Noam Bramson
Mayor of New Rochelle
In office
January 1, 2006 – December 31, 2023
Preceded byTimothy C. Idoni
Succeeded byYadira Ramos-Herbert
Personal details
Born (1969-12-13) December 13, 1969 (age 54)
New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Catherine Stern
​
(m. 2002)​
Children2
ResidenceNew Rochelle, New York
EducationHarvard University (BA, MPA)
WebsiteOfficial website
Campaign website

Noam Bramson (born December 13, 1969) is an American politician from the state of New York. He was the mayor of New Rochelle, New York, and has served since being appointed in January 2006 to complete the unexpired term of Mayor Timothy C. Idoni. Bramson was reelected in 2011 with 79% of the vote.[1]

Prior to becoming mayor, Bramson served for ten years on the New Rochelle City Council as a representative of the Fifth City District. In 2013 Bramson was nominated by the Westchester County Democratic Party to be its candidate for Westchester County Executive against incumbent Republican Rob Astorino.[2]

Early life and education

Bramson was born to a Jewish family in New Rochelle, New York. He is a first-generation American. Bramson's Polish-born parents were refugees during World War II who met in Israel in the 1950s, married, and moved to the United States.[3]

In 1987, Bramson went to Harvard University, where he completed his undergraduate degree in three years, and then received a master's degree in Public Policy. Bramson was chosen to give a student address at his Harvard's commencement in 1990.[4]

Political career

From 1992 until 2012, Bramson served as a political consultant and speechwriter for Rep. Nita Lowey.[5] Bramson served on the Boards of numerous civic organizations, including the New Rochelle Campership Fund, the Castle Gallery, the New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence, the New Rochelle Council of Community Services, the Westchester Jewish Council, and the United Way of New Rochelle.

City Council

Bramson returned to New Rochelle after college in 1995, and at the age of 25, was elected to New Rochelle City Council. He won his subsequent election bids in 1999 and 2003, garnering more than 70 percent of the vote.[6]

2002 Assembly challenge

In 2002, Bramson challenged longtime Democratic Assemblyman Ron Tocci. Bramson won the Democratic primary with 61% of the vote. Tocci switched parties, winning against Bramson in the general election as the Republican Party candidate with 53% of the vote.[7]

Mayor

In January 2006, Bramson was appointed to a one-year term as mayor to complete the unexpired term of Timothy Idoni.[8] Bramson won a special election in November 2006 for Mayor. In 2007, Bramson won his first full four-year term and was re-elected in 2011 with 79% of the vote.[9]

Bramson is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition,[10] a bipartisan group. He has been an advocate of thoughtful community, and regional planning. He led the creation of New Rochelle's first Sustainability Plan,[11] promoted efforts to establish new public access to the Long Island Sound shore, and adopted new land use policies to preserve open space and protect neighborhoods from overdevelopment. Bramson has secured grants for critical infrastructure priorities, including the enhancement of major transportation corridors and the rehabilitation of New Rochelle's playing fields.

2013 race for County Executive

On April 25, 2013, Bramson defeated Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman Ken Jenkins of Yonkers and Legislator Bill Ryan of White Plains to become the Democratic Party's nominee for the county's top office. He faced Republican County Executive Rob Astorino in the November 2013 election and lost in the general election.[12]

Personal life

Bramson married Catherine ("Catie") Stern, Ph.D., a pediatric neuropsychologist, on May 12, 2002.[3] They have two sons.

