Patterson Supervisor Race Contested as Former Assembly Candidate Enters Race
With Patterson Supervisor Michael Griffin deciding against seeking a ninth term in office, two Republicans and one Democrat have come forward during the committee process in hopes of the attaining the vacant seat.
Two-time New York State Assembly candidate and Democrat Andy Falk and Patterson Town Planner and Republican Richard Williams both confirmed their intention to run for the seat that Griffin has occupied for more than a decade. Also, possibly in the mix is former town councilman Joe Capasso, who went in front of the Patterson GOP Committee but was unable to wrestle the nomination away from Williams.
Falk, who has two failed assembly runs under his belt in a Republican heavy district, said knocking on doors, especially in Patterson, allowed him to know the issues facing town voters. His campaign message will be similar to his previous assembly runs that include economic growth and tax relief for the middle class.
“I’m excited to do it again,” he said. “I feel like I know the local issues, I know what concerns the residents have. I know this community.”
After a crushing loss to current Assemblyman Steve Katz, Falk started contemplating a run for supervisor after residents in town approached him about it. After some time, he decided to throw his hat in the ring and received the Democratic nomination Monday night.
Falk said he wants Patterson to become more of anchor for Putnam County, noting other towns dictate the direction of the county. He believes that local government needs to “step up” and be a “strong voice” so the town can grow.
Though Falk is running in a Republican stranglehold, similar to his assembly runs, he isn’t concerned. He believes he’s an independent voice, noting he spoke out against the Common Core when most Democrats were not.
“I feel I’ve been a strong independent voice,” Falk said. “And that’s the type of person that people want in an elected official.”
Williams has had more than 20 years of experience in town government. The longtime resident was on the planning board for ten years and since 1999, he’s been the town planner. During that time, he’s seen the town do many things he
thought were good and some things he didn’t quite agree with.
He thinks the town has done a good job at meeting infrastructure needs, like the recreation center and town hall and added the town has excelled at grabbing grants from the state. He disagreed when the town did not put a water system on Front Street to help redevelopment and he would like the town be more proactive in watershed planning.
Because of residential growth in town, Williams knows it’s imperative to add commercial growth.
“I would be good at pulling people together and creating more transparency and being able to get things done,” Williams said.
Williams, who got the Patterson GOP nod instead of Capasso, said the message he conveyed to the committee was his experience to accomplish tasks by understanding process and procedure and the right officials to contact.
“I’m looking forward to serving the residents of the Patterson as I have for the past 20 years,” Williams said.
Capasso, who could not be reached for comment before press time, ran against Griffin in 2011 in a Republican primary, only to lose by just three votes. He served on the town board for one term.
