White Plains Mayor Tom Roach, a Democrat, says that he does not plan to seek reelection to another four-year term and instead plans to run for Westchester County Clerk, a position held by Democrat Tim Idoni. Speculation had been rampant for months that Roach would not run for another term as mayor, with the names of a number of current and former members of the Common Council being floated as likely mayoral candidates.
“I still have a year remaining in my term and look forward to spending the next year continuing the work we have started,” Roach said.
Roach took over the mayor’s office in February 2011 after Mayor Adam Bradley resigned and the following month won a special election to fill out the balance of Bradley’s term. Roach then proceeded to win election in 2013, 2017 and 2021. Before becoming mayor, Roach had served on the Common Council beginning in 2001.
“When I took office White Plains faced significant fiscal obstacles,” Roach said. “Today, our financial future is secure. We have added services for our residents and visitors, invested in our police and fire departments and introduced new and innovative technologies to make it easier for our residents to access city services.”
Roach said that he wanted to take over the county clerk’s position and “build on the tremendous legacy that Tim Idoni will leave behind.”
Roach said he wants to continue to modernize the clerk’s office and make it even more accessible than it has been under Idoni.
“Over the next several months I am looking forward to introducing myself to the people of Westchester to present my qualifications for the office and ask for their votes,” Roach said. “I have had the good fortune to lead the city I love and it has been the honor of my life. I am grateful to the people of White Plains for placing their faith in me to serve as their mayor and for the support they have shown me during my tenure. I am appreciative of the great work done by my colleagues in city government who provide the services we all rely on.”
Idoni currently is in his fifth term as county clerk. He previously was mayor of New Rochelle, an office he held for 14 years.
