I’ve been a member of various boards and commissions in Gardiner for the last six years and have had an opportunity to interact with all the components of Town government.  I chaired the Environmental Conservation Commission for two years and continue to chair the Drinking Water Protection Committee.

 I had no intention of taking on a commitment such as Town Councilperson when I retired as a school superintendent in 2012, but my volunteer work for the Town has ignited in me a sense of civic responsibility.  I see areas where improvements can be made and where the Town’s direction can be more closely aligned with the desires of the majority of Town residents, which I’ve either learned or had reinforced in recent weeks as I’ve campaigned door-to-door on my bicycle.

Examples of where I believe improvements can be made include employee recruitment practices, conscientiously adhering to our own ordinances, regularly assessing our effectiveness on both the Board and employee level and pursuing “smart development.”  I’m also concerned about recently expressed plans that would erode the strength of legislation adopted by Gardiner some 15 years ago to protect the treasured Shawangunk Ridge.
 

I grew up in a NYC suburb that, when I was a boy, looked much like Gardiner does now.  In the last 60 years it has become intensely crowded with strip malls, houses, industry and traffic.  We can avoid having Gardiner suffer the same fate, and at the same time make our region more resilient against climate change.  Imagine a future where Gardiner has managed to retain its rural character while neighboring towns have succumbed to the urban sprawl.

 There’s one more reason why I’m running for the Town Board.  I watch the news every night and am appalled by the current state of politics on the national level.  I have no illusions that anything a town councilperson could do would affect national politics, but I’m compelled to at least get involved to the extent that I can.  Things will only get better if we all focus on demanding improvements in all levels of government. 

 I’d consider it an honor to represent the people of Gardiner on the Town Board and would appreciate your vote in the November 7 election. Thanks for reading this!