As New Yorkers begin voting, national candidates are being evaluated by voters throughout the country on existential criteria, such as who gets to make health decisions for whom, and the appropriate role of U.S. military might when it comes to foreign wars. In New Paltz, the decisions for town office will be much simpler: vote to allow the two appointees to finish a term in office, write in someone else, or just skip it entirely. As has been the case for the past several years, there are no competitive elections at all for local office. Amanda Gotto seeks to complete a term as town supervisor after being appointed to replace Neil Bettez, and Edgar Rodriguez is asking to complete a term on the town council after being appointed to replace Gotto, who was in turn appointed to step in for Dan Torres and later resigned early from that post.Â
The appointment process for both was filled with drama, and it appears that the appetite for political machinations has been spent. Gotto was named several weeks after Bettez left, and the outgoing supervisor’s preferred successor resigned. Bettez had named Alex Baer to the post of deputy supervisor, a move that was unusual since Baer had lost the election last year to Kitty Brown, but was legal. Baer stepped in as acting supervisor but eventually left the job, saying that council members had made no effort to pay an appropriate rate for the work. Rodriguez’s appointment itself did not appear controversial, but soon thereafter video footage was released that showed the new council member making comments that were seen as antisemitic by some community members. After a public apology and a strong showing of support by many others, including many local Jews, no one has raised that concern in public since the summer. That neither individual has a challenger on the ballot may be indicative of a desire not to spend political capital locally this year.Â
Gotto’s career was spent managing projects and coordinating groups in the pharmaceutical industry, including the managing of budgets and employees. Since retiring, Gotto moved to New Paltz and has been volunteering in a variety of ways, including the development of a greenhouse gas inventory and by serving on the town’s planning board. Meticulous and detailed review of each and every document that crosses the supervisor’s desk has become closely associated with Gotto’s approach. The supervisor also encourages collaboration and full participation by all members of the town council. For example, Gotto has made it clear that careful study of the budget proposal is seen as an essential step to passing a spending plan that reflects community values.Â
Rodriguez has spent the last half-century focused on civil rights and racial equity. A longtime advocate for Spanish-speaking town residents who may be undocumented, Rodriguez has used the law and the political system to advance those goals, such as through lawsuits against public entities when services are not provided, and be serving as on the local school board to give a voice to those who do not have a seat at any table of power. Some recent changes which may have been influenced by Rodriguez being a council member include more bilingual information being offered about town services, and the inclusion of a land acknowledgment at the beginning of council meetings.Â
Library funding increase
New Paltz and Gardiner each have separate propositions aimed at funding increases for their community libraries. Only residents of those towns will see their particular proposals on their ballots.Â
The Town of Gardiner asks its voters if it may increase its annual contribution to the Gardiner Library by $29,434, thus raising its support to $323,765.Â
The Town of New Paltz proposes to increase its contribution to the Elting Memorial Library, a Free Association Library, by $48,000, to a total of $769,000;
Early voting at the community center will continue through November 3. Election Day is November 5.
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