2010 Cooperstown Village Election

Here are statements from our 2010 candidates, asked for by Jim Kelvin:

to see other election articles and letters regarding the 2010 cooperstown village election, type your subject in our search box...  candidates are not listed in any particular order...

3-05-10
Lynne Jackson Mebust
Trustee Candidate • Democratic Party

Place of Birth:  I was born in Brooklyn, grew up in Long Island, spent my early adult years in Virginia and the Washington, D.C., area, and moved to Cooperstown in 2000.  We chose Cooperstown because we thought it was a unique and special small town in which to raise our family.
Family: I am married to Kai Mebust, and have three sons (Erik, Sean and Ted) who attend Cooperstown schools.
Education:  I have a B.A. in history from the College of William and Mary, with a minor concentration in government
Career Highlights:  I worked for 19 years for a nonprofit civic education organization that promotes informed participation in the democratic process. I was a program instructor, project manager, development officer and grants writer.  Many aspects of my work experience are relevant to my work as trustee, including staff oversight, budget development, fundraising, and public speaking. 
Since moving to Cooperstown in 2000, I have been a volunteer with many community organizations such as the PTO, several youth sports organizations, Friends of the Parks and Friends of the Library, Christ Episcopal Church and Cooperstown Junior Ballroom Dance Committee. 
WHY WERE YOU MOTIVATED TO RUN FOR TRUSTEE? My voluntarism led me to a greater awareness of and interest in village government, and in 2006 I was appointed to be a member of the Parks Board.  This experience showed me that there was a need to have voices on the Board of Trustees that speak for the many families and other residents that live year ’round in Cooperstown. Since being elected in 2007, I have worked diligently to understand all the issues that come before the board and to give thoughtful consideration to how board decisions impact Cooperstown residents. 
PLEASE GIVE YOUR VIEWS ON THE VILLAGE’S FINANCIAL SITUATION, AND PROPOSE SOLUTIONS: In all financial discussions, I keep my mind on the priorities that I believe the village government must address: decent essential services (including police and fire services, protecting our water supply, and maintaining streets and sidewalks), maintaining and improving our parks, library and downtown; and treating our employees fairly.  All this must be accomplished while keeping taxes and water and sewer rates at a reasonable level.
Cooperstown is fortunate to be the county seat, and to have fine institutions such as Bassett Healthcare as well as the Baseball Hall of Fame and other tourist attractions.  While these institutions contribute in a positive way to the regional economy, the municipal government tends to see fewer benefits (due to their nonprofit status) while bearing substantial costs to maintain sufficient infrastructure for the ½ million visitors who travel our roads annually.  The greatest financial challenge I see for Cooperstown is keeping up with infrastructure needs. In my capacity of chair of the Streets Committee, I have pushed to tackle larger projects in phases as our reserves allow.  For instance, this year we will undertake a $1 million reconstruction of Brooklyn Avenue, which was originally part of a larger ($5 million) South End project.
The need to tackle larger infrastructure projects remains a key factor in my support for developing new revenue sources that don’t fall solely on our taxpayers.  Parking revenues are one source that is being successfully developed.  Others include taking advantage of federal or state funding opportunities that fit our priorities. 
Another option is working in collaboration with groups such as Friends of the Parks, Friends of the Library, OCCA, the 22 Main St. Committee, and others who are willing to collaborate and help raise funds that benefit the village.  These groups need partners on the board who appreciate their efforts and are willing to put in the time and effort to ensure smooth communication and cooperation with the board and staff. 
WHICH VILLAGE BOARD COMMITTEES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SERVE ON AND WHY?  I am willing to serve as needed on village committees. To date I have experience on several committees including Trolley, Zebra Mussel, Streets & Buildings (chair since 2008), Police (chair since 2008), Finance & Personnel, Linden Avenue Technical, Doubleday, and Parks Board (chair since 2009).  I particularly enjoy working with the many residents who volunteer their time and expertise on our village committees.
PLEASE DETAIL ANY PARTICULAR ISSUES/CHALLENGES YOU FEEL ARE IMPORTANT BUT ARE NOT REFLECTED ABOVE:   My experience on the board has taught me that it’s almost impossible to anticipate which issues will arise to claim the board’s attention.  In just one term, I have had to deal with such a wide range of issues – everything from zoning, to property revals, to parking issues, bus loading zones, sewer operations, street repair ... the list goes on and on.  I know that while I’m certainly not an expert on all these issues, I can get the information I need to make informed decisions.  I always keep an open mind.  I ask questions about issues I don’t understand.  I respect the hard work and wisdom of the many boards and committees that make recommendations to the board.  I consider all sides of the issues that come before the board, and I bring common sense and good judgment to my decision-making.  I’ve been honored to serve as a representative of the residents of Cooperstown, and hope to have an opportunity to continue working as a trustee.

