Two Democrat and two Republican candidates have stepped up to the plate and are vying for two open seats on the Gardiner Town Board. Here are their responses to questions from the New Paltz Times.
Laurie Willow
Laurie Willow received the nod from the Gardiner Democrats to run for one of two seats on the Town Board this November.
Why did you decide to run for the position of town councilperson?
I want to be on the Town Board because I see the opportunity to continue the current progressive direction of the town. I have lived in Gardiner for 32 years and raised a family here. My grandchildren visit often. I love this community and want to see it thrive.
What positions/experiences/skills do you believe will make you a competent town councilperson?
I have long been active in town affairs. I have served on and helped create the Gardiner Board of Assessment Review, the 2004 Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, the Main Street Gardiner Cupcake Festival and the Gardiner Gazette. I am also a successful small business owner and can use those skills to serve the town.
What are your thoughts on the possibility of Gardiner getting municipal water/sewer?
The hamlet of Gardiner already has a partial sewer system. Each property has its own septic tank, which is pumped every three years by the town. The leachfield on town property is a reed bed. This is the latest technology and works really well. The question of a water system keeps coming up as the missing piece necessary to develop hamlet business and residential growth. I will be in favor of this direction and plan to work towards it.
What do you see as the top three greatest challenges facing the Town of Gardiner right now?
1. Revitalizing community engagement. A healthy community is one where people get involved and can express their ideas and energy.
2. Attracting business to Gardiner, which is necessary to share in the taxes and keep residential taxes from increasing further.
3. Developing town-owned land and working to keep open space.
If elected, what would be your top two priorities?
1. The first priority would be to listen to what the people of the town are saying.
2. The second priority would be to work on the three greatest challenges as outlined in the question above.
Jim Miller
Jim Miller received the Republican, Independent and Conservative endorsements to run for a position on the Town Board.
Why did you decide to run for the position of town councilperson?
I wanted to offer my assistance in helping to make the town better. I have a lot of ideas of how we can make Gardiner an even better place to work and live.
What positions/experiences/skills do you believe will make you a competent town councilperson?
I have a lot of budgeting experience from running my own section in the US Army. I have also worked with the budget of the Shawangunk Fire Department. I have been a volunteer firefighter since 1977. When dealing with the town budget, the mission is different, but the skills are the same. You have to find a way not to overtax people, but at the same time you have to adequately support the services they require like fire protection, rescue squad, parks and recreation.
What are your thoughts on the possibility of Gardiner getting municipal water/sewer?
I honestly think that at least having municipal water is going to be a necessity, particularly in and around the hamlet. If, God forbid, something happened to contaminate our groundwater supply, we have to have the ability to provide our residents with clean drinking water. It’s critical to have a backup water supply. We don’t have to use it all the time, but certainly in case of emergency to protect our residents and as a possible way to promote and encourage more businesses.
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