Patch Candidate Profile: Philhower Seeks Clarkstown Town Council Seat

CLARKSTOWN, NY — Election season 2023 election is here and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Elaine Philhower is running for Clarkstown Town Council in Ward 2. Her opponents are Mike Graziano on the Republican and Conservative lines and Brian J. Shanahan on the Protect Ward 2 line.

A retired music teacher, she taught in the Nyack Public Schools from 993 until 2020, and then returned last fall to Liberty Elementary School to cover the maternity leave for the current music teacher. She is an active volunteer at the soup kitchen in Nyack. She is a graduate of Spring Valley Senior High School and SUNY Potsdam and has master’s degrees from CUNY Lehman and the Crane School of Music. The 61-year-old Valley Cottage resident has a husband and daughter.

Campaign website: Elaine Philhower for Clarkstown Town Council, Ward 2

Patch: Why are you seeking this office?

Philhower: I was born in Rockland County and I love living here. I care about the people in our community, our history and our future.

Patch: What are the major differences between you and the other candidate(s) seeking this post?

Philhower: I have no ties to developers, construction companies or businesses. My career as a public school music teacher has taught me to see and care for the big picture as well as individual needs. I have been recognized as a 2023 Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate. I will advocate for gun violence prevention and I am committed to govern with gun safety in mind. I am thrilled to join New York women pro-choice leaders and history makers as an Eleanor's Legacy endorsed candidate! At the end of the day, I’m seeking this position to better my community, not to benefit myself.

Patch: What is the single most pressing issue facing your constituents and what do you intend to do about it?

Philhower: Contaminants in our drinking water and poor air quality are pressing issues. I will insist on good land use that does not over burden our natural resources and work with the Rockland Water Coalition and the EPA to learn how to clean our water supply.

Patch: How would you address the affordable housing issue in the community?

Philhower: We need responsible, well thought out and researched growth to attract good tax bases and businesses, ones that are friendly to the community, that don’t degrade our quality of life. We need to curtail commercial development along our major roads, which has led to horrible traffic and poor air quality, and plan for sustainable residential growth, as well as residential friendly commercial businesses.

Patch: How would you protect the drinking water in the community?

Philhower: I will work with the Rockland Water Coalition and the EPA to learn how to protect and clean our water supply. Some ideas are to curb harmful pesticide use, and to insist that all residential and commercial development is planned with water conservation and protection in mind.

Patch: What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Philhower: The lack of access to our recreation facilities. You might not realize that although our beautiful community centers and parks are the heart of Clarkstown, they are not accessible to everybody because it is quite difficult to get and renew an ID card. The only place to get an ID card is at the Recreation Department Administration Building, at 31 Zukor Road, New City. Some of our senior citizens are not able to drive, and there are many families who do not have cars.

Patch: What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Philhower: I have a long history of community service, including 13 years fighting hunger with Soup Angels, the local soup kitchen in Nyack. I am currently a leader at Soup Angels, captain of 2 serving teams, and a member of the steering committee. For 35 years I taught music in the Nyack Public Schools, and I am a proud NYSUT Union member. I am an active facilitator for NYSUT’s Sticks and Stones workshops.

Patch: Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Philhower: I will pay attention and listen to people’s concerns, research solutions to address those concerns, and work to achieve those goals.