Douglas B. Walker
Trustee Candidate • Republican Party

Place of Birth: Stamford, Conn.
Family:  Divorced, one child
Education: CCS 1963, St. Lawrence University, B.A., 1971
Career Highlights: Served in the Marine Corps, 1963-67; Peace Corps volunteer, 1972-74; taught at American School of Tangier, Morocco, 1974-76; opened Walker Gallery Art & Framing in Cooperstown, 1979; opened National Pastime on Main Street, 1983; opened Danny’s Main Street Market, 1991; opened 2 Chestnut Bed & Breakfast, 2003.
WHY WERE YOU MOTIVATED TO RUN FOR TRUSTEE? I have lived in Cooperstown for most of my life and have watched the village change from a small, mostly agricultural area to the world-class destination it has become.  With these changes have come many challenges.  With my experience both in business and in the village in general, I could make a strong contribution as a trustee. At some point, every concerned citizen should give back in some way to the community.  If elected, I promise to do my absolute best to keep Cooperstown moving in the right direction.
PLEASE GIVE YOUR VIEWS ON THE VILLAGE’S FINANCIAL SITUATION, AND PROPOSE SOLUTIONS: The village faces many financial challenges as we move into the future.  As a businessman, I have always believed that you can make money by saving money.  I think we absolutely have to look to places where we can make cuts.  We simply cannot continue to spend as though we are printing money.  I will work closely with the mayor and the board to investigate areas where we might be able to make cuts without jeopardizing jobs or public safety.
WHICH VILLAGE BOARD COMMITTEES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SERVE ON AND WHY? I have served on the village Water Board for over two years.  I will gladly serve on any committees where there is a need.  The Streets Committee and the Police Committee are two that come to mind.
PLEASE DETAIL ANY PARTICULAR ISSUES/CHALLENGES YOU FEEL ARE IMPORTANT BUT ARE NOT REFLECTED ABOVE:  While I can support paid parking in Doubleday Field during the summer months, I do not support it on Main Street.  As a former merchant, I believe this would hurt  our already struggling merchant community.  I also believe that the cost of implementing paid parking far exceeds the revenues which might be generated.

Leslie B. Friedman
Village Justice Candidate • Democratic Party

Place of Birth:  New York City; moved to Harrisburg, Pa.,  when I was 3 and grew up there.
Family:  Husband, Shep J. Friedman; two children, Renee and William
Education:  Bryn Mawr College, B.A., 1979; Harvard University, Junior Year, 1977-78; New York University School of Law, J.D., 1983
Career Highlights: 1983-87, associate at a few major national law firms in Washington, D.C.; 1987-96, in-house attorney at Federal Home Loan Mortgage Association (Freddie Mac); 1996-99, outside attorney consultant to commercial real estate developer in Washington, D.C.; 1999-2000,  in-house counsel to company that ran clinical drug trials, doing primarily contract negotiation and drafting; 2005-present, private practice, concentrating on collections and real estate; July 2009, appointed by Mayor Waller as  Cooperstown acting village justice.
WHY WERE YOU MOTIVATED TO RUN FOR JUSTICE?  I was approached by Enid Hinkes, current village justice, about the position of acting village justice.  I am really enjoying it and am adept at dealing with the system and its players, through my educational background and integrity.  I am committed to Cooperstown, as I have been active in the schools, my husband is a physician at Bassett, my children attend Cooperstown schools, my family actively participates in community life and activities.

