Republicans close to nominating candidates for City Council

Republican Councilmen Lou Trangucci (District 1) and Al Tarantino (District 2) will be seeking reelection this November. The two incumbents, first elected in 2007, are each seeking a second term. Trangucci, who defeated Susan Kettner (now a City Court judge) in his first bid for council, will run against Democratic challenger Roberto Lopez who previously served as the District 4 councilman from 2003 to 2007. At this point Tarantino would be running unopposed.

No Republican candidate has been announced yet to challenge incumbent Democrat Jared Rice in District 3. Incumbent District 4 Councilman Richard St. Paul, whose residence was moved to District 1 in the new redistricting plan approved by council Democrats, is undecided if he will run for mayor; a position he has expressed interest in. St. Paul is eligible to run in District 4 as long as he moves into the district by Jan. 1, 2012. Also weighing his options is Peter Parente who ran against Rice in a special election last year for the vacant District 3 seat following the death of Councilman James Stowe. Parente, whose residence still lies in District 3 expressed interest in running for council again but not necessarily in District 3.

Steve Mayo, who previously sought the Republican nomination for Westchester County Legislator last year, is interested in challenging Democrat Shari Rackman in the 6th District though Mayo has no fully committed yet. The Republicans are expected to name Jeff Buder to challenge incumbent Democrat Barry Fertel in the 5th District.

New Rochelle Republicans will hold their nominating convention on Thursday June 9 at the Radisson Hotel.