Candidate for
Trustee; Village of Ossining

I believe that when it comes to local government it's all about doing the right thing for our residents who foot the bills. It's not about party affiliation. There are only five members on the village board, no majority/minority leader. However, when certain individuals run for election they tell you they are listening and are concerned, but once they get sworn in they seem to forget what they promised. Not all elected officials act that way, but most of them on the Ossining Village board do. They sit there and make faces or fall asleep when they don't have an interest in what the public or department heads are saying. Just watch the work sessions and regular meetings on Go-TV.

Village board meetings are taped, yet they don't tape public participation. I know that open government laws mean that they have to conduct the business of the village in public and they don't have to let the public talk, but it's the appropriate thing to do, to hear from their constituents. With the exception of contracts, legal and personnel issues, all other business should be conducted in public.

I will listen to the concerns of all residents, evaluate the village's priorities as set by previous boards and make an informed decision based on input from village residents and my life experience and intuition. The Village Board must be above board at all times.