Alton G. Dunn, III (aka, “Chip” or “Dunnie”)
Trustee Candidate • Republican Party

PLACE OF BIRTH: Cooperstown
FAMILY:  Residents of Cooperstown: Father, Alton G. Dunn, Jr. (deceased); mother, Nancy C. Dunn; wife, Sandra Sawyer-Dunn; daughter, Marjorie E. Robin; granddaughter, Ashley A. Robin; niece, Elizabeth A. Dunn
Out of Area: Brother, Bruce C. Dunn, Sr. (attorney, Sparrow Bush); sister, Cheryl E. Breslin (teacher, Acton, Mass.); daughters, Nancy E. Mendez (teacher, Forney, Texas), Karin E. Lynn (police officer, Lebanon, Ore.), Mary E. Hubbard (Pittsfield)
Education: Colgate University, BA physics; University of Washington, MSEE
Career Highlights: As an electrical engineer and later an engineering manager, I worked for Hughes Aircraft Co. in Los Angeles, Boeing Aerospace Company in Seattle, Scientific-Atlanta and Georgia Institute of Technology, Electrospace Systems in Dallas, and the National Science Foundation in Antarctica.  My engineering career of 20 years gave me the opportunity to travel and experience different geographic and demographic cultures.  I also learned to apply principles and theories to solve practical problems.  In addition, I analyzed data, assessed performance and documented results.  These critical skills will be useful in performing the tasks of village trustee.
I am currently a science and math teacher at Laurens Central School.  In this capacity I gained an additional array of skills.  I learned to plan and follow objectives.  I learned to break down complex and abstract ideas to simple, basic principles and to communicate these concepts to students.  I learned the importance of developing assessment tools and of reflecting on the means to achieve a successful outcome.  Again, these are important functions of a village trustee.
WHY WERE YOU MOTIVATED TO RUN FOR TRUSTEE? I joined the volunteer fire department 20 years ago.  Shortly after, I became a member of the emergency squad.
When my brother and I were growing up, we often helped our Dad in fire department clean-ups and fund-raisers.  During the 1961 Freeman’s Journal fire, as Boy Scouts we helped the fire department auxiliary on the scene.  My father almost lost his life in that fire.  It is the same desire to serve my community that motivated me to join the volunteer fire department that moves me to seek this office now.
In addition, I am concerned about the direction the village has taken over the recent years, or rather the lack of direction.  There is no master plan for the village, no mission statement, no framework of goals to provide guidelines for decisions.  Consequently, there is no forward progress; personalities and whims rule the day; efforts are fragmented and at cross-purposes.
The Board of Trustees has received three comprehensive documents outlining long-range plans.  Two were prepared by outside agencies and one by an internal executive committee.  No resolution has been adopted on any of these proposals over the years.  No master plan has been crafted from these reports, and there is not even an agreed-on statement of purpose.  Without goals and objectives, we are like a ship at sea with no one at the helm.  I believe it is time to bring these “seeds for thought” to fruition.
PLEASE GIVE YOUR VIEWS ON THE VILLAGE’S FINANCIAL SITUATION, AND PROPOSE SOLUTIONS:   The financial health of the village is like that of an overweight, middle-aged person suffering from the symptoms that precede a heart attack.  We need to restore the blood flow, unblock the arteries, lower blood pressure, start exercising properly and establish a healthy diet.  The economic and financial condition is not dire, but it is still “rocky” and will take five to 10 years to get back on track.
