|
ELECTION 09
Village Election Results
Mayor:
Houston Stebbins – 153
Trustee:
Gary Pompan – 160
Chris Hanson – 111
Tinka Shaw - 44
Additionally, Oliver Parker received 3 write-in votes for Trustee and Philip Tavani received 1. David McFadden received 13 write-in votes for Mayor.
204 residents voted in the election.
back to top
Village Election, June 16, 2009
Polls are open from 12:00 noon to 9:00pm in the Village Hall – 80 Lorillard Road.
back to top
Tinka Shaw Publicly Withdraws from Village Election
On June 10, 2009, during the regular monthly meeting of the Village Board of Trustees, Trustee Tinka Shaw announced that she has officially withdrawn her name from the race for Village Trustee. Citing health issues, Trustee Shaw commented that the decision to withdraw from the race had been a tough one to make. She thanked everyone both on the Board as well as behind the scenes for making her time as a Trustee a truly rewarding experience. Due to the timing of her withdrawal, it is not possible to remove Trustee Shaw's name from the ballot. However, based on her remarks, it can be assumed that she does not plan to serve if elected.
back to top
Your Father's Campaign Video
If you want to get to know Tuxedo Park trustee candidate Gary Pompan, check out his campaign video. But not on YouTube.
"It's not appropriate," Pompan said of the Web site he said he never visits.
So the video is posted only at www.tpfyi.com, a local site that's become a popular way for the village residents to keep up on community news.
The video, which lasts about 3 minutes, has simple production values. Pompan stands in front of a leafy yard and talks about making the village an easier place to live by bringing clarity to a multitude of regulations governing building, development and renovations.
In a place where people obsess over property values more than most, Pompan said, clarity of law will foster better neighborly relations. "It makes it much easier for people to go through different processes," he said. "When you're in a tiny community ... you're adjudicating each other ... . It's difficult when you have neighbors in that situation."
Pompan is retiring soon as a partner with Ernst & Young, the auditing firm. He's one of three candidates for two seats, but will win because one of the candidates, Trustee Tinka Shaw, has dropped out of the race. The election is Tuesday.
Matt King
back to top
Houston A. Stebbins
Candidate for Mayor
66 West Summit Road
Tuxedo Park
June 2, 2009
Dear Neighbors and Friends,
As our June 16th election day approaches, I would like to introduce myself to those who do not know me, discuss some of the major issues affecting our lives in Tuxedo Park, and explain my decision to run for a second term as your Mayor.
Personal
I grew up in Rochester, New York and graduated from The Hotchkiss School and Washington University in St. Louis wit a BA in English Literature. After earning an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, I begain my thirty-one year career at J.P. Morgan and retired in 2003.
Dena and I have had the good forture of living in Tuxedo Park for the past twenty years, raising our son, Houston, here, taking advantage of all the benefits this special historic community has to offer, and enjoying the stunning natural beauty of our lakes and mountains.
Public Service
Nine years ago I joined the Zoning Board and in 2004 became Chairman. I resigned in 2006 to run for Trustee and relinquished my position when I was electred Mayor in 2007. Having served as Mayor for the past two years, I have found that my professional experience at J.P. Morgan, where I specialized in debt restructuring and bankruptcies as a Managing Director, has helped me find solutions and negotiate compromises – whether bargaining with unions, negotiating contracts or resolving litigation and disputes.
My goals when I became Mayor were to improve municipal opertations, reduce litigation, and preserve the unique character of the Park. With the help of able Deputy Mayors and the support of Trustees, I have been able to accomplish much over the past two years, including bringing past-due labor union and sanitation contracts
current, renewing our community club license agreements, improving Village Code provisions, settling the Sterling Place lawsuit, strengthening Village financial controls and collections, and buying needed DPW Equipment and Police vehicles.
Looking Forward
Some of my major future priorities include (i) reaching a settlement with the NYSDEC regarding their Tuxedo Lake dame safety concerns; (ii) transitioning from engineering to construction for the needed capital improvements to our Village dams, water and sewer systers; and (iii) managing the Village’s debt financing and debt service obligations.
The Village faces comples issues requiring careful evaluation by the Trustees working cooperatively and competently. I will ask each Trustee to take some responsibility in helping to meet our challenges.
Candidate for Mayor
In each of my Village Positions, I have strived to be professional, thorough and fair. In reaching decisions, I have tried to protect the best interests of the whole community, wile preserving and emhancing the unique character of our special Village. Tuxedo Park is a small, comples munipality with water and sewage treatment plants, three dams, a reservoir, thirty-five miles of roads, a department of public works and a police force.
Increasingly, knowledge of NYS laws and regulations, engineering, and finance are required to be an effective, three administrator. We rely greatly on the commitment of volunteers and a spirit of community. Having improved the legislative process, gained useful operating knowledge, and engaged the critical issues, I plan to continue
making a significant positive contribution to the quality of life in Tuxedo Park.
