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Former Mount Vernon City Planning Commissioner Shawyn Patterson-Howard narrowly edged out Mayor Richard Thomas by approximately 200 votes following the primary on Tuesday, June 25, according to the unofficial results from the Westchester County Board of Elections.
However, absentee votes and other ballots still need to be counted, which means the official result may not be known for another week.
Following Tuesday’s primary, Patterson-Howard was named on 2,355 ballots, ahead of Thomas with 2,151 votes. Candidates Clyde Isley (1,394) and Councilman Andre Wallace (1,203) trailed behind.
If elected, Patterson-Howard - the president and CEO of the Yonkers YMCA who formerly ran the Mount Vernon YMCA - would become the first female elected mayor of the city. Thomas, who is facing mounting legal troubles for missing campaign funds and has recently come under fire by other candidates, has refused to concede, saying that his administration is monitoring the results.
In the City Council race, Lisa Copeland paced the field with 22 percent of the vote (2,675), followed by Derrick Thompson (2,035); Yuhanna Edwards (2,001); Joyce Brown (1,798); Danielle Scholar (1,427); Jamie Pessin (1,199); and Hope Marable (1,1015). Two of those candidates will earn spots on the ballot.
"Thank you, everyone, for your love, support and well wishes. Please be patient with me as a seek to acknowledge the TREMENDOUSLY OVERWHELMING outpouring of love and support from around the country and my internationally (Yes my Y family is checking in from across the GLOBE!!!)," Patterson-Howard posted on Facebook.
"I am truly humbled and excited. I have no fantasies that there are still obstacles that we must overcome immediately and in the next few months but I am confident that your prayers, wisdom, support, and advice with power me through."
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