Electoral history

New Rochelle City Council 5th District, 1995 General Election[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Katharine Wilson Conroy 1,306 44.02%
Huguenots Katharine Wilson Conroy 57 1.92%
Total Katharine Wilson Conroy (incumbent) 1,363 45.94%
Democratic Noam Bramson 1,594 53.72%
Right to Life Joseph C. Masdew 10 0.34%
Total votes 2,967 100.00
Majority 231 7.78%
Democratic gain from Republican
New Rochelle City Council 5th District, 1999 General Election[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael Raskas 543 20.03%
Independence Michael Raskas 87 3.21%
Total Michael Raskas 630 23.24%
Democratic Noam Bramson (incumbent) 1,996 73.62%
Right to Life Edward D. Ryan 85 3.14%
Total votes 2,711 100.00
Majority 2,104 49.28%
Democratic hold
New York State Assembly 91st District, 2002 Democratic Primary Election[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Noam Bramson 3,395 62.86%
Democratic Ronald C. Tocci (incumbent) 2,006 37.14%
Total votes 5,401 100.00
Majority 1,389 25.72%
New York State Assembly 91st District, 2002 General Election[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ronald C. Tocci 13,080 43.49%
Independence Ronald C. Tocci 1,316 4.38%
Conservative Ronald C. Tocci 1,178 3.92%
Working Families Ronald C. Tocci 317 1.05%
Total Ronald C. Tocci (incumbent) 15,891 52.84%
Democratic Noam Bramson 14,787 45.84%
Right to Life Catherine T. Naughton 396 1.32%
Total votes 30,074 100.00
Majority 2,104 7.00%
Republican gain from Democratic
New Rochelle City Council 5th District, 2003 General Election[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jason R. Isanberg 711 22.60%
Conservative Jason R. Isanberg 93 2.96%
Independence Jason R. Isanberg 104 3.30%
Total Jason R. Isanberg 908 28.86%
Democratic Noam Bramson 2,238 71.34%
Total votes 3,146 100.00
Majority 1,330 42.28%
Democratic hold
New Rochelle Mayor, 2007 General Election[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Noam Bramson 6,901 63.99%
Working Families Noam Bramson 316 2.93
Total Noam Bramson (incumbent) 7,217 66.92%
Republican Michael Brown 2,946 27.32%
Independence Michael Brown 618 5.73%
Total Michael Brown 3,564 33.05%
Turnout 10,784 29.65%
Majority 3,653 33.87%
Democratic hold
New Rochelle Mayor, 2011 General Election[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Noam Bramson 8,003 74.45%
Working Families Noam Bramson 528 4.91%
Total Noam Bramson (incumbent) 8,531 79.36%
Republican Richard St Paul 1,613 15.00%
Conservative Richard St Paul 344 3.20%
Independence Richard St Paul 307 2.09%
Total Richard St Paul 2,182 20.30%
Turnout 10,750 26.60%
Majority 6,349 59.06%
Democratic hold
Westchester County Executive, 2013 General Election[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Noam Bramson 74,964 40.97%
Working Families Noam Bramson 2,907 1.59%
Independence Noam Bramson 2,491 1.36%
Total Noam Bramson 80,362 43.92%
Republican Rob Astorino 88,645 48.45%
Conservative Rob Astorino 13,860 16.71%
Total Rob Astorino (incumbent) 102,505 56.03%
Turnout 182,955 33.08%
Majority 22,143 12.10%
Republican hold
New Rochelle Mayor, 2015 General Election[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Noam Bramson 5,382 57.94%
Working Families Noam Bramson 251 2.70%
Women's Equality Noam Bramson 83 0.89%
Total Noam Bramson (incumbent) 5,716 61.54%
Independence James O'Toole 3,548 38.20%
Turnout 9,288 22.63%
Majority 2,168 23.34%
Democratic hold
New Rochelle Mayor, 2019 General Election[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Noam Bramson 8,484 60.4%
Working Families Noam Bramson 345 2.46%
Total Noam Bramson (incumbent) 8,829 62.86%
Republican Brendan Conroy 4,308 30.67%
Conservative Brendan Conroy 583 4.15%
Independence Brendan Conroy 307 2.18%
Total Brendan Conroy 5,198 37.01%
Turnout 14,046 31.34%
Majority 3,361 25.85%
Democratic hold

References

  1. ^ "New Rochelle Election: Bramson Re-elected", Michael Woyton on New Rochelle Patch
  2. ^ Noam Bramson, Westchester Dems get ready for Rob Astorino, Elizabeth Ganga on lohud.com
  3. ^ a b "WEDDINGS; Catherine Stern, Noam Bramson". The New York Times. 12 May 2002. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  4. ^ Graduation Speakers Selected: Bramson, Black, And Shin to Speak At Commencement, Harvard Crimson
  5. ^ King, Nancy. "The Great Endorsement Race" (PDF). The Westchester Guardian. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  6. ^ Claus, Nancy (21 September 2006). "The Boy-Wonder Mayor of New Rochelle". Westchester Magazine. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  7. ^ KILGANNON, COREY (10 November 2002). "Running for G.O.P. Pays Off For Democrat". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  8. ^ Brenner, Elsa (8 January 2006). "IN PERSON; Perched at the Top, a Mayor Surveys the City of His Birth". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  9. ^ Whitaker, Barbera (28 October 2007). "A Melee Highlights Issues Downtown". New York Times. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  10. ^ "Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Coalition Members". Archived from the original on 2013-10-20.
  11. ^ Woyton, Michael (17 March 2011). "GreeNR Sustainability Plan Approved". Patch. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  12. ^ Ganga, Elizabeth. "Westchester Democrats pick Noam Bramson for County Executive race". Lowhud. The Journal News. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  13. ^ "New Rochelle City Council 05 Race - Nov 07,1995". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  14. ^ "1999 General Election Canvass Book" (PDF). www.westchestergov.com.
  15. ^ "2002 Primary Election Canvass Book" (PDF). www.westchestergov.com.
  16. ^ "NYS Board of Elections - Assembly - Vote - Nov. 5, 2002" (PDF). www.elections.ny.gov.
  17. ^ "1999 General Election Canvass Book" (PDF). www.westchestergov.com.
  18. ^ "Mayor; City of New Rochelle Voter Information". my.lwv.org/new-york-state.
  19. ^ "2011 General Election Canvass Book" (PDF). www.westchestergov.com.
  20. ^ "2013 General Election Canvass Book" (PDF). www.westchestergov.com.
  21. ^ "2015 General Election Canvass Book" (PDF). www.westchestergov.com.
  22. ^ "2019 General Election Canvass Book" (PDF). www.westchestergov.com.

External links

Political offices Preceded byTimothy C. Idoni 23rd Mayor of New Rochelle 2006–present Incumbent
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