Election Special 2007
Welcome to rhinecliff.org's special election section for 2007.
Election day is just
rhinecliff.org is proud to announce the addition of our special election coverage for 2007. In an effort to serve the Rhinecliff and Rhinebeck community and in keeping with our non-partisan tradition, we asked both candidates running for Town Supervisor for an extensive on-camera interview to discuss the issues that matter most to the residents of our historic hamlet and town.
At this time Mr. Niedercorn, the Republican campaign chairman has informed us that Mr. Traudt is on a tight schedule and will "keep our offer in mind if some time becomes available." Steve Block, our current Town Supervisor agreed to an interview and we have embeded the interview below. We questioned Mr. Block on issues ranging from problems at PANDA, Town and Village relations, the comprehensive plan and specific concerns of Rhinecliff residents. We think you will find the answers both informative and enlightening.
We hope that Mr. Traudt will agree to do the same. This kind of open discussion can only help to better inform our community before we enter the voting booth.
In addition, we have compiled a Vote Smart guide to help you learn more about the issues and candidates. As the election draws closer, we will be adding material frequently and we encourage users and viewers of the site to share their thoughts through the use of public comments available at the end of this section.
SPECIAL ELECTION UPDATE 11/5/07:
Halloween may be over but dirty tricks continue. Campaign flyers full of outrageously false claims with the tagline “Vote Team Traudt” have infuriated Rhinebeck residents who expect a higher standard from our local politicians. One of the more egregious fabrications is that Mr. Block is intent on combining the Town and Village. Aside from the fact that this would be legally impossible to implement as Town Supervisor is not a dictatorial position, it contradicts every public statement Mr.Block has ever made, including his interview with rhinecliff.org that you can view HERE.
We have obtained copies of the offensive flyers and you can view them by clicking HERE.
UPDATE 11/4/07: Democrats respond to last minute political attack ad. CLICK HERE for details
UPDATE 11/4/07: Letter to Poughkeepsie Journal responds to Joe Ely's attacks. CLICK HERE.
UPDATE 11/3/07: The recent controversy over signs placed at the Farmers Market by Joe Ely (former station manager of PANDA TV) has many people asking what's this all about? The signs have been denounced by most Democrats but a number of Republicans stand by the accusations made by Mr. Ely. The local papers have not covered this issue and we believe the voters of Rhinecliff and Rhinebeck would like to know more about it. So, we asked Steve Block for his thoughts on this matter.
The following is Steve Block's response followed by images of Joe Ely's signs:
"Many of us involved in progressive politics over the years have decried the absence of any independent process to check facts, both in the media and in political campaigns. So, I appreciate this opportunity to respond to a quite vicious campaign being waged particularly at me as the first Democratic town supervisor in a century.
The charges written on an ugly truck-sign that has appeared for days outside town hall or on Sundays outside the farmers' market result from an effort to confuse people into thinking there may be these other issues lurking behind the scenes. So, one by one, here is the truth.
First, the claim is we "slashed rec fields money." Simply not true. Whatever funds the town has for rec fields are in the capital budget, and are carried over year after year until spent and/or replenished, based on need and our ability to raise the funds. We have spent some funds getting the archeological study done on the Thompson-Mazzarella Park project. What has held up movement on new sports facilities is this archeological work, something that should have been done at the beginning of this planning project several years ago, and a wetlands issue at our other complex on Stone Church Road. Once planning is completed for the T-M Park, the Committee will turn its sights on developing a financing plan, since this will be a very expensive capital investment and probably will require bonding and a public referendum. So, no truth to this claim.
Next, the claim is that I tripled my salary. What is true is that the town board, not me, increased my salary last year, from $14,000 per year to $24,000 per year, and provided us with health benefits. This was done in recognition that the work of Supervisor is important and time-consuming. It also elevated the compensation package to what is available routinely to the Red Hook Supervisor. There are two underlying objections to increasing compensation for supervisor. Many still believe the Supervisor's position is largely symbolic, writing checks and presiding over meetings. On taking office, I recognized quite early that the challenges of Rhinebeck today are way too serious to take that approach. So, as most have acknowledged, despite this disagreement, I am providing hands on leadership to town hall, including oversight of public and private projects. The other objection has some merit, in that it points to making this change at the last minute in the budgetary process last year. We should have had a more protracted, public discussion of the needs of the town and the leadership required to satisfy those needs.
The claim of "patronage" is one that really gets me angry, since its aimed at my wife. Jeannie is an award-winning graphic designer who donates her time both to our election campaigns and to some of my direct town hall activities. She gets no compensation for either and its an outrage that they've brought this up. Dragging her into this reflects just how desperate the other side can be.
