VIDEO: Meet the Candidates, County Legislator William J. Ryan

Election season is upon us again, and White Plains has races on Nov. 8 for seats on the White Plains Common Council and Westchester County Board of Legislators. Read below to learn more about one of the candidates, and click  to find out who else is running.

Meet the Candidate: County Legislator William J. Ryan, running for a 2-year term on the Westchester County Board of Legislators

How Long in White Plains/Where: has lived in White Plains for 22 years, currently lives in the North Broadway neighborhood

Age: 62

Family: wife, JoAnn; five grown children and eight grandchildren

Job Title/Profession: Westchester County Legislator, District 5 (White Plains, Scarsdale) has served seven terms; Chair of Committee on Public Works, Parks, Labor and Transportation; Former Banker (banks operating in Westchester and the Mid-Hudson Valley)

Education: Bachelors of Economics, SUNY Plattsburgh

Other activities and current/past involvement: 

• Immediate Past Chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators; Former Chair, Westchester County Committee on Public Safety & Criminal Justice
• White Plains Historical Society; White Plains Rotary; North Broadway Citizens Association; Friendly Sons of St. Patrick; Antonio Meucci Lodge; White Plains Post Jewish War Veterans; former director, Arts Westchester
• Former Peekskill youth football coach; former director, Peekskill Health Care Center; former chair, Peekskill Housing Authority; former chair, Peekskill Board of Assessment Review; former chair, Peekskill Democratic City Committee
• President, New York State Association of Counties; Director, National Association of Counties;
• Former member, NYS Assembly Speaker’s staff (Joint State Legislative Commission on State-Local Relations); 

Run for office before: New York State Assemblyman, 91^st A.D. (Parts of Westchester, Putnam, Orange and Rockland Counties), 1982-1984; Westchester County Legislator, 5^th District elected in 1997, re-elected six times

Party: Democratic           

Endorsements: Democratic, Working Families, Independence

Why are you running to represent District 5 on the Westchester County Board of Legislators? 

We’re all working in a new environment in a time that requires tough decisions. Public officials are trying to find the "new normal."  In the wake of the most serious economic decline since the Great Depression, many are re-thinking the traditional role of government. 

What services should government provide? How best to pay for those services?  How should the service delivery system be structured? 

I want to be part of the process that considers and finds the best answers to these questions. 

And there’s another reason why I am running. For years, I’ve been known for rapid response constituent service. This is an important part of the job. When you ask for help you can count on me and my staff to handle your problem quickly and professionally. I’m “hands on” and I make every effort to contact you personally to find out how I can help. 

A public official needs to be accessible to those he represents. For me, that means 24/7 access because you never know when someone may need your help. People need to know that their legislator cares, and will try to do his best to help them.

What makes you the best candidate to sit on the Westchester County Board of Legislators? What would you bring to the board as a legislator?

My extensive background and experience in government at the local, county and state levels highlighted by six years as Chair of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, one of the two top leaders of county government; my service as a member of the State Assembly; my current role as President of the New York State Association of Counties; and my position as a Director of the National Association of Counties. The relevant background and experience I bring to the board is unparalleled in the legislature.

What do you think are the biggest issues facing Westchester County? How would you address these issues?

Lower property taxes: Press the State to takeover the local Medicaid costs. In Westchester, that amounts to $211 million annually. A state takeover of local costs would reduce county property taxes by nearly 40 percent.

Government that’s streamlined and effective: At a price we can afford. Our government needs to work smarter, become more efficient and less expensive. I advanced the Westchester Renewed initiative with a citizen-run charter revision commission to help improve county government. It will give the people an opportunity to recommend changes to the design and operation of their government to meet current and future needs.

Jobs: Help create good paying, permanent jobs and boost our local economy with a strong economic development program to stimulate private sector investment and attract new business, and a capital improvement program to upgrade County roads, bridges, buildings and other infrastructure.

Affordable housing: Continue the County’s New Homes Land Acquisition and Housing Implementation programs to help create more decent, safe, fair and affordable housing for working families.

Clean Water and Air: Maintain the laws, regulations and policies necessary to protect our air and water quality. Continue to invest resources in our public safety and security programs and services.

What are some issues or initiatives taking place in the county that are promising and exciting?

A citizen-run commission is working to help improve government.  My proposal for a Westchester County Charter Revision Commission is now a reality. The work of the 23-member commission got underway this summer and will continue for at least a year and possibly longer. 

They will present recommendations for improvement to the Westchester County Board of Legislators and the County Executive.

I’ve suggested some broad areas of inquiry for the commission including: how can we streamline the operation of our government to make it more efficient and less expensive; and what charter changes will provide the flexibility we need to ensure a county-local government partnership that benefits all of our residents and taxpayers.

Charter revision is at the core of Westchester Renewed, my far-reaching reform initiative to affect how our county government operates in the future. The goal of Westchester Renewed is government that’s streamlined and effective at a price we can afford.

I urge county residents to follow the work of the commission and participate in the process when given the opportunity to do so.

What is your favorite thing about Westchester County?

There are so many things, but I think at the top of my list is the county’s geographic diversity and scenic beauty.

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