Patch Candidate Profile: Woods Runs For Seat on Clarkstown Council

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 is publishing candidate profiles.

Mark W. Woods is running for the Ward 1 seat on the Clarkstown Town Council. His opponent is Monica Ferguson.

Woods, 54, is a former US Army major, and former INS Special Agent who retired as a detective in the NYPD. He is a licensed funeral director and current adjunct professor at AAMI. Past Deputy Director of Rockland County Veterans Service Agency, he is currently employed by BRiDGES as the Director of Veterans Services. He earned a BS Political Science from The Citadel.

Patch: Why are you seeking this office?

Woods: I was asked to run, and though I was initially hesitant, I realized my vast experience has lead me to believe I am the ideal fit for this job. Serving Clarkstown will be a continuation of my life's work of service. I live here, too, and I am affected by the same issues.

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

Woods: The major differences between the other candidate and myself is the depth of our experience. Look at our resumes. There is no Town Council matter at which I do not have expertise. Public Safety, multi million dollar budgeting, immigration, building infrastructure including water services, serving the disabled, advocating for mental health, helping veterans and the elderly. I have also been involved with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, been a Baseball and Softball Coach, and a PTA volunteer.

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

Woods: The single most pressing issue facing Clarkstown is Public Safety. Due to the great work which goes on behind the scenes, Clarkstown is one of the safest cities in the United States. But that doesn't happen in a vacuum. When I was an NYPD Vice Detective, I made numerous arrests in Clarkstown for Sex Trafficking. When I was in the Joint Terrorism Task Force, assigned to the Hamas team, I conducted surveillance at the Palisades Mall. My work as a Special Agent with the INS makes me uniquely qualified to address the current migrant process. I have a vast understanding of immigrant law, including deportation and asylum processes.

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

Woods: While I am not in favor of overdevelopment, I do see a need for affordable and accessible housing for our seniors, our young people, and our volunteers. I have a 22 year old son, and when he decides it's time to move out, I would like him to stay close by while he is working towards purchasing a home in Clarkstown. I think 55 and up developments should be both affordable and fully accessible. My work at BRiDGES has made me more aware of ADA compliance. I firmly believe that those who are volunteering for our community should be recognized for that. They are taking money out of their own pockets by choosing to save our lives rather than working more, and that should correlate in their housing costs. One way I plan to address affordable housing is by making sure property taxes remain low. This directly correlates to housing cost.

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

Woods: My first project when I got to Iraq was addressing the healthy water crisis there. My first project was building 12 wells and building a pipeline. I live across the street from the Lake Deforest water plant, and I have a well, so safe drinking water is a priority for me. We don't use chemicals on our lawn, and have asked our neighbors to do the same. I would encourage Rockland County's green spaces initiative, particularly in areas where drinking water is affected. Rockland County and the Town of Clarkstown are in the processing of purchasing nearly 5 acres of watershed property on my street, for which I am grateful.

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

Woods: I will advocate for stronger code enforcement, which I believe is the key to protecting our first responders and addressing migration issues.

Traffic safety is a significant issue in Clarkstown. Due to some medical issues, my son is currently unable to drive. We live on a busy road, and we need sidewalks. While it would cost over $200 million to put sidewalks on every street in Clarkstown, they need to be on at least major thoroughfares. We also need to address speeding issues in our town, especially at accident prone locations. I am familiar with the traffic safety grant process, and I would use those to help pay for highway safety, in order to not affect our property taxes.

Patch: What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Woods: There's a sign hanging in the NYPD gym, which says "Integrity is who you are when nobody else is watching." I ran laps around that sign every day, and I still think of it today.

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

Woods: I am who I am, and who I have always been in this campaign. I have nothing to exaggerate or hide. Nothing will change come November 8.

SEE: New City Voters Guide 2023: Local, Regional Elections