After an eleven-year hiatus, former two-term New Paltz Town Supervisor (1996-2000) Susan Zimet is vying to get her old job back. After losing a bid for a third term, Zimet later went on to serve as a County Legislator (D-New Paltz) for eight years. She has received the Democratic endorsement and the Republican endorsement, although those caucus results are currently being challenged in court.
Vying for her fourth two-year term as New Paltz Town Supervisor is Toni Hokanson. Although Hokanson lost a bid to get the Democratic and Republican nomination, she has received the Working Families nomination and will appear on that line during the November elections.
Susan Zimet
Although Zimet was poised to run for the county legislature again, this time in a newly created District 17, she decided this August to put her hat into the ring for Town Supervisor, joining forces with running mates Kevin Barry and former Village Trustee Jean Gallucci.
Asked why she felt that she could better serve constituents as supervisor rather than at the county level, Zimet responded, “The county now has an executive form of government, with all the governing powers ceded to that position, giving the legislature much less responsibility.”
She added that the “local level is where you can make people’s lives better and effect change…During my tenure as supervisor back in 1996, it became very clear to me we needed to find a way to provide more streamlined government. Now, 15 years later, I believe the will of the community to try to find a better way to deliver government services is there. It is a unique opportunity to return to the local level and use my skills to help create a model government.” To that end, Zimet said, that if elected one of her primary focuses would be on “working with the Government Efficiency Committee to see their work implemented into a plan that works for all the taxpayers.”
The former legislator believes that the town “needs to work with the state. Governor [Andrew] Cuomo has made consolidation a priority. However, the cost impacts of doing this — especially to town taxpayers who live outside of the village — need to be addressed.” The study shows that a full consolidation would decrease taxes for village residents but significantly increase those of Town-outside-the-village taxpayers.
“The state needs to be a partner,” she mused, “and some ideas of how the state could help us would be for them to pay a PILOT [Payment in Lieu of Taxes] to the town for emergency services [police, fire and rescue].” Because we live in a state university town, Zimet said, “We have a fourth shift with the police [New Paltz Police Department], versus three shifts, due to the downtown scene. The fire department [all volunteer Village-run NPFD] has a firetruck specifically for the [Haggerty] Administration Building and other buildings on campus.”
As for environmental legislation facing the town, Zimet was not as clear as she was on the need for consolidation of services. “I live west of the Wallkill. Everyone’s lives out here are affected by the flooding. Wetland preservation is critical to controlling the impact of flooding. Both of these issues are related.”
That said, she added, “There seems to be much misinformation about both of these laws. I know that there are many rumors going around about me in regard to repealing these laws [the Floodplains Law and the proposed Wetlands Law, if passed].” She did not exactly put those rumors at bay, but said, “Too much work has been done on these laws, and we need to address both wetland protection and the serious flooding. However, I also would like to avoid a lawsuit and spending taxpayers’ money fighting it. There seems to be much misinformation about both laws. I support the concepts of the laws, but there may be areas where the Town needs to clarify and other areas that might need a second look.”
As for how she might keep taxes down, Zimet, like her opponent, three-term Democratic incumbent Toni Hokanson, said that one of her main priorities would be “finally kick-starting South Putt Corners Road with industry the community will embrace. Vinnie Cozzolino, the executive of the Solar Consortium, and Congressman Maurice Hinchey have been incredibly successful in bringing in solar business to the area. We have an amazing resource right in our backyard. We need to roll up our sleeves and do what is necessary to bring New Paltz-friendly business to South Putt, improve our tax base, provide good jobs with a future for our kids — and if we can get ourselves off the grid, that would be a bonus.”
Like anyone in an elected position or running for office, Zimet is concerned about the two percent tax cap being passed down by the state, mandating that no taxing agency increase the amount to be raised by property tax by more than two percent over the previous year. The details as to whether or not this mandate includes contractual obligations, health insurance increases or other costs that are out of the taxing agency’s control are still unclear.
“The tax cap is going to put great pressure on local governments and school districts to find ways to deliver services more efficiently. It is going to be a very difficult time for local governments and school districts, but it also sets the stage for creative ways to deliver services, to create coalitions and work outside of the box. My time in government, from the town up to the state, gives me an understanding of how to work within the system to benefit New Paltz during these difficult times.”
Zimet has also been a strong proponent of property tax reform, and first teamed up with running mate Kevin Barry during the proposed $50 million New Paltz Middle School renovation and expansion bond, which voters rejected two-to-one. Zimet was very vocal in her opposition to this bond.
“I have always supported school building projects and school budgets. However, the middle school renovation was a project that would financially burden the taxpayers at a very difficult economic time, and put even more burden on cuts to educational services in regard to teaching staff. We can no longer do business as individual fiefdoms. The school district, the town, village and college have to work together to see how they can plan together on all of their buildings, infrastructure, transportation and other needs. I do not know of anyone who is not suffering from the excessive property taxes we pay in New Paltz…We cannot keep operating as individual taxing jurisdictions; we have no choice but to work together. And the community will only benefit from a cooperative approach to creating a unified vision of how we improve and build out our community for the future.”
Asked how her experience and skills might benefit New Paltz, Zimet said, “My experience and passion will benefit New Paltz as we move through very difficult times. I think outside the box and solve problems. My friendships span all political ideologies and give me a unique ability to forge consensus. I will work with anyone, and many political enemies are now close friends. As I said to Senator John Bonacic about his negative campaign against me when running for [State] Senator, ‘That was politics, and we need to work on policy, so let’s get to work.’ Together we got 20 Republican Senators to join 29 Democrats to pass a moratorium on hydrofracking. We are one community with many voices. We need leadership that knows how to respect and listen to those voices and bring them together to deliver the best legislation, projects and services we need as a community. That is my passion and goal: to help create a community of hope where we can all afford to continue to live and grow old together.”
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