North Castle Needs an Objective and Independent Town Board
Opinion Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.
The election this November for the voters of North Castle is an extremely important one. The voters have a choice between the candidates for supervisor and town council, and who they choose will set the direction of development in the town for years to come.
Checks and balances are crucial to the American system of government from the federal level down to local municipalities. In North Castle, the necessary checks and balances stem from the requirement that three of the five-member Town Board approve every town decision. This only works if each Town Board member thinks and votes objectively and independently. The biggest threat to the town’s system is a voting bloc, i.e., a single Town Board member controls three or more votes.
In this upcoming election, should Barbara DiGiacinto and the Conservative Republican ticket win, they will get to appoint an additional Town Board member to fill DiGiacinto’s vacated councilmember seat. Therefore, a DiGiacinto ticket victory could result in four of North Castle’s five Town Board members being handpicked by, and loyal to, DiGiacinto.
In contrast, if the Rende-Berra-Hussain ticket wins, the Town Board would be comprised of three Democrats, one Republican (DiGiacinto would remain on the Board) and one independent, none of whom would owe allegiance to any one person, and at least four of whom have a proven record of independence and objectivity.
Control of our town should not be ceded to a DiGiacinto Conservative Republican voting bloc that places the special interests of developers and family real estate holdings over the best interests of our town.
Please join me on Nov. 7 in voting for Rende, Berra and Hussain.
Tom D’Agostino
Armonk
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