Monroe Town Board

Peter J. Martin, Republican incumbent Biographical information: My wife, Claudia, my daughter, Sarah Anne, and I moved to Monroe in 1984. I received my Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Nebraska. I am an employed as an Information Technology Consultant. Elected to the position of Town Councilman in 1989. I have served four consecutive elected terms. Candidate statement: While serving as president of the Pine Tree Homeowners Association, I became engaged in the fight against Applecross, 750 units were planned where Mansion Ridge is today. As a founding member of Concerned Citizens For A Better Monroe, I attended every Planning Board and Town Board meeting for more than two years. We successfully fought against Applecross. Today, I continue the fight to preserve our quality of life. I was appointed to the previous Town of Monroe Master Plan Committee in 1988 and, with the help of former Congressman Ben Gilman, I was appointed to the New York-New Jersey Highlands Regional Study Group in 1991. I was a founding member of the Southeast Regional Traffic Task Force. Most recently, I was chairman of the Town’s Master Plan Update Committee and editor of the Draft Master Plan. Documents produced by these groups are the basis for significant changes in our community. The Conservation Commission and our Local Wetlands Law were immediate results of the 1990s planning effort. Subsequent zoning changes and Chapter 44 of our Town Code, Soil Erosion and Sedimentation, regulating grading and excavating are results of the existing Master Plan. The New York-New Jersey Highlands report enabled the purchase of more than 400 acres of land in Monroe and the preservation Sterling Forest. As a result of the traffic task force land use and traffic study and the help of Congresswoman Sue Kelly, our region obtained $8.5 million to address regional traffic problems. The Draft Master Plan has received an excellent review from the Orange County Planning Department and will be the basis for future local laws designed to protect our quality of life. My actions prove I care about our community. Vote for me on Rows A or C and I will continue to diligently protect our quality of life. Don Weeks, Republican incumbent Biographical information: Age: 70; Family: Daughter, son, grandchildren; Years in community: Life-long resident Occupation: Retired proprietor commercial laundry; Education: Monroe-Woodbury graduate Military service: Army quartermaster, two years. Political experience: Republican and Independence endorsed. Served on town board for 28 year; chairman, Monroe Republican Committee for 24 years. Future goals: Maintain stable town property taxes; develop parkland with recreational facilities while protecting and preserving open space; promote affordable housing. Candidate statement: It is with experience and accomplishment that I seek re-election to the position of Monroe Town Councilman. I am a lifelong resident of Monroe who has raised two children who also continue to reside in Monroe with their families. I am a Monroe-Woodbury graduate and served in the United States Army for two years. Now a retired proprietor of a successful commercial laundry business, I devote my time to serving the needs of Monroe and its constituents. As a Monroe resident, I am very interested and listen to what is important to residents of Monroe. I recognize that taxes, controlled growth and open space are key issues for the Town of Monroe. In my term of office as councilman, I have worked to maintain the second lowest town tax in Orange County. I have worked to bring new business on Larkin Drive to help offset the tax base of homeowners. In my years of experience, I have leveraged state and Orange County connections to bring in $2.5 million in grants to avoid town tax increases and supported tax relief for veterans and senior citizens. I support the Town’s Updated Master Plan draft, which addresses both open space and managing residential growth. As part of an open space plan for Monroe, I negotiated to acquired 135 acres of parkland at no cost to the taxpayer and supported the purchase of an additional 200 acres within the existing town budget. With this spirit of demonstrated public service and experience, I look forward to working with the citizens of Monroe in the challenges that face us in years to come.ows A or C and I will continue to diligently protect our quality of life. Audra Schwartz, Democratic candidate Biographical information: • Wife and mother of boys, 9 and 5. • Attorney: resolution of commercial/residential construction disputes, experience in real estate law, environmental compliance/review, contract review/negotiation/ disputes, employment discrimination and management advising. • Law firm partner: experienced in running a business including fiscal responsibility, budget creation and review, employee issues and vendor contract negotiations. • Member of the Town of Monroe Conservation Commission. Candidate statement: We all agree that the present town board has not produced the results that Monroe needs. Our taxes are too high and our services are insufficient, our open spaces have dwindled because of overdevelopment, our environment has suffered and long-term residents are considering leaving our community. We need committed and qualified people to lead our town in the right direction. As a lawyer and business owner, I know how to listen to people with opposing interests, identify the issues, come up with solutions, facilitate negotiations and compromise and achieve cost-effective results. I bring energy, determination and sincerity to each project and I am committed to making Monroe a better place for my family and yours. I do not take that commitment lightly. If you put your faith in me and my running mates, Alicia Vaccaro and John Rios, we will do everything in our power to improve this town with speed, efficiency and integrity. We will not do it overnight. But we will set the town on the right course. Our vision includes having a town government that listens to all people equally; encouraging and increasing local businesses; working with the Village of Monroe to insure a thriving village center and a new library flanked by a more welcoming and attractive Mill Pond; improved services and better recreational facilities that reflect the level of taxes that we already pay; and more housing options for our seniors. Throughout this campaign, I have met many of the residents of the Town of Monroe. I have met involved parents, amazing children, hopeful newlyweds, knowledgeable and valuable senior citizens and hardworking