MARGARET HARRISON - Running for Town Supervisor (D/C)

The regional impact of gas drilling comes to mind. Whether Tusten is faced with drill sites within it's boundaries or is impacted by neighboring communities having the activity, there certainly will be issues needing to be addressed such as traffic, emergency services, water and air pollution as a result of this industry. Having worked on the Multi Municipal Task Force for development of the Road Use Law, I believe we have an excellent start with the task force in addressing these issues. We have recognized from the start the strength in numbers. There needs to be a well balanced approach to ensure the health, welfare and safety of our citizens.

Whether we are faced with drilling or not, we need to address the economic viability of our community. We have more and more "for sale" signs and a higher foreclosure rate then ever. Reliance on the second home owner to sustain economic viability for our community is unrealistic. Re-evaluation of our comprehensive plan matrix to understand the direction our economic base is headed would be the first start.

CAROL ROPKE WINGERT - Running for Town Supervisor (D/I/Rural Heritage)

My main focus is what I am charged with as a councilman as well as if I am elected supervisor, and that is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Tusten. I have chosen to live here my entire life for a reason, just as those who move into our quaint town and those who choose Tusten for their second homes. We all have the same reasons for wanting to be here. We have a scenic and rural town that harbors the uniqueness of the narrows of the Delaware River.

High-impact industrial use has been a concern of many constituents as well as board members. The board has been working on this issue through its comprehensive plan and more recently the zoning rewrite and the Multi-Municipal Task Force. Preserving and maintaining our infrastructure in an economic manner is one focus the town board has chosen to put an emphasis on. Our nation has undergone the stresses of a poor economy that has affected everyone in New York State, including our Town of Tusten. It is important not to lose sight of the fact that this will only be temporary, and that the board has the responsibility of forging ahead. We need to continue managing, protecting and maintaining our infrastructure and pristine rural legacy for our future generations.

Fiscal responsibility is also a concern of many taxpayers. As supervisor, I would make sure that grant deadlines were not missed and I will diligently seek other sources to offset taxes. I also would like to combine a few of the part time positions in town into one comprehensive position, thus saving the taxpayers money long term.

ANTHONY B. RITTER - Running for Town Council (R/C)

If elected councilperson to the Tusten Town Board in November, my first order of business would be to try to add civility, manners and common sense to town board meetings which, in my opinion, has been lacking. Without courtesy and respect to our fellow colleagues that are our elected officials, no matter their party affiliation, we show contempt for those same citizens who voted to put us in office. I will try my best to always remember that it is a privilege to serve the Town of Tusten and those who elected me into office.

We live in a small town which has a lot of potential but, at present, that potential is not being fulfilled. We all need to work together for the common good, which has been outlined by the public in our Comprehensive Plan.

We need to listen to each other and not succumb to apathy or ignorance. Listening is just as important as making a point – maybe even more so.

I have tried to attend most Zoning Board of Appeals meetings that I have chaired for the past fifteen years, and my election to the town board would be no different. My door has always been open to any citizen that has a question and I would also try to attend every town board meeting by being prepared and speaking out for what I believe is right.

My responsibility is to represent the people that elected me into office, for it is they who are the true stakeholders of Tusten.

J.P. LANG - Running for Town Council (D)

No response received from candidate

NED LANG - Running for Town Council (R)

There has been a lot of talk and speculation, both pro and con, regarding the possibility of natural gas exploration in this town, which I find to be healthy and engaging. There are well founded concerns which I share; however the same can be said and has been said about one of the industries which my company participates in. The land application of BioSolids has been heralded and condemned at the same time. It depends on which point of view you care to listen to.

I can tell you this commodity has saved local farmers many thousands of dollars and allowed them to continue to operate their farms, while enhancing the ecology and quality of their soils and crops. The same concept can be applied to gas drilling. There are definitely areas in this town, outside of the hamlets where the population is denser, wherein the mineral rights of the property owners should be utilized with their permission as landowners.

The point that I am making is that saying no just because some individuals are fearful of the possibilities of an industry doesn't make them right, nor should it give them the ability to confiscate those rights from fellow landowners. In some circles members of the anti-gas coalition are called NIMBYs. I prefer to refer to people who will not listen to both sides of an issue concerning our environment as the nouveau environmentalists. They pretend to be promoting an ideal that is good for the whole of society without investigating and considering it's impacts. Why then are they not directing their efforts to really protect the environment from the devastation that has recently occurred in our area and upstate NY? How many millions of gallons of heating oil, gasoline, paints, household insecticides and raw sewerage have been washed into out water supplies>

We will never know that answer; however, some of these tragedies could have been averted. Why are they not demanding that our streams and creeks, that are filled to the banks with stone and debris, be excavated to depths which will allow the water to flow by and not crest their banks in all but the worst of storms? How about demanding that the DRBC keep the levels in our reservoirs at reasonable levels so the dams can sufficiently protect the communities downstream during these rain events? They could also pressure their state representatives to procure funds to establish anti-flooding structures for towns that would still be prone to floods even if these other initiatives were completed. I submit to you, that the natural gas industry's negative environmental impact, when studied throughout its history working throughout this entire country is not even a whisp of air when compared to the catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Irene.

NORMAN MEYER - Running for Town Council (D/C)

I think that encouraging business to invest in the township, providing a chance for viable employment for all levels of the local workforce, is the desired goal. We should encourage the planning and zoning boards to that end. Tourism and agriculture should be parts of economic plans for the township, not the whole plan

ANDREA REYNOSA - Running for Town Council (Rural Heritage)

One other issue of concern is the gas station across from Peck’s Plaza.

Our town has a gas station that doesn’t sell gas. This is a complaint that is heard far and wide in our community, and it makes no sense for us to drive 30 minutes round trip to fill up our cars with gas hovering around $4/gal. Business owners who are struggling with local zoning and DEC regulations should have the ability to work with their town representatives to ensure that necessary services like this – which also provide additional revenue to the town – survive.

A second issue of concern is taxes. One of the main complaints reflected in Tusten’s comprehensive plan, and what I consistently hear on the street, is that our taxes are too high. In this difficult economy, we need elected officials that can run efficient, effective government.

I would like to share my experience in running non-profit organizations, writing successful grants at the federal, state and local level, and developing public and private partnerships with the Town of Tusten and, if elected, my contribution to the board will allow the town to pursue additional forms of revenue and create a consensus among our elected officials to strengthen the town’s purse and prevent painful and unnecessary tax increases.

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