By Seamus Higgins
The village of Mamaroneck has a new mayor. In November, Sharon Torres — running as an independent — won the seat, beating incumbent Tom Murphy,
who had served as mayor for the past three terms. Campaigning from August through Election Day, Nov. 7, Torres made history as the fourth woman and first of Hispanicdescent to serve as mayor of Mamaroneck.
Torres has an interesting history and unusual road to becoming mayor of Mamaroneck. She graduated with a Bachelors of Science from Farmingdale State College and received her MBA from Pace University, Lubin School of Business. Torres’ background before entering the political sphere was in human resources, also including 10 years of experience in accounting.
Torres decided to run for mayor because as she was volunteering she noticed a divisiveness in the village. People were saying that they missed the moniker of Mamaroneck as the “friendly village” and things were starting to get negative. She felt she could change the way people view the Board of Trustees, the village’s governing legislative body.
“We can be more inviting, I think we can make policy by listening to people and bringing them into the conversation,” she said. “I don’t wanna legislate for
people, I wanna legislate with them.”
She mentioned in her work in HR and social work they had a phrase which she called “Never about you without you.” Why she ultimately decided to run for political office was the goal of having a community based feeling within the Board of Trustees. The balance to work her fulltime job and campaign was tricky
at first, but she said her campaign was completely volunteered, they were passionate and helped out where she couldn’t be. Torres credited her volunteers with helping spearhead her campaign.
Spending time on social media provided another way to campaign. Not only was she able to post when and where she was campaigning, but to hear Mamaroneck residents’ feedback and what they want for the village was also illuminating. Torres mentioned that social media allows all residents from different parts of Mamaroneck to speak out, lend their voice and be heard. “I tried my very best to use it [social media} to meet and greet people,” she said.
Part of being mayor for Torres is about being a public servant. She felt while there can be a negative connotation with it, she leans on the public servant side.
“Tax dollars that run this village come from those residents, they have a voice. We should have a space where we are listening and feel respected,” Torres said.
Torres’ focus is projects regarding housing, pedestrian safety and flooding. The mayor mentioned how whatever decision is made she asks, “Does this
make the situation … better?”
On being the first person of color and fourth woman to be installed as mayor in Mamaroneck, Torres said, “Representation matters. I hope being the fourth
female, first Hispanic — where we have a 24% Hispanic population — that more women want to step up and do these things. Because I think we need that.”
