Eight Candidates Vie For Four County Legislative Seats

The general election debate forum co-hosted by the Putnam County League of Women Voters and Chambers of Commerce kicked off with the candidates running to represent one of four open seats on the Putnam County Legislature.

County Legislative District No. 1

Both former members of the Philipstown Town Board, the candidates for District No. 1, Republican candidate Barbara Scuccimarra and Democrat Steve Rosario, were the first to address the 100-plus local residents who attended the debate forum.

Rosario began by saying that he didn’t believe Putnam County government was properly serving its residents, given the fact that it’s the12^th most heavily taxed county in the nation.

“A 260 percent increase in the budget in the past 20 years,” Rosario said.

Scuccimarra said to solve the community’s problems, all sides would have to work together.

“I have the ability to consider other points of view, balance the debate and build consensus,” she said.

When asked how county dollars could be saved, Scuccimarra pointed out of that 90 percent of the county’s budget was eaten up by under and unfunded state mandates, leaving only 10 percent for essential services.

“We need mandate relief,” Scuccimarra said.

Rosario said that while he agreed mandate relief was needed, he said other items could be examined for savings, such as the payouts for lawsuits brought against the county.

“Have we become an easy target? Do we have standards for determining when we fight and when we don’t?,” he said.

Asked how the county could encourage tourism to help businesses, Scuccimarra said she has been working with the county tourism director on ideas as to how to better utilize what the county already has.

“Let’s use these resources and turn it into revenue so we can have more money in our coffers,” she said.

Noting recent efforts to better promote tourism, Rosario said a marketing and business plan needed to be put into place.

“There is no question that…western Putnam County is a jewel,” he said. “I’m glad to see the county has finally discovered it after 20 years.”

Asked about the potential dangers of fracking, Rosario said it was a matter of concern, and while he would be ready to work with the state, it was a matter that was under the authority of Albany.

Scuccimarra disagreed.

“I think it is a county issue,” she said, adding that she was against the practice. “It won’t happen in Putnam County…but I’m concerned about surrounding areas…it’s everybody’s issue.”

In closing, Scuccimarra said as legislator she would work to reduce property taxes through controlled spending, create a more business-friendly environment and support measures to protect the natural environment.

“If you are happy with being…in a county that’s budget has exploded over the years, that continues to borrow, then the choice is clear, it’s not me,” Rosario said in his closing remarks.

County Legislative District No. 4

The candidates for Putnam County Legislative District No. 4 were next: current Town of Patterson Councilwoman and Republican Virgina Nacerino and Democrat Luz Shulgin.

Nacerino said as legislator she would work to consolidate services, maximize efficiencies and create jobs through economic development.

“I have a proven record and a strong work ethic,” Nacerino said. “As your voice on the legislature, you can count on me to be a fiscal watchdog of your tax payer dollars.”

Shulgin said the fact she is new to running for political office was a positive.

“It’s a time for a change in our county legislature,” she said, stressing the spending increases and borrowing needed to be curtailed. “Our county cannot continue to spend beyond our means. Our pockets are not ATMs.”

When asked how she planned to save county dollars, Shulgin said mandate relief was needed in addition to creating new opportunities, such as an energy retrofit at county facilities that could create local jobs and save money on energy costs.

Nacerino cited the huge burden of under and under-funded mandates on the county’s budget.

“We need to comb through the budget with a laser focus,” she said. “We need to see where we can cut without impacting services…it really is a bare bones budget.”

Another voter wanted to know what the legislature could do to get private companies to improve the county’s communication infrastructure.

Nacerino said, as has been the case in Patterson, county government could promote and advocate for it, but if the companies were unwillingly to cooperate there was little else that could be done.

Shulgin said a legislator should employ their skills to reach out and negotiate with the companies.

Both of the candidates said they were against the use of fracking waste water as brine on county roads in the winter.

In closing, Shulgin said county government needed enhanced checks and balances.

“I am a firm believer that our county legislature is unbalanced,” she said.

If elected, Shulgin said she would use her professional skills to streamline the budget to reduce taxes and make county government more transparent and accountable.

“Go to the people and find out what the issues are…and work together to find a common solution,” she said would be her approach.

Nacerino spoke about her experience working in government and said it would be an asset to the people of Patterson and Putnam County.

“I believe we need a leader with experience and knowledge,” she said. “I speak the language of Patterson. I know the dynamics of the community we represent. My only agenda is to work hard for the people and my actions have been a testimony to my dedication.”

