New Port Jervis Mayor Cites Unity, Progress in Inaugural Speech

Dominic Cicalese delivers a speech after being sworn in as Port Jervis mayor in Port Jervis, N.Y., on Jan 1, 2024. Cara Ding/The Epoch Times

Port Jervis Mayor Dominic Cicalese called for new blood and old guards to work together to advance the city during his first public speech on Jan. 1.

In addition to the new mayor, Port Jervis saw five new members on the City Council this year, four of whom have been running with Mr. Cicalese on the same Republican slate.

“We have a lot of tough decision-making ahead of us,” Mr. Cicalese told a packed audience at Erie Trackside Manor shortly after being sworn in. “As we face inevitable challenges, let us remember that it is [through] collaboration and understanding that we will find the strength to create solutions.

“Together, we will continue to build a city that thrives on progress.”

As the former Port Jervis fire chief and a professional firefighter at Middletown Fire Department, Mr. Cicalese ran on a platform to build on the progress of longtime Democratic Mayor Kelly Decker.

“I think we are in a good position now, but we can be better,” Mr. Cicalese told The Epoch Times in a previous interview, noting that he wanted to improve services for seniors, youth, and veterans, as well as enhance city infrastructure through state and federal grants.

Jeffrey Rhoades, the newly sworn-in Ward 3 councilman, said he worked closely with Mr. Cicalese in fire service and looked forward to renewing their working relationship at City Hall.

“When you have a group of people that can work together, find common ground, and make decisions, that definitely makes things a lot easier,” he told The Epoch Times. “‘Agree to disagree’ is what we will do, just as we agreed to disagree back at the fire department.”

City of Port Jervis leadership—(clockwise from the top row) Jason Vicchiariello, Michael Hockenberry, Dominic Cicalese, Jeffrey Rhoades, Misty Fuller, Stanley Siegel, Jacqueline Dennison, Colin O'Connell, and Maria Mann—pose for a picture at Erie Trackside Manor in Port Jervis, N.Y., on Jan 1, 2024.  Cara Ding/The Epoch Times

In Port Jervis, the nine-seat City Council—comprised of two councilmen from each of the four wards and one councilman-at-large—votes on major city moves; the mayor has no vote.

As of now, one council seat in Ward 3 remains vacant.

Stanley Siegel, past councilman-at-large and one of three returning council members, told The Epoch Times that he looked forward to continuing the past progress with new colleagues.

“It is good to get new people involved with new ideas and new energies,” he said. “We can work together and continue the progress that has been going on the whole time I’ve been on the council.”

Orange County Legislature Republican Majority Leader Tom Faggione commended the past progress under Mr. Decker and said he had full faith in Mr. Cicalese to carry it forward.

“Kelly Decker put his heart and soul into being the mayor of the City of Port Jervis because he loves Port, and Dominic Cicalese is someone very similar to that,” Mr. Faggione told The Epoch Times.

“We are all here willing to work with the new mayor and new council to continue to see progress in Port Jervis.”

“I’ve known Dominic for quite a number of years,” New York Assemblyman and Minority Whip Karl Brabenec said. “He is very committed to the city and very capable, and I know he is going to do a great job. I’ve offered my assistance to him whenever he wants it.”

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus and County District Attorney David Hoovler were also present at the swearing-in ceremony to congratulate the new city leadership.

“People don’t elect you to name parks; they don’t elect you to name roads; they elect you to make decisions where 49 percent of people are against it, and 51 percent of the people are for it,” Mr. Hoovler said while encouraging political courage in making tough decisions.