About
Leslye Oquendo-Thomas
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.
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.
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.
Why She’s Running
There’s an open seat — and voters deserve a real choice!
Leslye is running because leaders should be accountable to the people who elect them. She believes that politicians should heed the will of the voters, NOT those who want to further their personal agendas. With her experience, values, and deep community roots, she’s ready to deliver results without excuses. She’s committed to advocate for the best interests of the residents of the 17th district, including REAL affordability in terms of housing, transportation, and higher education. She’ll also advocate for increased economic opportunities so that residents benefit from the development taking place throughout the city, increase efficiency of county services, such as DSS, and strengthen the Immigration Protection Act.
Leslye’s Priorities:
Affordability Across the Board
Increased Economic Opportunities
No one working full-time should be told they don’t deserve a safe or affordable place to live.
Leslye will fight for a Yonkers-specific approach to affordability — not countywide formulas that price working families out. She supports real tenant protections, housing that reflects local incomes, and permanent solutions to homelessness. She also wants to create paths to homeownership.
Affordability also means access to child care, transportation, mental health care, and higher education — not just rent.
Transportation is the lifeline of the residents of District 17, which is one of the poorest districts in the County. It’s how residents get to work and school, and it should be free. In Westchester, we had free buses during Covid and more recently, we had free buses during the summer. Leslye will work to expand this year-round.
Pursuing a higher education should not be a financial hardship. Westchester Community College should be an extension of public education, and it should be free so that residents can get ahead!
As Yonkers grows, residents should benefit from all the development taking place in the City.
Leslye believes new development should lead to paid job training opportunities, apprenticeships in the trades, local hiring requirements that prioritizes Yonkers residents first, and project labor agreements that guarantee worker protections, living wages, and efficient development projects that are up to labor standards, in addition to protections against wage theft.
Economic development must create long-term stability for families already living here.
Strengthen Immigration Protection Act
County Services That Work
Leslye will also stand firm against discriminatory enforcement, protect personal data, and expand access to immigration legal services — because everyone deserves safety and dignity.
Leslye will work to increase accountability and transparency by requiring reporting of all ICE requests for detention and information and document how the County handles such requests. Leslye will also work to ensure compliance across all County agencies by ensuring law enforcement agents throughout the county are clear on what they CAN do versus what they CANNOT do.
Government should not feel like a maze designed to wear people down.
Leslye will push to reduce DSS delays, improve efficiency, expand language access, and ensure seniors, families, and working residents can access the help they need without unnecessary barriers.
Services should work the first time — not after months of frustration.