business people - all of different religions and cultures. You are what makes my commitment worthwhile. You are why, if elected, I will not let you down. John Rios, Democratic candidate Biographical information: John Rios has a B.A. in accounting and is a district manager for Daimler Chrysler. He was chairman of the Monroe Democratic Committee from 1991 through 1999. He is a Vietnam War Era veteran, serving the Army from 1968-1971. He is an active member of the Latino Democrats of Orange County. He also is a member of VFW Post #8858 in Harriman and the American Legion Post #0488 on Lakes Road. He and his wife Anna have lived in Monroe for 22 years. Candidate statement: My name is John Rios and I am your candidate for Monroe Town Board. As I walk the districts, there seems to be a common theme - taxes and what we are going to do about them. Many senior citizens say they are being taxed out of the area. Others complain that their children can’t purchase a home here because of high taxes. Families are moving out because of the taxes. The present town board will tell you that they have controlled the town taxes - they haven’t. I’ve been here for 22 years - I know. I raised my family here and I want to retire here. I’ve watched the same administration put us where we are today and 22 years is enough. I plan to stabilize your taxes. Along with Alicia Vaccaro and Audra Schwartz, we will bring in jobs and corporate tax dollars without increasing the school population and school taxes. The current town board has done the opposite by allowing residential development on previously commercial zoned property which resulted in lost tax revenue and increased the student population. Presently, there is no one on the town board from the Village of Harriman. As a Harriman resident, I will make sure that our interests are heard and addressed. Our ticket is a balanced team - Alicia is from the Village of Monroe and Audra is from the Town of Monroe. If elected, residents will be equally represented. We also have the character that our town needs. Our ticket has run a positive campaign, relying on issues not character assassination. Our opponents have spent the last few months taking jabs at us and each other. Is this the type of leadership you want for Monroe? Theresa Budich, SaveMonroe candidate I have lived in the Monroe area for more than 31 years. My husband and I moved here after we were married. We were looking for a beautiful town where we could begin our lives together and raise our children. We found it in Monroe. Young families are no different today then my husband and I were 31 years ago. They are moving here for the same reasons we all did. Unfortunately, what they discover is not what they necessarily bargained for. Skyrocketing taxes, one poorly planned housing development after another, “supersized” schools and traffic jams, the lack of recreational facilities and parks, as well as an absence of planned affordable and senior housing opportunities. I have been an active community member for many years. During the past several years I have regularly attended town board meetings and, when possible, special public hearings. I have watched the present town board afford preferential treatment to some individuals and treat others with disrespect and contempt. I have watched this town board trade away valuable light industrial land only to replace it with town homes. I have watched the town board turn a deaf ear to one citizen after another that asks the board to remove dangerous developer incentives from our zoning codes. Our present town board is notorious for “election night” promises that never see the light of day. I will not make promises that I can’t or conveniently forget to keep. There are reasonable measures that can be taken to begin to address the numerous problems facing Monroe. I will seek to increase tax relief programs for our senior citizens. I will continue to lobby for the removal of builder’s incentive bonuses and have requested the implementation of smart growth policies. I will continue to oppose the K.J. pipeline and I will seek ways to improve the business tax base to help decrease the tax burden of residential taxpayers by increasing commercial taxpayers. It is unfortunate that many of our local leaders have forgotten the meaning of the words “public service.” I will not forget and I ask for your support on Nov. 8. Katherine Parrella, SaveMonroe candidate Biographical information: I possess a strong background in community advocacy as well as professional project management that can positively serve the residents of Monroe. As co-founder of a grassroots organization and as a trustee on the Board of Orange Environment Inc., I have had experience working with county and state governmental agencies. Candidate statement: Having attended Monroe Town Board and Planning Board meetings for more than three years, I believe I’ve become well versed in the workings of our government and the problems this community faces. I’ve watched with growing concern at what I believe to be ineffective efforts to address the issues. While I’m not a politician, I felt that I needed to get more involved in local politics if I was going to be able to help bring about the kind of change that Monroe needs. That has brought me to where I am today - asking for your vote of confidence on Tuesday to serve you as Town of Monroe councilwoman. I’m confident that my track record stands to show what I believe in and what I will try to accomplish if elected. As a community advocate, I co-founded a grassroots organization to help aid residents in becoming more involved in the planning and development of their towns. To become better informed, I’ve attended seminars on Water Quality, Open Space Initiatives and Smart Growth Planning. I’ve researched the state and municipal law to find examples of regulations that could benefit Monroe residents. I’ve lobbied Albany to pass legislation to allow communities to implement impact fees to fund preservation and affordable housing initiatives. To help those on fixed incomes, I’ve requested action by our Assembly members to increase real property tax breaks for senior citizens. Monroe must deal with important issues in the next several years - specifically growth and taxes. I think I’ve demonstrated that I believe in serving the public and doing all that I can to make the kinds of positive changes that can benefit our town. Monroe deserves nothing less than a town board that is dedicated to putting community interests first and I would be honored to be given the opportunity to do so as your councilwoman.