Lewisboro Town Clerk and Justice Running Unopposed

LEWISBORO, N.Y. – On the ballot for Tuesday’s elections in Lewisboro, voters will find two candidates who are running unopposed: Town Clerk Kathy Cory, who is seeking re-election on the Republican ticket, and incumbent Town Justice Susan Simon, who is running with the Democratic Party endorsement.

Both candidates are veterans of their positions with extensive experience. Here are their profiles:

Kathy Cory

In July 2012, Cory will mark her 30th anniversary as Lewisboro’s town clerk. She has run for office 11 times and served 10 full terms (some of them two-year terms and some four-year terms). Last year, she was recognized as Clerk of the Year by the New York State Town Clerks Association.

“It was incredible,” Cory said of the honor. “It’s one thing to hear your name called out from a room of 400 clerks, but to see your co-workers and family come into the room was amazing. I didn’t know they were going to be there.”

Cory’s duties include registrar of vital statistics, records management officer, records access officer and notary public. Cory also oversees the issuance of licenses – from marriage to dog – and permits, such as hunting and fishing.

Her office instituted Lewisboro’s award-winning website, which provides an array of information for residents, including contact info, minutes of meetings and town codes.

“We started the website in the early ‘90s,” she said. “We didn’t have any training or knowledge at the time. But with the help of some volunteers, we were able to get it started.”

Cory said the most challenging aspect of her job has been trying to do more with less in the wake of budget cuts precipitated by the sluggish economy.

“We spent all those years building up services and technology and sometimes it feels like the rug gets pulled out from under you,” she said. “We had a part-time worker who worked 16 hours and we lost that. So, we’ve had to split up the duties.”

Cory calls herself a “paper junkie,” and says she loves dealing with the town’s old records, some of which go back several centuries.

“Every day working here is unique,” she said. “Serving the public is very challenging, but it’s also very rewarding.”

Susan Simon

Simon has been the Lewisboro town justice since 2004. She has also been an acting court judge for Yonkers and White Plains.

She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Queens College, her MBA from Iona, and her J.D. from Pace University Law School.

Simon, who has a general law practice in Cross River, has worked as an arbitrator for the Westchester County Supreme Court and is a state-certified mediator. She was an adjunct law professor for Mercy College’s paralegal program, vice president and director for Nynex Corp., and a high school math teacher.

Community volunteerism is a big part of Simon’s life. She is a trustee and secretary for the Lewisboro Library and director of the Westchester Exceptional Children’s School. She was on the management committee for the Indian Brook Assemblage and director of the Westchester Children’s Association.

Simon’s professional associations include co-chair of the Westchester Women’s Bar CLE committee, the New York State Magistrates Association, president of the Southern CT American Marketing Association and secretary and director for the International Telecommunications Society. She is member of both the New York and Connecticut Bar Association.

Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.

Click here to follow Daily Voice Lewisboro and receive free news updates.