Village hopefuls field questions
By Geri Corey
GOSHEN — It was question and answer time at the Goshen Chamber of Commerce's breakfast meeting, when the business community came out to hear what village candidates have to say. Tuesday, March 19, is Election Day.
Leading the program were mayoral candidates Kyle Roddey and Rick Freshko.
Roddey, the incumbent, brings experience to the table. Freshko emphasized his commitment, saying he will not use the job as a stepping stone to higher office.
Roddey noted his accomplishments since becoming mayor two years ago, including aggressively moving to improve sewer infrastructure, cutting $200,000 from the budget, removing the displaced landfill, and upgrading the sign ordinance.
“Our work isn’t done," Roddey said. "I’d like to serve two more years. I see a bright future. Goshen now is seen as a business-friendly community. We’ve worked as a team to achieve this."
Freshko has lived in Goshen for 25 years. He said Roddey is doing a “fine job” but that the job “needs tweaking.”
“This is home," he said. "I’d like to make it better for everyone — stand together and make it better.”
Freshko talked about fostering pride in the village to stem losses. "People are leaving and businesses are shutting down," he said.
Calling Greenwich Ave “dismal,” he added, “Something has to be done to bring money here.”
He advocated beautifying village hall to bring people here.
Roddey said running the village is a “number’s game — cutting costs to get through the storm.” Taxpayers’ money is managed wisely, with a reduction in the village workforce achieved through attrition, not lay-offs, he said. In addition, the village does a budget analysis for using funds more efficiently, and makes use of green technology, purchased through grants.
Here's more about what the candidates have to say:
Police in schools
Freshko: “We can’t waiver, we need armed personnel in the schools. Without a gun, there’s no one to protect the students." Freshko has worked for more than 30 years in professional security services.
Roddey: Agrees 100 percent and says he’s working with BOCES, which is opening in Goshen, to provide school security.
Reopening the government center
Roddey: Called the length of time for the building not to have reopened a “disgrace.” He said he’s lobbied for action and will continue to lobby for the county to “do something.”
Freshko: “Be more tenacious. Something has to be done.”
Consolidation of village and town
Roddey: “There are definite ways that we can work together to save money, but I need to see that if by spending less, we’ll get the same level of services.” He noted that he has a good working relationship with the town.
Dire condition of CVS parking lot
Freshko: It's a “nightmare” and a “hazard.” He added that the owner is “not kind and doesn’t want to fix it.” He said he should be “forced to make a move.”
Roddey: Agreed the property owner is “not good": “I hope he loses the property and whoever gets it will do what’s best for the community.” When the owner is cited with penalties, he passes them onto the tenants. “That’s the last thing we want to do — they’re hurting already.” In a rallying cry, he said, “Shop local — save money — use less gas and time.”
Candidates for trustee
Incumbent Ed Char and challengers Pete Smith and Jason Wilson are running for two open trustee positions. Pete Smith was unable to attend the forum because of illness.
Ed Char and his wife are raising three children in Goshen. He said he chose Goshen because “it’s a great place to live.” He has served on the board of trustees since and noted that his legal and financial experience is of great use to the board.
Currently he works as a trial attorney with Char and Hirschberg. His accounting background includes a position as chief financial officer of a Fortune 500 company.
Jason Wilson was born and raised in Goshen. He graduated from Goshen High School in 1999 and went on to attend Marist College, earning a degree in political science and sociology. He earned his master’s degree in education and psychology from SUNY New Paltz. After his college years, he decided to remain in Goshen. He now lives on Murray Avenue.
Wilson is community-minded, chairing the Goshen Environmental Review Board for the past two years. He's been on the board for four years. He’s a member of the Cornerstone Arts Alliance Advisory Board, on the Board of Directors for Goshen Lions Club, and a 10-year member of the Middletown Elks Club.
“I love the community life here in Goshen,” he said. He noted that he “makes his own work schedule—I’m accessible” and his accessibility would make him a viable advocate for the people. Wilson is working as Program Director for Orange County Youth Advocate Program.
Here's more:
Reopening the government center
Char: He’s continuously lobbying for action and hoping that the county’s latest action — designating funds to study renovation — is fiscally responsible.
Wilson: He feels this issue must be in the forefront. He’s met with legislators, attended meetings, and talked with village assemblymen. “We must continue to hold their feet to the fire. We need to get this building fixed, get people coming back to Goshen.”
Property tax cap
Char: He stressed that he didn’t vote to exceed the tax cap, and that the vote was procedural. “I will not exceed the tax cap. With all my heart I will not exceed the tax cap.”
Wilson: The board must work to stay within means, within the budget.
Joint Recreation
Char: He’s impressed with the “creativity” of the Joint Recreation Commission, like the work done to alleviate the drainage problems at Craigville Park. “If we can give more money for the JRC, I’m all for it.”
Wilson: If it’s realistic, he’s in favor of doing all he can to support youth. “The community needs positives opportunities. We must offer strengthening opportunities for young people.”
Candidates for justice
The last two candidates to speak were Thomas Cione and Rory Brady, candidates for village court justice.
Thomas Cione had served as village judge for 12-years, until his resignation for health reasons in November. Why did he step down from serving the village and not the town? He explained that the village is a busier court, and he is often called out all times of the night. Just weeks later, he requested that the village board reinstate him to the position because his “health issue resolved quickly.”
Said Cione: “This is the most important position in government because of economic and liberty issues. That power to send someone to jail is sobering. I have no agenda. I just proceed with fairness.”
Rory Brady is ready to provide “a viable option” for the position, and he has the credentials to back it up. Having been born and raised here, he knows Goshen well. Besides “being born into a family of lawyers,” his education includes attending SUNY Oneonta, earning a degree in political science, attending the College of New Rochelle, earning a degree in communication studies, and acquiring his law degree from Pace University, School of Law. So he knows the law.
“I care deeply about the village of Goshen and protecting village interests,” said Brady, who’s been a village trustee since 2011.
More from the candidates:
Should court officers be armed?
Cione: “Absolutely.” He made the request over a year ago, and the village board has yet to honor it. “To be put in a position where you don’t have armed guards is terrible.”
Brady: In a “perfect world,” he’d like to see guns in the courtroom, but the reality is money — paying police officers overtime, sending them away for training, and paying liability insurance. In fact, the village has lobbied for guns. What concerns Brady is Cione’s statement that he was putting the board on notice, when asking the board to have armed bailiffs in the courtroom. “We weren’t exposed to liability until that statement was made.”
Cione: “I wasn’t admonishing the board, just bringing information on the current state of affairs.”
Why do you want to be a judge?
Brady: He’s a long-time resident with a background that has prepared him for this important position. Has 10 years of experience in the field of law — civil, criminal, traffic, felony and addiction — along with management skills learned working as manager in the sales/marketing divisions for two professional hockey teams. His job entailed putting together budgets, generating revenue, and working with people. He has concerns about the “awful position” his opponent put the village in. “He left us hanging. I’m not satisfied with his answer.”
Cione: He has been an attorney for 27 years and has held the judge’s position for 12 years. “The legal community is unanimous in opinion on how I run my court. I’ve been called ‘fair.’ I know I’m a good judge. I love what I’m doing and I do it well. I have no other agenda than to do what’s right.”