Opinion Roundup: Locals Write in Support for Candidates in Upcoming Elections

Oct. 31

Dear Editor,

I'm writing in gratitude to two highly dedicated and effective public servants.

Since Chris Burdick and David Gabrielson were elected to the Bedford Town Board, we have witnessed significant improvements in tax restraint, "green" initiatives, and information exchange between the town government and the community.

Their results-oriented leadership and collaborative spirit deserves our continued support on November 8th. We are very fortunate that there are people such as Chris and David who have the desire, the energy, the skills, and the ideas to serve so many in the common goals we share as residents of this beautiful town.

Thanks guys!

Sincerely, Susan and Tony Forcella

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Oct. 31

A vote for incumbent Pete Harckham is a vote for the special interests and the union bosses, not a vote for hard working Northern Westchester families. I don't understand why Harckham does not publicly state his position on whether or not county union employees should contribute to their healthcare insurance premiums. 

Almost every public and private sector employee in the United States pays something towards their healthcare, but not in Westchester County – 100 percent of the tab is picked up by us, the taxpayers.  Harckham has been challenged by his opponent, Peter Michaelis, to say where he comes down on the issue, but Harckham has refused to – like a broken record repeating “everything is on the table”. 

Are voters aware that Harckham’s table includes thousands of dollars in contributions from unions?  In fact, nearly a third of Harckham’s contributions reported on his last campaign financial report are from unions – the very same organizations that benefit from Harckham staying mum on this issue over the four years he has been in office.  Is it any wonder then that Harckham sided with the CSEA union earlier this year when they sued taxpayers to get jobs back that no longer existed?  Is it any wonder that the AFL-CIO has endorsed Harckham and that while you read this newspaper, the AFL-CIO is conducting phone banking operations to get out the vote for Harckham?  I wonder! Northern Westchester deserves a voice in county government that speaks for taxpayers, not for union bosses. 

Join me and vote Peter Michaelis Tuesday, November 8^th.     

D. Alan Eifert North Salem, NY

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To the Editor,

It was astounding the hear candidate Peter Michaelis admit in the recent League of Women Voters Candidate Forum that he has not even read the county budget. I would expect that understanding the budget would be the first step any candidate would take. Such a lack of homework might explain why his campaign was so devoid of details and so full of partisan attacks. Not surprisingly, Mr. Michaelis has yet to tell us where he would make tax cuts. Would it be in the emergency services that we turn to in a hurricane or an unexpected snowstorm?

It’s anyone’s guess.

County Legislator Pete Harckham is already a proven budget cutter. The County Legislature’s budget is 11% lower than it was 4 years ago due to his work, and there is a 10% reduction in the county workforce. Pete Harckham led the bipartisan passage of a county budget that cut taxes 2.2%, more than twice the cut proposed by County Executive Rob Astorino. He reduced the county workforce by over 10 percent, saving $30 million annually, and last year he voted against any tax increase and cut another $20 million in spending.

The numbers don’t lie, and they are far more persuasive to me than the sort of hyper-partisan attacks that have brought our national government to a standstill. On Tuesday, November 8, I’ll be voting for Pete Harckham, so that he can continue cutting taxes and reforming government.

Sincerely,

Neal Berkin, Bedford Corners

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Nov. 1

On Tuesday, November 8, I will be voting for Pete Harckham for county legislator for a number of reasons. Importantly, when he was first elected, Pete said he would focus on right-sizing the county government and cutting taxes.

His success here is clear. Pete cut taxes by 2.2% (more than twice what was proposed by County Executive Astorino), and Pete cut spending by $30 million. In addition, he cut the county workforce by 10%, saving taxpayers tens of millions of dollars, and he successfully lowered by 11% the County Board of Legislators budget two years in a row. AND, he made these cuts without weakening such essential county services as the Dept. of Emergency Services.

Pete’s record is equally strong in protecting our fragile drinking water supplies and our environment, and he has received the endorsement of both the Sierra Club for the Lower Hudson and the New York League of Conservation Voters.

All this is proof of experienced leadership that is working for us -- and among the many reasons that I will be voting for Pete Harckham for county legislator on Tuesday, November 8.

Sincerely,
Bea Rhodes, Katonah

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Nov. 1

Dear Editor:
 
I write in support of Chris Burdick and David Gabrielson for re-election to the Bedford Town Board and for Peter Harckham for re-election to the County Legislature.
 
Chris and David were impressive at the League of Women Voters' Forum at Fox Lane High School. And what's more important is, I believe in the work that they are already doing for my community. I am spreading the word around the community and wherever I may go that we all should be voting for Chris, David and Peter.


Sincerely,
 
MaryAnn Carr

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Nov. 1

Dear Editor:

Pete Harckham gets high marks for storm service.

During Hurricane Irene, our County Legislator Pete Harckham put 2,000 miles on his car traveling the district to access damage, help to open critical infrastructure, and work with local officials and NYSEG to restore power. After the storm, he held Legislative hearings to hold NYSEG accountable for their slow response.

Right now he’s doing the same thing. Spending hours each day working with NYSEG to get more boots on the ground to get power, heat and water restored to our residents. He’s visiting firehouses and warm up centers to make sure they have enough supplies and to thank our volunteers.

We are incredibly grateful that Pete Harckham worked so hard to restore proposed cuts to the Department of Emergency Services in the 2011 budget. Navigating through a hurricane and a crippling blizzard back to back with 20% fewer personnel would have been disastrous.

This is the kind of dedication and foresight we need in our elected officials, and why we will be voting for Pete Harckham for County Legislator on Tuesday, November 8. 

Sincerely,

Gary and Vivian Cohn