County Legislative District No. 6

Following were the candidates for County Legislative District No. 6, sitting Republican Legislator Roger Gross, who was appointed to serve out one year on a vacated seat, and Democrat Cathie Sloat.

Sloat said she was new to running for elected office and believed it to be an asset.

“I feel I can bring a new perspective to this position,” she said “We need…a new, balanced legislature.”

In addition to reducing taxes, Sloat said she wanted to examine the possible sharing of sales tax revenues and work to promote economic growth.

Gross said he served three terms on the Brewster Board of Education and won reelection to his seat on the Southeast Town Board last fall, vacating to serve on the legislature.

“My main goal is to stay connected to the town. It’s important to know what the town residents need,” Gross said.

The candidates were asked how the county could move away from relying so heavily on the sales tax for revenues.

“I see the consolidation of services as a way to save some of the funding,” Gross said, adding that the county was seeking to share highway services with the towns. In addition, the county would now be using a realtor to sell off foreclosed properties, instead of at auction, and that town attorneys would now be prosecuting traffic tickets instead of sheriff’s deputies.

“Added together they do add up for some savings,” he said.

As a small business owner, Sloat said she knew where to identify savings in a budget.

“During the economic downturn, I had to look at every line to see what I could cut,” she said, adding that the county needed to be careful of bonding, as it had to be paid back at a higher amount than borrowed.

On the issue of fracking, Sloat said she was opposed to the drilling practice and the use of the waste water as brine on the roads.

Gross said he believed it would be dangerous if employed in Putnam County, as it was in the water shed, but didn’t yet have a definitive opinion it.

“I’m really energized and excited to be in the legislature…I have learned a lot about the county,” Gross said, in closing. “We have a government that is committed to saving money, holding the line on taxes and doing what is best for the taxpayer.”

Sloat said she would operate without an agenda as legislator, had no ties to past elected officials and wanted to find ways to cut the budget.

“I’ve had to make some smart and tough decisions to keep my business successful. I’ve learned that problems can become opportunities when dealt with quickly and efficiently,” Sloat said.

County Legislative District No. 7

The final set of legislative candidates were Republican Joseph Castellano and Democrat Paul Morini, who are seeking to represent County Legislative District No. 7.

“The reason I am running is to reduce the cost of living in Putnam,” Morini said.

Morini said he served on the Putnam Energy Commission that came up with recommendations, some at little to no cost, that were never implemented.

“I was very disappointed in [that.] I think we offered some opportunities for cost-savings and they weren’t acted on,” Morini said, adding that he would pursue those measures, if elected.

Castellano described his education and professional background; now employed at the Westchester County Clerk’s Office for 15 years.

“[Westchester] was the first county to go to a mandatory electronic filing system, which is what I want to bring to Putnam County,” he said, noting that it saved millions of pieces of paper, and the money to purchase the paper.

Morini said if he joined the legislature he would actively support a measure that has been introduced for an outright ban on the use of fracking waste water as brine on county roads.

“It’s not what I want to see in Putnam County,” Castellano said of the drilling practice.

Asked what their ideas were on saving county dollars, Castellano said he wanted to see the use of new technologies in order to save on the cost of doing business and providing services.

“I want to look at old problems with fresh ideas,” he said.

Morini said the replacement of boilers at county buildings was a good idea, but he said the county lost out on an opportunity to seek out federal and state grants that may have shared in the close to $1 million price tag that the county is borrowing to pay for it.

“That’s something I would like to pursue in future energy efficiency endeavors; that way we save money,” Morini said.

On the matter of how the county could get private communications companies to increase capabilities in the county, Castellano said as a member of the Southeast zoning board since 2004, he had experience with balancing the hunger for increased technology, with residents who do not want a cell tower erected in their backyard.

Morini said he had 15 years of professional experience in the telecommunication industry and believed some movement could be made if the county government could show the private companies a benefit they would reap from improving services.

Castellano said he wanted to use his professional experience to help better run the County.

“What I bring to the table is that I have a working knowledge of how county government works…and I want to bring that knowledge here to Putnam County,” Castellano said.

Morini said he was greatly concerned about how many of his old friends have moved out of the county because of taxes.

“I want to reverse that trend,” Morini said. “I want to bring costs down and continue to make this a great place to raise a family.”