SPRING VALLEY- Registered Democrats have long dominated Spring Valley’s voting rolls, consistently ensuring Democrats win elections and control the government.
The 2025 races for mayor, two seats on the Board of Trustees, and two judgeships most likely will be determined by the winners of the Democratic Party primaries on June 24.
Alan Simon, the mayor since December 2017, declined to seek another four-year term. His decision opened the door for six candidates, including one Republican, to seek the mayor’s office. Simon won a Democratic Party primary in 2017 against then-Mayor Demeza Delhomme before cruising to victory in November.
Simon had a controversial two terms, with his public outbursts that included cursing and yelling at residents, trustees, and staff, as well as threats to fire government workers and police officers who refused his order to arrest people. During his tenure, the village government saw the Building Department taken over by the state for lack of enforcement. The county government now inspects and prosecutes violations of fire and safety codes.
Early voting runs until June 22. Polls are open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Primary Day.
Who’s running for Spring Valley mayor in 2025?
Seeking the Democratic ballot line on June 24 are Darnett Davis, Eudson Francois, Chrispin Eugene, Schenley Vital, and Noramie Jasmin. Seeking the Republican line are Davis and Aaron Stern.
Spring Valley is a predominantly working-class village with pockets of families relying on social services and other government programs. The village comprises several voting blocs, including the Hasidic Jewish voters; Haitian and other voters who hail from Caribbean nations like Jamaica and Hispanic voters.
Here’s a look at the Democrats in the race:
Seeking the Republican ballot line are Davis, who is running on both lines, and Aaron Stern.
Who is running for Spring Valley’s Board of Trustees in 2025?
Two seats are up for election, and the two top vote-getters win the primary. A seat opened up when Trustee Asher Grossman, who works in insurance, declined to seek another term after 12 years in office.
Trustee Joseph Gross, a former aide to Delhomme, Spring Valley’s former mayor, is seeking re-election to a second term. Also running are former trustee Sherry McGill and Yakov Yosef Kaufman, who is active in the Orthodox Jewish community and is a member of Chaverim of Rockland, a volunteer emergency services organization that helps residents in need and works with the police.
Gross, Kaufman, and Vital have met with Hasidic rabbinical leaders to seek the community’s vote. Photos of them with some of the leaders have been published by local blogs.
McGill is a math teacher with a master’s degree in special education who serves on the East Ramapo Board of Education and several community organizations.
So far, there are no Republicans on the November ballot.
Who is running for Spring Valley’s judge seats in 2025?
Three candidates are running for two village justice seats: incumbents James Mellion and Justin Sweet, and Ariel Dahan. Mellion is a longtime attorney in Rockland, having worked as a prosecutor and defense lawyer. Sweet is a former Clarkstown town clerk. Dahan is an attorney who lost a bid for the Rockland Legislature in 2023 on the GOP line.
Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com Twitter: @lohudlegal. Read more articles and bio. Our local coverage is only possible with support from our readers.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Spring Valley 2025 primary elections: Who is running? Here are the details
Reporting by Steve Lieberman, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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