2026 New York General Election

Who is Leslye?

Leslye Oquendo-Thomas is a proud product of public schools and a first-generation college graduate. She was raised by a single parent in a Spanish-speaking household and lived in Bronx municipal housing, dependent on public assistance. Her upbringing shaped her understanding of dignity, fairness, and the real consequences of policy decisions.

About Leslye

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from SUNY Buffalo and a Master’s degree in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University. She also holds a certificate in French language and civilization from Sorbonne University in Paris, France. She is fluent in Spanish and French.

She is Puerto Rican, married to a Black American whose parents immigrated from Trinidad, and the mother of two biracial daughters. Her family reflects the multi-racial, working-class families that define the 17th District. She is also the primary caretaker for her 79 year old mother who suffers from dementia. On her free time, she mentors students with the Yonkers Partners in Education Program (YPIE). She also started a family hot sauce business recently, using her mother-in-law’s West Indian hot sauce recipe - Thomas Family Taste.

Professional Experience

For more than a decade, Leslye has worked in the Yonkers City Council office of Councilwoman Corazon Pineda-Isaac, including 2 years as Chief of Staff. She worked directly with constituents every day — resolving housing issues, preventing evictions, acting as an intermediary with DSS, and connecting residents to services and resources.

Before starting to work at the Yonkers City Council, Leslye served internationally with the United Nations in Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Ivory Coast) and with the Organization of American States in Ecuador, supporting democratic institutions and post-conflict transitions.

Leslye A. Oquendo-Thomas works in the Yonkers City Council office of Councilwoman Corazon Pineda-Isaac, where she serves as chief of staff. She previously served with the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Ivory Coast, and with the Organization of American States in Ecuador.

Advocates for development projects that provide paid training, trade apprenticeships, local hiring, project labor agreements, and protections against wage theft.

As of October 23, 2026, Leslye A. Oquendo-Thomas’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Economy

Public Services

Supports tenant protections, housing aligned with local incomes, and permanent solutions to homelessness.

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Advocates for tying county capital planning and funding to infrastructure needs before approving new development projects.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

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Leslye A. Oquendo-Thomas

As of October 23, 2026, LESLYE A OQUENDO-THOMAS’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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LESLYE A OQUENDO-THOMAS

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

Terrero moved to Yonkers from the Dominican Republic as a teenager. He graduated from Mercy College and initially worked in his family’s small grocery business. He and his brother built a successful business – Terrero Realty, LLC – and they currently own three small apartment buildings, two in Yonkers and one in the Bronx.

The Yonkers Ledger Interviews Wilson Terrero, Democratic Candidate for Westchester County Board of Legislators District 17

In 2003, he founded the Dominican Cultural Association of Yonkers, Inc. (DCAY), which is dedicated to providing educational and cultural programs for Latinos in the city. Terrero is particularly proud of the group’s arts and crafts programs for children ages 9 to 14 and the immigration assistance the association has given to more than 1,000 Yonkers residents.

Wilson Terrero has lived in Yonkers for 35 years and is passionate about his city. He lives in Park Hill with his wife and daughter. One of the motivating forces in his life is giving back to his community, in his roles as businessman, community activist and former elected official.

Wilson A. Terrero moved to Yonkers from the Dominican Republic as a teenager. He graduated from Mercy College and founded the Dominican Cultural Association of Yonkers, Inc. in 2003. He lives in Park Hill with his wife and daughter.

The Yonkers Ledger Interviews Wilson Terrero – Democratic ...

Until recently he worked at the Yonkers Workforce Investment Board as a business liaison who helped connect Yonkers residents with employers with jobs.

Ex-councilman Terrero Seeks Return to Yonkers City Council

Wilson and his brother built Terrero Realty, LLC, and own three small apartment buildings. He previously worked as a business liaison at the Yonkers Workforce Investment Board and in his family's small grocery business.

Ex-councilman Terrero seeks return to Yonkers City Council - Lohud

In 2006 Terrero was appointed to his first position in Yonkers government, the board of the Yonkers Community Development Agency. In 2009, he was elected to the Yonkers City Council, and was elected Council Majority Leader in 2012 by his fellow council members. After losing his campaign for re-election, he returned to city government. In 2017, he resigned from his city position to run once again for his former Council seat. After losing that race, he again returned to work for the City.

Wilson was elected to the Yonkers City Council in 2009. He later lost a reelection campaign and a 2017 campaign to return to the council.

