numerous significant control deficiencies. This financial mismanagement was most recently exhibited by the supervisor’s lack of inquiry on the 9.1% school tax increase when actual data pointed to calculation mistakes was the latest example of financial ineptness. I sent him a five-page letter months ago outlining my analysis and how I would have handled the matter.

I’m for clean water. I’m not for this administration’s plan to achieve it, because that plan poses serious environmental and financial risks. Properly addressing clean water needs in a cost-efficient manner without burdening properties that choose not to participate results in multiple benefits.    

From my career and involvement with many boards, I understand what good governance looks like. I will practice radical transparency and it will be a noticeable difference compared to the current board. There have simply been too many key decisions by this board that have been made behind closed doors.

If elected, what will be your top priorities over the next year? 

My top priorities over the next year will addressing those areas I discussed earlier where the current administration has fallen short. Solid financial stewardship, protecting taxpayer dollars with careful planning and real open government will result in favorable conditions that benefit everyone. A rising tide lifts all boats.

TOWN BOARD

RON ASARO

Please outline your career, leadership, and educational accomplishments.

I bring more than 40 years of professional experience in technical, capital sales, and operational management. After earning a B.S. in Electronic Engineering Technology from DeVry Institute of Technology, I began my career at General Electric Healthcare, where I advanced through multiple leadership and engineering roles. Over four decades, I managed multimillion-dollar service operations, oversaw large installations in major New York hospitals, and led teams supporting MRI, X-ray, and cardiovascular imaging systems across the region.

As an Area Service Manager, I was responsible for a $5 million service portfolio supporting the maintenance of $60 million in medical imaging equipment, along with thirteen direct reports. I provided budget oversight, contract management, and personnel development. My career required both technical precision and fiscal discipline skills that directly translate to effective town governance. I’ve consistently built consensus among physicians, administrators, and engineers to solve complex problems and deliver reliable, compliant results.

What are the most important issues facing Pound Ridge, and why are you the most qualified to address them?

Pound Ridge faces three critical challenges: financial mismanagement, declining public trust, and infrastructure decisions that lack transparency and data-driven planning. The Town has filed its annual financial reports late for eight consecutive years, some more than two years overdue, and a State Comptroller’s audit exposed serious deficiencies, including hundreds of thousands of dollars in unreviewed payments and purchases made without competitive bidding.

My background in managing complex budgets and compliance programs uniquely positions me to restore fiscal accountability. I’m data-driven, collaborative, and unafraid to ask hard questions. I’ve also spent years following the details behind our Town’s financial delays, the $11 million water proposal, and the mishandling of 7 Old Pound Road, issues that have eroded public confidence. I understand the technical, regulatory, and operational components of large-scale projects, from engineering feasibility to financial control. My approach emphasizes transparency, measurable outcomes, and respect for both residents and process. Pound Ridge deserves open governance, not controlled messaging.

If elected, what will be your top priorities over the next year?

If elected, I will focus on restoring trust, fiscal responsibility, and community-driven planning:

• Restore financial accountability: Require timely filing of financial reports within 90 days, establish an independent Director of Finance, and implement an annual budget review process with full public visibility.
• Strengthen long-term planning: Develop a 10-year capital plan covering roads, parks, facilities, police station and water infrastructure, ensuring that every major investment is evaluated for cost, benefit, and sustainability.
• Promote transparent governance: Guarantee open communication and meaningful public participation at Town Board meetings, treating residents as partners, not spectators.
• Reassess the water project: Re-engage the Water and Wastewater Task Force to design a targeted, phased solution based on updated engineering, fiscal reality, and community input.
• Support a vibrant business district: Revive the Economic Development Committee, attract niche boutique businesses through marketing and tax-relief programs, and continue improving the streetscape to preserve Pound Ridge’s small-town character.
• Complete the senior bus purchase and optimize town assets: Expedite the long-delayed senior bus purchase and explore selling the house at 7 Old Pound Road. Subdivide a two-acre buildable lot for sale while preserving the remaining 16.5 acres as open space.

PETER AVELLINO

Please outline your career, leadership, and educational accomplishments.

I bring over 30 years of senior-level executive experience in the healthcare industry, serving major healthcare systems, hospitals, physician groups, and nursing homes. My work includes transformational leadership and strategic guidance in finance, operations, reimbursement, compliance, revenue cycle optimization, private equity support, and mergers and acquisitions. I’ve led large-scale margin improvement, bankruptcy/turnaround efforts, and strategic planning initiatives focused on growth and new service development.

Over the years, I’ve been deeply involved in local government and volunteer efforts, regularly attending Town, Planning, and Conservation Board meetings to stay informed on community issues. I co-authored environmental protection legislation, chaired the Environmental Steering Committee that launched our first Environmental Day, and serve on the Comprehensive Plan Update Committee. I’m also a Repair Coach at the Conservation Board’s Repair Café.

I hold a BA from Fordham University, where I majored in Political Science and Accounting.

What are the most important issues facing Pound Ridge, and why are you the most qualified to address them?

One of the biggest issues facing Pound Ridge is ensuring its long-term financial wellbeing. We need strong fiscal management to keep taxes stable while maintaining efficient, well-run town operations. The recent 9.11% school tax hike was based on 59 property sales reviewed by the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance, excluding 10 sales—17% of the total—without explanation. Including them would have reduced our tax impact by over 50%. It’s the Supervisor and Town Board’s duty to engage with state agencies to ensure complete data, fair decisions, and protection from flawed assessments. Proactive leadership could have prevented this costly burden and the erosion of public trust.

