Letter to the Editor: In Support of Mary Foster

To the Editor:

Mary Foster has earned it; she deserves another term to lead Peekskill. 

Peekskill is very lucky to have someone with Mayor Foster's credentials and business background.  She has an uncanny ability to successfully manage a multitude of complex issues and her exceptional expertise in finance makes her the right person to continue watching over Peekskill's budget to ensure the tax payers are getting the best services for their tax dollar.  Her impact was felt immediately as soon as she set foot in City Hall as a councilperson in 2006.   The continuous tax hikes that became the norm under the prior administration came to an immediate halt once Councilwoman Foster became part of the budget review. 

She led the charge to pass zero percent tax increases, and today, budgets she has managed have averaged a little more than 1% annual in property tax increases. It's no accident.    

Mayor Foster has a methodical, deliberate, dedicated approach to the budget review process that doesn't happen just once a year.  Under her leadership the City's budget is monitored and reviewed throughout the year to keep an eye on the day to day fiscal health of the City. Mayor Foster's fiscal leadership has been recognized by the City's auditors who stated Peekskill is in very good fiscal condition compared to other municipalities in the area. 

Mayor Foster is an accomplished woman who has succeeded in one of the toughest arenas in the country.  The male dominated executive suite of corporate America; all during a time when women were not in charge of a lot of things. A retired partner from Deloitte & Touche she's taken her business acumen, and no nonsense style of getting things done and brought them to Peekskill's City Hall.   I've gotten to know Mayor Foster these past years and I really admire her work ethic, her dedication and love she has for the City. She inspired me to roll up my sleeves and get involved; to make Peekskill a better place for all. 

One of the things I learned about Mary these past few years is that she wants Peekskill to succeed; I mean really succeed in every aspect in every area.  She believes in Peekskill, for what it is and for what it can become and in just under 4 years – it shows.  She’s doing it and the Democrats are doing it. They are really making it happen.

Tuesday, November 8^th is Election Day and you have a choice in which direction Peekskill will go. The GOP had their turn, they had stewardship of our great City when the economy was booming but they did not achieve what Mary Foster and the Democrats were able to accomplish in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. 

Why change pilots in mid flight? Who do you want at the helm in this economy navigating the storm?  A pilot’s experience counts when flying planes especially in bad weather, and experience counts to serve as Mayor of the City of Peekskill.  Mary Foster deserves re-election; she has earned another term to pilot Peekskill to continued success.

Mayor Foster and the Democrats believe in Peekskill and have shown they have the ability to keep moving the City in a successful direction. I urge you to vote for Peekskill's continued success by voting to re-elect Mary Foster for Mayor, Don Bennett, Kathie Talbot, and Darren Rigger for Common Council, along with Michael Kane and Catherine Borgia for the County Legislature.

Best Regards,

Marina Ciotti

Acting Chairwoman
Peekskill Democratic City Committee