The "Foil" charge is also false. If it weren't serious, this one would almost be something out of Saturday Night Live. The person who led PANDA into a period of incompetence, low quality, and ultimately possible criminal wrong-doing now seeks the records that he and his colleagues refused to provide municipal leaders and PANDA volunteers during the process of change earlier this year. Nevertheless, the law requires that we comply and we are in the process of getting whatever records the new PANDA leadership has, since again, many of the records were either never kept or were destroyed when the former leaders emptied the PANDA web site of all content on their way out the door. And what financial records exist are now in the hands of the District Attorney and the Grand Jury, having been supplied by PANDA"s new leadership once the crime was suspected.
Finally, the suggestion that I or we lost "25,000." is the most serious outrage. Simply put, the old leadership was in charge until July 12th last summer. At that point new leaders were elected at the insistence of the municipalities. Once in charge, the new president and Treasurer sought out the Chairman of the PANDA board, who remained in office, for access to the records, including bank records. These records were never provided and on August 2nd, the new officers visited M&T Bank, where bank records provided evidence of possible criminal wrong doing. The Sherrif's office was immediately contacted that same day on August 2nd and an arrest was made several weeks later. The matter is currently pending before the Grand Jury. Quick action by the new leaders once the records were uncovered, while the old leaders had created a circumstance where one individual could write, sign, endorse, and cash organization checks with no oversight. Clearly, the suggestion that I or we "lost $25,000" is nothing more than a lie."
Joe Ely's Signs follow:
Interview with Town Supervisor Steve Block
UPDATE: Watch additional video from PANDA's meeting of October 18th concerning Joe Ely and PANDA board member Bruce Washburn.
Below you will find rhinecliff.org's Vote Smart guide:
Click HERE to find out where you vote.
Dutchess County Board of Elections
All about Voting in New York State
Election Incident Reporting System
Who are the candidates?
Democrats:
The Rhinebeck Democrats
RHINEBECK TOWN:
Steve Block for Town Supervisor (incumbent)
Kathy Kinsella for Town Highway Superintendent (incumbent)
Monique Segarra for Town Board
Lance Ringel for Town Board
COUNTY LEGISLATURE
Joel Tyner (incumbent)
COUNTY-WIDE OFFICES
Joseph Ruggiero for County Executive
Richard Anderson for County Clerk
Republicans:
The Rhinebeck Republicans
RHINEBECK TOWN:
Tom Traudt for Town Supervisor
Tom Mannix for Town Highway Superintendent
Dan Staley for Town Board
Bruce Washburn for Town Board
COUNTY LEGISLATURE:
Ray Oberly
COUNTY-WIDE OFFICES
William R. Steinhaus for County Executive (incumbent)
Brad Kendall for County Clerk (incumbent)
What else in on the ballot?
Judicial:
Justice; New York Supreme Court; Judicial District 9 (3 Elected)
Robert M. Berliner, Democratic, Working Families
Anthony D. Zepf, Right to Life
Anthony J. DeCintio, Jr., Right to Life
Rory J. Bellantoni, Republican, Independence, Conservative, Working Families
William E. Sherwood, Republican, Independence, Conservative, Right to Life
Francis A. Nicolai, Democratic, Independent
Christine Krahulik, Republican
Elaine Slobod, Democratic, Independence, Conservative, Working Families
State Propositions:
Proposition 1 Proposal Number 1, An Amendment to the Constitution
Amendment to Article 14, section 1 of the Constitution, in relation to the use of forest preserve lands for wells for a municipal water supply in the hamlet of Raquette Lake, Hamilton County.
The proposed amendment would allow the State to convey one acre of forest preserve land to the town of Long Lake for public use as the site for drinking water wells and necessary related equipment for the municipal water supply for the hamlet of Raquette Lake. In exchange, the State would receive at least twelve acres of land that is at least equal in value to the land conveyed to Long Lake. The land the State receives would be incorporated into the forest preserve. The Raquette Lake reservoir would be abandoned as a source of drinking water supply. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
What will this amendment do if approved?
This amendment will make constitutional an action that has, in fact, already taken place. In 2004, the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) gave extraordinary permission to the town of Long Lake to drill wells on Adirondack forest preserve lands, an action that requires a constitutional amendment.
For additional information on this Proposition click HERE.
If you have any comments or additional information you would like to provide, please send us a note by clicking HERE. We included links to candidates web pages when known. If we missed one, please send us the link to update.
