Nonna’s Steady Hand Needed on Board of Legislators
Bipartisanship has become one of the more popular buzzwords in politics. Most officeholders claim cooperation but in an era where the political discourse has become increasingly strident, it can be elusive.
What is equally important is for representatives to vote their conscience while keeping the best interests of their constituents in mind.
In his four years on the board of legislators, Democrat John Nonna, the former Pleasantville mayor who is seeking is third term representing District 3, has demonstrated that he has both of those qualities in abundance. As a result, Nonna should earn re-election for another two years in White Plains over his challenger, Greenburgh Republican and former Valhalla Board of Education President Michael Smith.
During this campaign, Smith has hit Nonna hard on several issues, particularly on the incumbent’s decision to support the affordable housing settlement in 2009 and siding with his party during last year’s budget veto overrides.
It is understandable why some Westchester residents, including Smith, would be upset at the settlement. No one likes to be dictated to, but in a bad situation created by the Spano administration the $51.6 million cap to create 750 units is a small price to pay compared to the gamble that opposing the settlement would have posed.
What seems to have been forgotten by those who say they would have voted against the agreement is that Westchester’s affordable housing stock has been woefully inadequate. The county has been prohibitively expensive for residents of all backgrounds and these units will begin to help toward that end.
Nonna has also vowed to protect the Town of Mount Pleasant from being forced to construct the housing because they are the only municipality that didn’t accept federal funds. Smith has made statements to the contrary, but unless and until there is evidence otherwise, that is a hollow argument.
Charges of being a slave to the supermajority are somewhat overstated. On several key votes, all or some of the board’s Republicans have sided with the Democratic majority, such as to bond $1.2 million to save the Miller House and the override of funding for Mountain Lakes Park in North Salem.
One nagging concern about Nonna’s current term was his oversight of the committee in charge of county redistricting. In District 4, where fellow Democrat Michael Kaplowitz is running for re-election, eyebrows were raised because the house of Kaplowitz’s opponent managed to be cut out of the district. The typically down-the-middle League of Women Voters criticized the plan. Nonna has repeatedly stated the county listened to its consultant, even as there have been questions about the consultant’s objectivity.
Then again, until there is independent redistricting, something that is sorely needed, both parties at all levels of government will be suspected of gerrymandering.
To his credit, Smith has run a spirited campaign, and has raised some valid concerns about the lockstep nature of the supermajority. It wouldn’t be the worst turn of events if that legislative domination ended. But Smith does not appear to be the candidate best suited to be added to the body. One must question whether Smith will be an independent legislator if elected. He has spouted the same Republican talking points other GOP hopefuls have mouthed about the settlement and the supposed gimmickry of the 2.2 percent tax reduction in the 2011 budget.
He has unnecessarily chided Nonna for being a lawyer who is too dependent on creating new laws to solve problems. That’s what a legislator–or lawmaker–is paid to do.
Where both Nonna and Smith stand politically and the role of government is always up for genuine debate. However, there are serious questions about Smith’s six-year record on the Valhalla Board of Education. There was the signing of a contract, deemed improper by the state, that paid the district about $600,000 a year. Last month in The Examiner, Smith effectively argued that contract was signed and in place before he arrived on the board.
In fairness, he should receive no more than 20 percent of the blame for the scathing 2005-07 state comptroller’s audit of the school district’s finances, since he was just one of five trustees and it encompassed the period before he became president.
What is most alarming, however, was the circus atmosphere surrounding that board during a sizeable portion of his presidency, including multiple lawsuits, constant controversies, vitriol and even an attempt to remove a colleague from the board of education.
That is not a good track record to have when the ability to work together, even when there are deep philosophical disagreements, is what the public is increasingly demanding today. In this race, Nonna is clearly the candidate who can deliver on that front.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/