Mahopac parents upset at school board president's 'chubby' remark

MAHOPAC – A video doing the rounds in the hamlet, which shows school board President Ray Cote calling a woman "chubby wubby," has some parents demanding the resignation of three school board members.

In the school board meeting video, which was broadcast on a local cable access station and live-streamed via the Internet on April 8, Trustee Lucy Massafra approaches Cote and says, "What do you think is going on, because these people aren't showing up."

To which, Cote says: "Oh, I know, I know. This one here, 'Chubby wubby.' She gets fatter and fatter at every meeting. She really does."

At that point Trustee Earle Bellows is seen approaching the two. Some believe he was warning Cote about the microphone.

The woman in question is a mother of six who has volunteered with the district for 10 years, said former school Trustee John Molloy. He and others refused to identify her.

Molloy said it was laughable that Cote was a member of the PRIDE initiative to promote diversity and sensitivity, which the district started in the wake of racist tweets by Mahopac students during a basketball game.

"He's supposed to be a role model," said Molloy. "He does not even belong on the board."

See our special report: Cracks in the Façade: Mahopac incidents raise questions about intolerance

Roger Garcia, a father of two boys in the district, said he was disappointed by the lack of action on the part of the district. The district has been aware of the incident and chose instead to take down the original video, and replace it with a shortened one, he said.

"She is tremendously embarrassed by this comment," said Garcia, about why he didn't want to identify her. "I am outraged and disgusted."

Garcia said parents were planning to speak out at Tuesday's board meeting at Mahopac Falls Elementary School.

Schools Superintendent Thomas Manko did not respond to requests seeking comment. Last week, Garcia said he and Molloy spoke to Manko about the incident and sought the resignation of the board members.

"Tom said he was conducting his own private investigation," said Garcia.

Garcia said the district's inaction for a month stood in sharp contrast of the swift action taken against the students who were suspended for their tweets.

"I don't understand why he (Cote) is not seeing the same consequences as the kids who were disciplined for their tweets," said Garcia. "I am furious that the district tried to keep this quiet."

Cote, who was first elected in 2011, is one of three uncontested board members seeking re-election next week.

In November, the school board president faced calls to resign in the wake of a defamation case involving Bellows. Critics said he crossed an ethical line by defending his fellow board member in a personal legal matter.

Bellows is accused in state court papers of using same-sex dating websites to smear a former friend and Mamaroneck man after the two had a falling out several years ago — charges that Cote has adamantly denied.

"I am appalled," said Molloy. "This is a man who holds himself up as a pillar of the community. And yet he's capable of saying this about a good woman, a mother of six, who has dedicated herself to volunteering in the schools."

Twitter: @SwapnaVenugopal