Searching blindly for “alternate revenues” is not the one and only solution.  Careful and reasonable consideration should be devoted to any number of ideas for generating revenue. However, such schemes should be evaluated in the context of an overall plan for the village, which is not currently in place and in line with specific goals for our residents, merchants, and visitors.
We need to address key expenses.  Typically, the tax rate has increased around 3 percent, yet expenditures have risen by 4½ percent per year.  Better control of spending and more fiscal responsibility are necessary to correct the trend we have been following.  A long-range financial plan is needed to go along with a plan for future development.
WHICH VILLAGE BOARD COMMITTEES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SERVE ON AND WHY? The Fire Department Committee would be a natural place for me to serve, since I have been a long-time member of the fire and EMS service here.  My personal interests lie especially with the Parks and Sustainability committees.  I am an “outdoors” person and appreciate the benefits of Three Mile Point, Fairy Spring and the Lakefront.  In fact, I used to be a lifeguard for the village when I was in high school.  I would like to see a walking loop in the village from Doubleday Field, along Willow Brook to the Lakefront, over to Council Rock and along the river up to Cooper Park and down to the Hall of Fame.
I am also very concerned about the environment.  I teach earth science, as well as physics and math, and a technology course on alternate energy sources.  I am excited about efforts in the village to “go green.”  I think we have an opportunity to make a national impact by advertising our use of homemade mulch and organic pesticides.  The hydroelectric project on the Susquehanna River could generate widespread publicity, too, in addition to the benefit provided to the village.  Furthermore, we have a wonderful locale to promote and support the start up of “green” businesses.
A long-range planning committee has recently been created at the insistence of the newest members the board and all of the trustees will participate on this committee.  When I start a school year, I have to lay out each course schedule for the year in advance.  As a businessman, I had to make long-range budget and personnel plans.  I had to oversee design and production schedules.  I am hoping to make a contribution to this absolutely essential committee.
I am willing to work on any committee as needed.  The board is made up of people with many different talents working together as a team.  I have an engineering background; others have accounting degrees.  We can all work together combining our individual gifts to make our village a better place to live and our government more capable and responsive.
PLEASE DETAIL ANY PARTICULAR ISSUES/CHALLENGES YOU FEEL ARE IMPORTANT BUT ARE NOT REFLECTED ABOVE:   Village parking is the main issue I want to address.  The solution to the parking problem is not as simple as putting pay-and-display machines in the Doubleday Field lot or on Main Street.   In fact, paid parking was envisioned solely on the basis of a revenue-generating mechanism.  It was devised in a vacuum and its effect for better or worse on the overall parking situation was not directly considered or was entertained only as an afterthought.  The repercussions of this action may be more damaging than any initial gain in parking fees.
The parking question must be examined in the context of our overall goals and long-range plans, which we are working to establish.  It should meet the needs of residents, both homeowners and renters alike; tourists, both day and overnight guests; and merchants, who are the fabric of our economy.

