Sweet To Run For Clarkstown Town Clerk in 2011

After getting word that the Clarkstown Town Board has decided to appoint him as the next town clerk, Justin L. Sweet of New City said Wednesday that he plans on running for election to the post in 2011.

Sweet, 41, an attorney, is a Democratic aide to the Rockland County Legislature who also runs a title insurance business with his wife, Olga, in New City. Sweet said his goal in taking the new job is to continue innovation and cost-saving efforts that have been ongoing in the Town Clerk's Office and in Clarkstown town government.

"I want to make sure we're doing what's right for providing services for the town residents and doing what's right for the town's taxpayers," said Sweet, a lifelong Clarkstown resident who has been active in Democratic politics and local community organizations.

Clarkstown Supervisor Alexander Gromack said Wednesday that Sweet was selected after he and the Town Board's four other members conducted an outreach effort to see who would be interested in replacing outgoing Town Clerk David Carlucci, who takes office in January as the state senator representing the 38th District, which includes all of Rockland and part of Orange County.

Gromack said Sweet was one of 10 people who expressed interest in the job, and he was one of eight people who were interviewed by the Town Board. Gromack said the board has agreed to appoint Sweet at the Dec. 29 Town Board meeting, with Sweet taking office Jan. 1. The post comes up for election in November 2011, and Sweet said Wednesday he will run in the election.

"We had some very qualified people who were interested in the position," Gromack said. "The board felt (Justin Sweet) was a very qualified and very well-rounded individual."

Town Board member Stephanie Hausner, D-New City, said she believes Sweet will be able to make the Town Clerk's Office even more efficient and accessible to the community. 

"I think Justin is a great choice," Hausner said. "I am very excited about it. We interviewed many candidates and it was definitely a difficult decision, but Justin's experience both governmentally as someone who has been working at the County Legislature and as a small businessman and attorney provided a unique skill set that will serve the town well."

Sweet won the position over Deputy Town Clerk Pamela Sitomer, whose position at Town Hall is set to be eliminated in the new year. However, Gromack said Sitomer has been selected to replace Sweet in the County Legislature offices as a constituent representative working with individual legislators.

"They were both very competitive candidates," Gromack said of Sweet and Sitomer. "They each had strong attributes."

Sitomer has been Carlucci's deputy for the past five years.

Gromack said some of the factors that weighed in Sweet's favor are his experience as a lawyer, a business owner and his position in county government. Additionally, Gromack said Sweet's involvement in local politics gives him an understanding of what's necessary to run for elected office.

In 2007, Sweet unsuccesfully ran for a seat on the County Legislature. He lost in a Democratic primary to John C. Fellas, 198-178. Fellas lost the election to current county Legislator to Ed Day, R-New City.

Combined Experience

Sweet said he believes he is well-suited for the town clerk's job because of his unique experience in the community, in government and as a business owner.

Since January 2008, Sweet has worked at the County Legislature helping lawmakers respond to constituent issues and he has served as clerk for the Legislature's Budget and Finance Committee. Sweet said the county job gave him experience in helping community residents resolve problems and gave him an insider's understanding of how government works.

Sweet is also a member of the Clarkstown Zoning Board of Appeals.

However, Sweet said it's his experience running a local business that he believes will be key to taking on the new role as town clerk.

Sweet and his wife – who have five children — have operated High Tor Abstracts, a title insurance company in New City since 2005. Sweet said his wife is now the offiical owner of the company.

"When you own your own business you do whatever you have to do to get the job done," said Justin Sweet. "I plan on taking that same approach to the Town Clerk's Office. Whatever it takes to get the job done."

As soon as he takes office, Sweet will have to do more with less.

The salary for the town clerk's position has been cut from about $130,000 to $70,000, and there will be one less job in the office with the elimination of Sitomer's post.

"The Town Board is trying to make town government more efficient and I'm totally on board with this," Sweet said. "I think we can work together to get things done."

In addition to being active in local Democratic politics, Sweet has been active in Clarkstown schools. He is on the board of the New City Elementary School PTA and he helped run the school's publishing center, which printed works by students.

Sweet is a member of the Congers-Valley Cottage Rotary Club and has been a volunteer with New City Little League.