I ask for your vote on June 16th. My decision to run for a second term is motivated by the need to complete what has been started. i look forward to speaking with you about our village government and hope anyone interested om becp,omg better acquainted with my candidacy, will call me at 351-4006 or email me at houstonintuxedo@hotmail.com. I encourage you to register to vote, if necessary, on June 6th from 12-5 pm and to vote on June 16th from 12-9 pm in the Village Hall
With best regards,
Houston Stebbins
back to top
Trustee Candidate Gary Pompan Releases Campaign Video
Click to view video #1
Click to view video #2
back to top
Tinka Shaw Withdraws From Trustee Race
On Saturday May 30, candidate Tinka Shaw withdrew her candidacy for Trustee in the upcoming Village election. Following is an e-mail sent by Trustee Shaw to Mayor Stebbins and the Board of Trustees along with Village Clerk Debbie Matthews:
Dear Houston, Charlotte, Chris, Jim and Debbie,
Due to personal matters and after much thought, I reluctantly have to withdraw my candidacy for trustee in the upcoming election.
I have truly enjoyed serving as a trustee these last two years! Despite the long hours (!!), it has been fun and a tremendous learning experience for me!
Sincerely,
Tinka
Although Trustee Shaw has taken herself out of the running, it is too late to remove her name from the ballot. However, based on her remarks, it can be deduced that should she be elected she would decline to serve.
back to top
Meet the Trustee Candidates
In an effort to help residents get a better idea of who the candidates for Village Trustee are, why they have chosen to run and what their priorities will be if elected, TPFYI presented each Candidate with the following questionnaire. We will post their unedited responses in the order they are received.
Candidate Chris Hansen has not responded to our request.
| |
|
|
Candidate:
|
|
Gerard (Gary) Pompan
|
Vocation:
|
|
Attorney/CPA Partner Ernst & Young LLP |
Years of Residency in the Village
|
|
8 years |
| Government Experience |
|
Federal Government-Internal Revenue Service (National Office, Washington D.C.)-4 years specializing in mergers and acquisitions.
Representing Clients in front of the IRS, Treasury Dept.and Capitol Hill for approx. 10 years with regard to tax issues and tax legislation.
|
Volunteer Work in the Village or Town of Tuxedo
|
|
None to date |
| Why are You running for Village Trustee? |
|
I have enjoyed living in the Village and care very much about preserving this very special place now and for the future. It is a critical time in the history of the Village, being impacted by the consequences of the economic downturn as well as a need to deal with a host of infrastructure issues such as repairs to the Tuxedo Lake and Wee Wah dams, waterline repairs in both the Village and Town and repairs to our sewage treatment plant. The issues at the Village and Town level will have a lasting impact and must be dealt with in a sensible, effective and efficient manner and must consider the views of the entire community. I have over the years of my professional career as a lawyer, accountant and advisor on complex transactions developed the type of skills that can contribute to helping solve these problems. I look forward to working on a collaborative basis with the Board of Trustees and the Mayor to contribute my expertise to resolving matters in a balanced and goal oriented manner.
It is my sincere desire to serve the residents of Tuxedo Park to preserve and maintain this very special community.
|
| What attributes will You bring to the Village Government? |
|
Business acumen, analytical skills, financial expertise, collaborative style, good listener, goal oriented.
My training, skills and experience for the past 30 plus years have been focused on issue resolution, achievement of goals and demonstrating results. My experience has been in consensus building, collaboration and unifying divergent views while achieving results.
My orientation and responsibilities have been both in managing a global business as well as serving clients.
The “business “of running a Village and serving on its governing body require all of these attributes. Risk management, cost containment and budgeting, resolving issues and matters thoughtfully but efficiently are all part of running a government. And understanding and listening to the residents as a whole and applying reason to resolution of the issues of the day and the future.
|
| What are the three most important issues currently facing the Village? |
|
1. Clarity and Transparency in Laws and Regulations.
Our small Village has at times a reputation of being a challenging place to own or build a home. This in my view dictates a need for Clarity and Transparency in the rules, laws and regulations of our Village, with an eye on being sensible while protecting our Village values and environment. While we have begun to achieve this, there is more to be done. With such a focus we need to attract new families and residents to the Park, as that is the continued life blood of a vibrant sustainable community.
2. Operating Costs and Taxes.
The increasing costs of maintaining our Village services, preserving and repairing our infrastructure while managing the commensurate increase in tax costs. This is an area that needs constant attention and focus and one which the community as a whole must be aware of and weigh in on. While there may be alternatives to explore, some of which past administrations have considered, a more extensive review in the current economic environment is warranted. We all must understand the costs; the service trade offs that certain changes will dictate. The community as a whole must then have a consensus view on the priorities and direction the Village should take.
3. Relations with the Town.
Collaborative, reasoned relations with the Town of Tuxedo, which we are an integral part. The decisions at the Town level will have some of the most dramatic and lasting impact on our Village. We must seek to have adequate representation and input on issues. We must “partner” with the Town to achieve success for our overall community. |
back to top
Candidates for Village Election are Announced
On Wednesday, May 14 during the Board of Trustees Meeting, Mayor Houston Stebbins announced that he is running for a second term as Mayor. Since no other Mayoral candidates emerged, he will run unopposed.
Additionally, The Following Village residents have submitted nominating petitions for the position of Village Trustee:
Christopher Hansen – The Tuxedo Residents Party
Gerard (Gary) B. Pompan – The New Party
Anna (Tinka) Shaw – The Independent Residents Party
Our Village election is on Tuesday, June 16 at the Village Office from 12 noon to 9pm. The election will fill two Trustee seats, which are currently held by Christopher Hansen and Anna (Tinka) Shaw.
back to top
Important Election Information
Download the PDF here.
back to top
|
|