Looking ahead, we must revitalize our business district by re-establishing the Economic Development Committee, disbanded by my opponent Diane Briggs, to support local businesses, attract niche retailers, improve façades, and promote green building practices. Keeping taxes low and investing in community assets will protect property values and preserve what makes Pound Ridge special.

With deep local involvement and over 30 years as a senior healthcare executive, I bring proven experience in finance, operations, compliance, and strategic leadership to address Pound Ridge’s fiscal challenges and shape its future responsibly.

If elected, what will be your top priorities over the next year?

Fiscal health – Poor decision-making has raised town costs, limited our ability to meet goals, and increased taxes for residents. I will prioritize responsible, long-term planning, strengthen fiscal oversight, and use community input to shape budget priorities, prevent waste and protect taxpayers.

Transparency and inclusivity – We have mistrust, lawsuits, and diminished accountability due to the Board’s selective communication and partial transparency with residents. I will ensure full transparency with timely updates, open forums, and rebuild trust through true collaboration.

A shared vision through planning tools – Without clear direction, the Town Board risks unfocused decisions and misuse of valuable resources. I will work with residents to complete a transparent, inclusive Comprehensive Plan, Climate Action Plan, and Capital Plan. These are key tools for setting goals and measuring progress in guiding land use, housing, sustainability, infrastructure, and economic growth through a unified vision to improve quality of life, protect natural resources, and address current and future needs of the town.

DIANE BRIGGS

Please outline your career, leadership, and educational accomplishments.

As a candidate seeking re-election to the Pound Ridge Town Board, I remain committed to serving the needs of my neighbors throughout our community and to completing important projects that preserve and enhance qualities that make Pound Ridge such a wonderful place to live, work, raise a family, and retire, while continuing to provide opportunities for connection, civic involvement, and tranquility.

Born, raised, and educated in New York, I have lived with my husband, three children, and a revolving menagerie of pets in the heart of Pound Ridge for 28 years. I am currently completing my second term on the Town Board, having served two years as Deputy Supervisor.

My approach to public service is informed by more than 30 years of experience in education and nonprofit leadership, working with independent schools and higher-education institutions. A proud Cornell University graduate, I have built a fulfilling career centered on collaboration, integrity, and relationship-building, strengthening organizations and communities while raising a very active family.

What are the most important issues facing Pound Ridge, and why are you the most qualified to address them?

Important issues we face in Pound Ridge include longstanding and new water contamination concerns affecting the business district — my neighborhood; sustaining a responsible, balanced budget in the face of rising costs; and improving wireless connectivity, vital to public safety and daily life living and working in Pound Ridge.

Collaborative, experienced leadership that can unite partners across many disciplines will be most effective in solving our ongoing issues, and my running mates have already demonstrated this success. We took action to transform a contaminated service station site into a bustling community gathering place after prior town leaders ignored the blight for 17 years. We completed another languishing project, the Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP), and installed desperately needed new sidewalks for accessibility and streetlamps throughout Scotts Corners. We oversaw the construction of a new multipurpose shelter in our Town Park, fulfilling the Recreation Commission's long-held goal of providing a second dependable, year-round covered space for campers and the community.

With eight years of Town Board experience, a 30-year career in education and nonprofit leadership, and nearly three decades as a resident, I bring perspective, persistence, and care to every issue. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together and remain committed to keeping Pound Ridge fiscally strong, environmentally responsible, and true to its character.

If re-elected, what will be your top priorities over the next year?

My top priorities include the continued review and forward-looking oversight of Town financial operations; addressing the business district’s current challenges—including water quality improvements; repaving and upgrading signage throughout the parking areas, and construction of a new shared refuse and storage shelter behind the restaurants where none exist; and improving wireless service across Pound Ridge by bringing together a strong team of partners and experts.

My approach is collaborative and fact-based: to bring people together, strengthen our community, and preserve the charm and character that make Pound Ridge such a special place my family is proud to call home.

DAN PASCHKES

Please outline your career, leadership, and educational accomplishments.

I am an attorney with over 30 years of experience in litigation, land use and zoning. As a Town Councilman, I have been instrumental in the preservation of open space (including the creation of the Eastwoods Preserve), the restoration of Sachs Park (which had for years been improperly used as a highway department dump site), and the passage of numerous local laws covering various areas such as land use, zoning, housing, and the protection of steep slopes.

What are the most important issues facing Pound Ridge, and why are you the most qualified to address them?

The most important issue facing Pound Ridge is the provision of safe, clean water to Scotts Corners, without which our business district cannot continue to thrive. Keeping our Town taxes low, while continuing to strengthen our Town’s financial position with conservative budgets and by building our fund balance (which provides critical financial reserves) is also essential. Additionally, a priority for me is the prudent use of our open space funds to protect critical habitats and to preserve the rural quality that makes Pound Ridge so special. My experience on the Town Board and as liaison to the Town’s Open Space Acquisition Committee, combined with my legal training and experience, make me the most qualified candidate for this position.

If re-elected, what will be your top priorities over the next year?

My top priorities, if re-elected, will be to address the issues mentioned above.