A letter from the One Community Party

Dear Editor:

The One Community Party is a slate of four candidates seeking election to the Village of New Paltz Board on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. Together, we have over 100 years experience in community work and public service. We are confident that our expertise, cooperative attitudes and dedication to service will revitalize Village government. For us, integrity, compassion, open communication and attention to detail are more than campaign promises. They are core values that must characterize all village actions. We are eager to restore civility to the Village Board, working together to ensure that the needs of residents are addressed in a fair, timely and thoughtful manner.

Our platform focuses on a number of issues supported by our central mission, the unification of the Town and Village governments. Previous attempts to merge the two governments failed to convince village residents that the unique character of the village would not be lost or absorbed. Recent reforms enacted by the state government would allow a combined government to maintain its close connections with villagers while simultaneously resolving the conflicts caused by overlapping jurisdictions. We believe that in tough economic times, seeking efficiency in government is a better alternative than raising taxes, cutting services, or doing nothing at all. We also believe that the duplication and confusion created by two governments can best be addressed by merging two antiquated governments into a modern government that works for the entire community. We will continue the current community-wide discussion on unification, and we are the only candidates who have stated our commitment to developing a unification proposal for voter referendum.

Please know that the One Community Party is more than a single-issue party. Regardless of the outcome of any unification discussion, we are committed to addressing all concerns, including:  improvement of communications with residents and Town officials; government transparency; effective recruitment and support of volunteers; strengthening the relationship with the fire department, and improving parks and infrastructure.

We respectfully ask that you consider us when casting your vote in the Village of New Paltz elections on May 3, 2011. To support the One Community Party, simply vote the entire row “B.” The polls will be open from noon until 9:00pm at the Village Firehouse, located adjacent to Village Hall at 25 Plattekill Avenue. Your feedback is welcome and appreciated. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns – you can call us, email us at OneCommunityNewPaltz@gmail.com, or visit our website at www.OneCommunityNewPaltz.com. Whether you identify as a student, landlord, homeowner, business owner, Republican, Green, Democrat, or simply a resident who loves New Paltz as much as we do, you are an integral part of our community, and we look forward to working with you in the future.

  • Pete Healey

Mayoral Candidate

  • Sally Rhoads

4-Year Trustee Candidate

  • Martin Sherow

4-Year Trustee Candidate

  • Stewart Glenn

2-Year Trustee Candidate