Findings in the Complaints of Brian Pugh Against Voice of Croton Slate
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The Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee met via Zoom on October 20, 2025 to hear the complaints of incumbent Brian Pugh (Democrat), candidate for mayor, against Gary Eisinger (Voice of Croton), candidate for mayor, Stacey Nachtaler, (Voice of Croton), candidate for Village Trustee, and Nigel Ravelo (Voice of Croton), candidate for Village Trustee. Brian Pugh attended the Hearing and was represented by Michael Eisenkraft. Gary Eisinger, Stacey Nachtaler, and Nigel Ravelo attended the Hearing.
COMPLAINT #1: Mr. Pugh complained that a Voice of Croton mailer was a “misleading character attack via insinuation, linking my employment to their pledge of conflict-free service without providing any evidence of a breach of duty.” The Voice of Croton mailer had the following two sentences side-by-side:
“Under the current administration: Since 2022, Mayor Pugh has held a salaried position as our NY Senator’s Chief of Staff, while serving as Croton’s Mayor.”
“Voice of Croton Pledges: We will serve without conflicts of interest, personal political ambitions or outside influences--making decisions solely for you – the residents of the village of Croton-on-Hudson.”
FINDING: UNFAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICE
The Committee found that the mailer intimated that Mr. Pugh’s employment as a NY Senator’s Chief of Staff while also serving as Croton’s mayor could result in a conflict of interest.
The mailer violates the following FCPC Principle:
“The candidate will not use or condone any campaign material or advertisement that misstates, misrepresents or distorts material fact or any communication that misleads the public,”
and FCPC Guidance #1:
“A candidate should neither engage in nor be involved with false or misleading attacks on the character of an opponent nor in invasions of privacy unrelated to fitness for office,”
and FCPC Guidance #8:
“A candidate should not make charges or assertions that are partially true and therefore misleading, nor should he/she use statements that are misleading or taken out of context.”
COMPLAINT #2: Mr. Pugh complained that a Voice of Croton mailer was false since the text states “Under the current administration: The Comprehensive Plan’s 80/20 housing guidance has been ignored!” but there is no such guidance in the Village’s Comprehensive Plan.
FINDING: UNFAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICE
The Committee found that, although the mailer did not specifically reference Croton’s Comprehensive Plan, readers of the mailer would assume that the mailer was referring to such Plan and not the New York State Comprehensive Planning Resources. Croton’s Comprehensive Plan does not contain an 80/20 housing guidance.
The mailer violates the following FCPC Principle:
“The candidate will not use or condone any campaign material or advertisement that misstates, misrepresents or distorts material fact or any communication that misleads the public,”
and FCPC Guidance #8:
“A candidate should not make charges or assertions that are partially true and therefore misleading, nor should he/she use statements that are misleading or taken out of context.”
COMPLAINT #3: Mr. Pugh complained that at a League of Women Voters Candidates Forum, Mr. Eisinger’s statement that “the normal setback is 20 feet, the setbacks for ADUs is 10 feet” was false.
FINDING: NO FINDING
There was some confusion about what setbacks Mr. Eisinger was referring to and the Committee did not have sufficient information to issue a Finding.
Committee Members: Susan P. Guma, [Chair], Jennifer Mebes Flagg [Coordinator], LaRuth Gray, Cassandra Hyacinthe, Kyle-Beth Hilfer, Lee Kinnally, Robert C. Kirkwood, Carole Princer Levy, Don Marra, Paul Bennett Marrow, Joy Rosenzweig, Susan Schwarz, John Stern, Evelyn Stock, Lilian Wu
Party representatives (ex officio): Republican Party, Democratic Party, Working Families Party.
The purpose of the Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee is to help set an acceptable standard for political discussion by offering a forum for identifying unfair campaign practices and promoting a climate in which candidates conduct honest and fair campaigns. The Committee encourages candidates to conduct campaigns openly and fairly, to focus on issues and qualifications, to refrain from dishonest and defamatory attacks, and to avoid the use of campaign materials that distort the facts.
The Committee accepts written complaints from candidates about alleged unfair campaign practices. The Committee may then hold hearings to determine whether the action complained about is indeed unfair or whether it falls within acceptable political discourse. Among other things that the Committee will consider to be an unfair campaign practice is a misstatement of a material fact or any communication that misleads the public.
The Committee has no power to compel anyone or any group to stop doing what it has found to be unfair, nor does it have the authority or power to enforce election or other laws.
If the Committee acts on a complaint, it will release its findings to inform the public. The Committee may choose not to consider a complaint; in that case, a hearing is not held and the parties to the complaint are notified.
Statement of Principles of the Committee, as stated in its Manual, is available at www.faircampaignpractices.org. The Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee believes that candidates should conduct their campaigns in accordance with the following principles:
The Candidate will conduct a campaign for public office openly and fairly, focusing on issues and qualifications.
The Candidate will not use or condone any campaign material or advertisement that misstates, misrepresents or distorts material fact or any communication that misleads the public.
The Candidate will neither engage in nor be involved with false or misleading attacks upon the character of an opponent, nor in invasions of privacy unrelated to fitness for office.
The Candidate will not participate in nor condone any appeal to prejudice.
The Candidate will clearly identify by name the funding source of all advertisements and campaign literature published and distributed.
The Candidate will not abuse the Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee process in order to obtain political advantage. This includes, but is not limited to, announcing that he/she has filed a complaint, or quoting the Committee’s Findings unless the individual Finding cited is quoted in its entirety. The Committee considers selective quotation or misrepresentation of its Findings to be an unfair campaign practice.
The Candidate will publicly repudiate materials or actions made on behalf of their candidacy that violate this Statement of Principles.