Why is Terrero running for County Legislator?

Affordability: Wants to enhance the County Dept. of Consumer Affairs to better protect against price gouging at the pump and at the grocery store.

He wants to find ways to provide more free services from county parks and otherwise reduce fees for business licensing and transportation.

Terrero wants to prevent future tax increases.

We Endorse Wilson Terrero County Legislator District 17 Yonkers

He wants to find ways to provide more free services from county parks and otherwise reduce fees for business licensing and transportation.

Terrero wants to prevent future tax increases.

On the issue of homelessness, Terrero supports reopening county mental health clinics and will advocate for one to be opened in Yonkers.

Terrero has a strong relationship with the police and wants to ensure they are adequately supported financially.

On the County budget, Terrero will draw on his budgeting experience from the Yonkers City Council and hopes to serve on the Budget Committee to optimize service delivery while keeping government spending under control.

Wants to strengthen the County Department of Consumer Affairs to address price gouging on gasoline and groceries.

Hopes to serve on the Budget Committee to optimize service delivery while keeping county spending under control.

- Wants to strengthen the County Department of Consumer Affairs to address price gouging on gasoline and groceries.
- Wants to prevent future tax increases.
- Hopes to serve on the Budget Committee to optimize service delivery while keeping county spending under control.

Affordability: Wants to enhance the County Dept. of Consumer Affairs to better protect against price gouging at the pump and at the grocery store.

He wants to find ways to provide more free services from county parks and otherwise reduce fees for business licensing and transportation.

Terrero wants to prevent future tax increases.

Wants to expand free county park services and reduce business-licensing and transportation fees.

- Wants to expand free county park services and reduce business-licensing and transportation fees.

On the issue of homelessness, Terrero supports reopening county mental health clinics and will advocate for one to be opened in Yonkers.   

Terrero will also work to see better cooperation between county and state agencies to get homeless people the mental health and physical services and housing.

On affordable housing, Terrero supports using government land for new housing to reduce costs, and wants to increase the county’s role through tax incentives and other resources, working with the private sector to reduce housing costs

On the Environment, Terrero wants to ensure the treatment facility in Southwest Yonkers has the most modern equipment to mitigate odors, that the discharge into the Hudson is as safe as possible, and to rally the county to press the federal government for funds to cap the pools to improve air quality.

Supports reopening county mental health clinics and opening one in Yonkers to address homelessness.

Plans to improve county-state coordination to connect homeless people with health services and housing.

Supports using government land, tax incentives, and private-sector partnerships to reduce affordable-housing costs.

- Supports reopening county mental health clinics and opening one in Yonkers to address homelessness.
- Plans to improve county-state coordination to connect homeless people with health services and housing.
- Supports using government land, tax incentives, and private-sector partnerships to reduce affordable-housing costs.

On the Environment, Terrero wants to ensure the treatment facility in Southwest Yonkers has the most modern equipment to mitigate odors, that the discharge into the Hudson is as safe as possible, and to rally the county to press the federal government for funds to cap the pools to improve air quality.

Terrero has a strong relationship with the police and wants to ensure they are adequately supported financially.

On the County budget, Terrero will draw on his budgeting experience from the Yonkers City Council and hopes to serve on the Budget Committee to optimize service delivery while keeping government spending under control.

Wants to ensure police receive adequate financial support.

- Wants to ensure police receive adequate financial support.

Wants to convert county street lighting and bus fleets to greener technology, citing a similar streetlight conversion he led that saved the city over $10 million over eight to nine years

Westchester County Legislative District 17 Democratic Primary

Wants to convert county street lighting and bus fleets to greener technology.

- Wants to convert county street lighting and bus fleets to greener technology.

Wants modern equipment at the Southwest Yonkers treatment facility, safer Hudson River discharges, and federal funding to cap pools and improve air quality.

- Wants modern equipment at the Southwest Yonkers treatment facility, safer Hudson River discharges, and federal funding to cap pools and improve air quality.

Wilson A. Terrero

WILSON A TERRERO

Wilson A Terrero immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager. He founded the Dominican Cultural Association, which runs free programs for youth and seniors.

Wilson most recently worked as a business liaison at the Yonkers Workforce Investment Board. He also built a career in real estate.

Wilson previously served on the Yonkers City Council.

As of October 23, 2026, WILSON A TERRERO’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Westchester County Legislator, District 17

Candidates (2)