Candidate Profile 2023: Edward Lachterman For Yorktown Town Board

YORKTOWN, NY — Registered voters in Yorktown will have choices to make on Nov. 7.

Besides picking a town supervisor, people will have to decide who will fill two Town Board positions.

Incumbent Republican Edward A. Lachterman, 58, of Yorktown Heights, will appear on the ballot for Yorktown Town Board along with Democrats Steven J. Shaw and Thomas Marron and Republican Patrick J. Murphy.

Lachterman has been on the Yorktown Town Board for eight years.

He has worked 41 years in the hospitality industry and currently owns two franchise businesses. He has an associate of applied science degree in hospitality management.

Lachterman is married and has one grown daughter.

Campaign website: edlachterman.com

Patch sent all candidates for Yorktown Town Board the same set of questions. Here are Lachterman's answers.

Why are you seeking this office?

I have served the town both in the community and in public office for over a decade. I am looking
to continue the work I have been doing to keep Yorktown the great community that it is.

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

Hands down, the major difference is the knowledge of municipal law and what is involved in the decision process, as shown in our town debates. I also have a tremendous background in Yorktown and in serving Yorktown. Only one other candidate, Patrick Murphy, has lived in Yorktown longer than I have.

No other candidate has the resume that I have in community service.

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

We are going to be facing many issues in the future. One of the most pressing is that our seniors and children do not have any place to move to in the town. We need to add more diversified market-rate housing stock and make sure that we have different options from single-family housing that is not designed for seniors or attainable for young couples just getting started. We have been vetting projects that have been sent to the planning board for review. These will help in this issue. If we increase the supply, there should be a decrease in the demand that allows the market to price down for younger people or those on a fixed income.

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

I am very concerned about the county and state immigration policies and the costs to our taxpayers. I have started to lobby for "home rule" in determining how Yorktown, and other municipalities, deal with these issues and costs. We need to make sure our residents are not overburdened. I am also addressing the infrastructure repairs we have initiated in the town over my time in office. We have added an additional $1 Million to our paving budget and we are working on completing our Water Main relining project, water meter project and stormwater drainage pipe project. I am also always addressing the need for us to support our police department to make sure Yorktown can stay the No. 1 safest small town in America

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

If you look at the fact that we have kept the town tax rates flat over my time in office, it speaks volumes to how the job is handled. In my eight years serving we have also built Granite Knolls, brought the Lowe's/Trader Joe's site in to town, have paved record amounts of roads properly — with milling the base — increased the acceptable flow at the sewer plant by rehabilitating multiple pump stations and enacted new laws that have helped us to become a climate-smart community to name a few.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

I had two mentors that pushed me to run for office. One was Al Capellini, a former town supervisor. Al said that I had "the right point of view already, serving in the Yorktown Lions, but never forget that it is all about the good of Yorktown."

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

I have worked with Democrats and Republicans throughout my tenure and you realize that there is only the good of Yorktown in mind. There is always discussion and we even added the work sessions into the TV sessions so that the public knows exactly what is being discussed. In the words of Al Capellini, I keep it about the good of Yorktown.

Editor's note: The candidate's responses have been lightly edited for style and clarity.