Sally Eldred
Trustee Candidate • Democratic Party

Place of Birth:  Syracuse
Family: I am a widow with one son, Evan, who lives in the Syracuse area; one daughter, Ann Eldred, who lives in Cooperstown with her husband Robert Johnson, and two granddaughters, Emma and Kate Johnson, also of Cooperstown. My daughter and son-in-law are both staff members at Bassett Healthcare; Emma attends Cooperstown Elementary School and Kate is in preschool at Brookwood.
Education: I am a 1959 graduate of Syracuse University from what is now           Newhouse School of Communications. I have done graduate work in political science at the University of Buffalo (now SUNY University at Buffalo) and the University of Kentucky.
Career Highlights: I retired as executive director of the Greater Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, a 350-member suburban chamber, eight years ago, and had a small business of providing print business communications for small business and trade organizations. Prior to that time I worked for more than 20 years as an advertising account representative for a Syracuse-based agency with a client list of local and regional business, and regional and statewide trade associations. Prior to that I was in the public relations department of a university-sponsored research corporation. During the time my children were young and throughout my career, on a part-time but continuing basis for more than 30 years, I was a reporter covering municipal meetings in the northern suburbs of Onondaga County. After graduation from Syracuse, I was executive secretary of the Buffalo Council on World Affairs and, later, an editor with the technical publications department at General Electric.
WHY WERE YOU MOTIVATED TO RUN FOR TRUSTEE?  I was concerned to hear of village board discussions on restructuring the police force by reducing 24/7 coverage. The idea that our village would be well served by a county agency already stretched to its limits was not well thought out.
Cooperstown residents rely on police presence that is constant and observant. As parents and grandparents, we look to a force that is not only a protection against crime but is also a positive reinforcement of the values we treasure and want to instill in our children and grandchildren. Many of the services provided by the village government make our lives more enjoyable – more pleasant – the “perfect place to live.” But those services pale in comparison to the work that makes this a safe and healthy place to live.
During my career in communications I had the opportunity to report on municipal issues for Syracuse-area community papers. I was interested in hearing The Town of Clay’s merger with the Onondaga County’s Sheriff’s Department used as an example by some of our board members. I covered the Town of Clay (and at one point lived in the Town of Clay). Anyone who reviewed the town demographics – or, indeed, had driven through that town – would quickly understand that any vestige of similarity between Clay and Cooperstown simply is not there. I was also surprised to discover that no public discussion or thought was given to the Village of Liverpool’s (another municipality I covered) failed efforts at merged police services with the City of Syracuse.
PLEASE GIVE YOUR VIEWS ON THE VILLAGE’S FINANCIAL SITUATION, AND PROPOSE SOLUTIONS:  Local government is always under scrutiny to keep costs down, deliver necessary but not excessive services, maintain property owned by the municipality and, in our case, repair and rebuild aging infrastructure. Most of our budget lies in wages and related employee benefits. Much of the rest of the budget goes to maintaining and, recently, in rebuilding our aging infrastructure.
Fortunately, our ambulance and fire services are provided by dedicated, trained volunteers. Many communities our size have been faced with dwindling numbers of volunteers – to the point that they, now, have to assume some costs of a partial professional, partially volunteer organization. We are very fortunate that those services are still volunteer driven, but there are some fixed costs related to those services, too.
Equipment is purchased under state bid – there is little way to save there except to maintain what we have.
While I fully understand the necessity of our village government to monitor and reduce expenditures, the most comprehensive solution lies in new sources of income. The recent examples of licensing the Doubleday field logo, location fees, revising use fees for Doubleday Field and paid parking are some of the ways that the board has generated new, non-tax revenues. A less-embattled board can continue those efforts. I would certainly explore the expansion of additional paid parking opportunities. It is also possible that some of the responsibilities in 22 Main, now born by the village, could be shifted.
There is very little opportunity to generate additional property tax except for residential infill. (I count less than a dozen such opportunities.) There are a couple of larger sites (now commercial) that could produce more tax revenue if they were successfully developed, but those possibilities lie with private enterprise. One candidate stressed the need for comprehensive planning. There is so little land yet to be developed in this community that I believe the six figures needed to have a plan done professionally would be ill spent. In my experiences the municipalities that contract for a master plan rarely institute it but, instead, use it as a guide.
WHICH VILLAGE BOARD COMMITTEES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SERVE ON AND WHY? First, because of my experience in establishing a “friends” group, in fundraising and in helping to repurpose space for a historic municipal structure in Liverpool, I would like to provide that experience to the efforts of the 22 Main Committee.
I understand the long-range impact of a vigilant maintenance program for village-owned streets and properties I would like to represent the board on the Streets & Building Committee. Since public safety was my initial concern, and, because I understand the community role a small police force fills, the Police Committee would be appropriate assignment.
Because of my granddaughters, I am continually reminded of the important role our village parks have in our lives. My daughter serves on the Sewer Committee so that appointment should probably go to another trustee, but I am willing to take on any assignment for which the next mayor feels I am suitable.
PLEASE DETAIL ANY PARTICULAR ISSUES/CHALLENGES YOU FEEL ARE IMPORTANT BUT ARE NOT REFLECTED ABOVE:   I was executive director of the Greater Liverpool Community Chamber of Commerce for more than a decade and enjoyed working with businesses of all sizes and types. I think that experience would transfer to working with Main Street business, our tourist destinations and events and other local commercial enterprises to achieve consensus as to how local government and businesses can work together in a harmonious, non-confrontational manner for mutual benefit. Given the history of the past year, I believe this to be one of the most difficult but most important tasks on next year’s agenda.

