Patch Candidate Profile: Cullen Seeks Southeast Town Supervisor Post

SOUTHEAST, 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.

Robert S. Cullen is running for the post of Southeast town supervisor, to replace retiring Supervisor Tony Hay. Cullen's opponent is Nicholas Durante, who defeated Putnam County Councilman Paul Jonke in the GOP primary for the Republican line on the November ballot.

Cullen, a Southeast resident for 22 years, was a town board member from 2010-18. A graduate of Archbishop Stepinac and Iona University, he spent 21 years as an officer in the Eastchester Police Department. Now 56, he is a security officer at Indian Point. His two children attended Brewster schools.

Why are you seeking this office?

After the Republican Primary, I decided to try and seek the Conservative Party line, to allow non Republicans the opportunity to pick a Town Supervisor for the next four years. If I did not obtain the Conservative line, only a small group of 500 people would have picked the next Supervisor during the primary in June 2023, shutting out the majority of voters in the Town of Southeast and Village of Brewster.

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

My 8 years of town board experience will allow a smooth transition into the Supervisor job. Under Michael Rights' term as Supervisor I was part of the majority (Gross, Hudak, Cullen) that kept the town operational due to Mr. Rights' poor leadership and decision making.

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

Infrastructure issues. The town has several water districts that need upgrades (Brewster Heights). Additional sewer plants are needed in town, along Route 6 and Route 22 to allow for smart commercial development. Commercial development is needed to help keep school population and taxes in check, as commercial development does not produce school age students.

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

The current Supervisor, Tony Hay and Deputy Supervisor Nick Durante (my opposition) just presented a 9 percent budget increase for 2024. This is unacceptable. Patterson Supervisor Richard Williams just presented a 1 percent tax increase for 2024. More has to be done to keep our taxes affordable, especially for seniors who want to stay in their homes in retirement. More needs to be done to allow young couples who grew up in Southeast, to raise their families here. I would look into shared service agreements with other towns, the village, and county to try to keep taxes in check. Does the town and village need two courts? Does the town and village need two highway departments? Whatever happened to the "Plow up, Plow down" study? Why is NYS DOT, Putnam County Public Works, and the Town and Village highway departments all criss-crossing the town plowing only their respective streets? I would also look into other cost saving programs, such as feasibility of countywide assessing, merging town clerk and receiver of taxes office and parking permit office. Also pursuing Federal and State grants to assist our town with upgrades to infrastructure improvements.

How would you protect the drinking water in the community?

Water quality is very important. Most of town is on individual wells. Some older homes have septic systems in bad condition, and some are too close to the fresh water wells I would work with the County Health Department to see what can be done in helping inspecting septic systems. I was proud to be on the town board in 2010 when the Peach Lake Sewer system came on line (joint project with North Salem) This sewer system will help keep the water quality in good shape in Peach Lake. The town also created a new water system for the Springhouse District while I was on the town board. Water quality at Lake Tonetta is also important. Sadly this lake was closed to swimming several times last summer. I would try to get state funding for an aerator, like Yorktown was able to secure for Mohegan Lake.

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

Transparency in town government, improved ethics code for town officials, tighter rules for hiring and supervising town employees that are family members. Background checks and fingerprinting of town employees, like Carmel does.

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

I was proud to be in the majority while on the town board that kept the Brewster library funded and open under Michael Rights' rein as Supervisor. Michael wanted to "defund" the library, which would have hurt our community if this department was shuttered. Town entered into some shared service agreements with the village to benefit both communities.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Just be honest, and admit if you made a mistake and were wrong.

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

I love living in Southeast, and hope my two children are able to live in Southeast when they are on their own. Southeast has wonderful schools and community spirit to raise a family. I feel I am the more qualified candidate that has the experience to be town supervisor. I will also decline health Insurance and joining the NYS retirement, which would save taxpayers money. I would also not take the budget officer stipend (20g approx) and commit to only serving two terms as supervisor if elected. I would love to have a debate or a meet and greet with Mr. Durante and the public, but he refuses to do that now with me, or when he was running against Paul Jonke in the Republican primary. I am proud of my record on the town board and hope people remember my past service to the town during the dark days of Michael Rights' term.