Candidate Q&A: Robert Klein for Chester Town Council, Ward 1

Why are you running for Town Council?

I am have been a resident of the town and village of Chester for 45 years dating back to 1981.

I am concerned with the current town board’s lack of financial expertise in reviewing and modifying the town budget for the past two years. This has harmed the young families and senior citizens alike, [and made it difficult for them to] afford their annual tax bills from the town. I have served as the Chester Town Budget Officer in 1982 and 1983 and more recently in 2007 through 2009. Additionally, I taught the prior Town Supervisor Steve Neuhaus (now county executive) how to prepare a proper Chester Town Budget. I want to return to public service to assist the town board to once again do a more thorough job of reviewing and modifying the town budget to keep the resident town tax bills affordable.

What are the top three things you aim to accomplish if elected?

1) To push for and assist in procuring additional grants from the federal [government], county as well as from the state.

2) To assist the town supervisor and the town board to better understand the budget preparation process and utilize zero-based budgeting to help lower the taxes assessed to the town and village taxpayers.

3) To utilize my expertise to in negotiating better contracts with vendors after they are approved as the lowest responsible bidder.

Briefly explain why you are the best candidate for this position.

I am a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) as well as a Certified Fraud Examiner. Plus having prepared prior Chester town budgets, this can add business expertise to the town board and reduce politics. This will allow our current comptroller to do a more effective job since the board will better understand his advice with my intervention.