Joseph J. Booan, Jr.
Mayoral Candidate • Republican Party

Place of Birth:  Springfield, Mass.
Family: I am a fourth-generation Cooperstown resident.  My wife Lisa and I have been married for 17 years and have two beautiful children.  My daughter Katie is a ninth grader and my son Carmen is a sixth grader.
Education:  Bachelor of science, psychology, Springfield College; master of science, educational psychology, SUNY Albany;  certificate of advanced study, school psychology, SUNY Albany; master’s in education, educational leadership, Lynchburg College.
Career Highlights:  I began my career working for United Cerebral Palsy Association of the Tri Counties in Queensbury, working directly with families and children who had mild to severe developmental disabilities.
I moved to Clarksville, Va., and the Mecklenburg County School system, working with pre-school to high-school level students.  I gained experience networking with county and state agencies.  While at Mecklenburg, I became a seasonal employee with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, trained as a federal park ranger, and for two years worked as a ranger, patrolling and enforcing laws on federal lands.   Worked with resource managers, foresters, wildlife specialists and also with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Department.  While working in Mecklenburg County Schools, I met my and married my wife, Lisa.
Shortly after my wife and I were married, we moved to Amherst, Va., and worked for Amherst County Schools as school psychologists.  While in Amherst County, I continued my work as a school psychologist in middle and elementary schools.  I helped develop an alternative school for high school students struggling with traditional high school programs. This involved collaborating with several county agencies.   Went back to graduate school to earn my second master’s degree in administration.
As we began our family, my wife and I chose to return to Cooperstown to raise our children.  I was recruited by ONC BOCES and hired to become a special education supervisor.  Two years later, I became principal at the Otsego Area Occupational Center.  After nine years as principal, became director of Career and Technical Education for ONC BOCES. My experience as a professional administrator has included:
• Securing $800,000.00 in federal grants over the past eight years.
• Researching, purchasing and scheduling replacement of construction and maintenance equipment.
• Purchasing from state contract vendors.
• Supervising 84,000 square foot and 64,000 square foot facilities.
• Working with NYSERDA, DEC, OSHA and various architects and engineers to make improvements in our facilities including roofing, heating, water distribution and treatment and electrical systems.
• Collaborating with local businesses to direct program decisions and form partnerships.
• Networking with colleges to provide post secondary opportunities for students.
• Developing new programs and overseeing certification processes.
• Hiring, supervising and providing professional development for staff.
• Writing and supervising emergency protocols.
• Collaborating and consulting directly with Otsego County Sheriff’s Department and the state police.
• Writing organizational policy.
WHY WERE YOU MOTIVATED TO RUN FOR MAYOR?  When I moved back to Cooperstown in 1999, our neighborhood re-vitalized the Irish Hill Residents Association to advocate for the infrastructure upgrades.  We attended village meetings to voice concerns regarding the quality of the streets, the condition of sidewalks, the absence of sidewalks, water supply, drainage and the overall safety of our neighborhood.
During this time, I became very interested in our local government.  I began to consider what strengths I could bring to the Board of Trustees.  I successfully ran and became elected a trustee last March.   In the past 10 months, I have begun to see the tremendous challenges that lie before us.
I am running for mayor of Cooperstown for simple yet important reasons:  Leadership, structure, and vision.  As a fourth-generation resident, my candidacy is motivated not by hobby, but a call to serve my community. I believe that our next mayor must possess strong leadership skills, the value of common sense and the caring ability to listen to the Cooperstown community.  I am confident that my experience as an administrator will benefit our village. I want to impose a more efficient structure from which to operate, provide leadership to realize efficiency, provide transparency and access to government, and prioritize our needs.
PLEASE GIVE YOUR VIEWS ON THE VILLAGE’S FINANCIAL SITUATION, AND PROPOSE SOLUTIONS:
My central idea is to deliver services at lower cost, reduce spending and use the savings to fund projects.  If we do this well, constantly coming up with different ways to generate revenue will be less important. Alternative ways to generate revenue too often means increasing taxes and fees in an already overtaxed community. Taxes prohibit growth of our community. 
We receive about $300,000 in sales tax revenues from the county each year, depending on our economy. This year we will receive $50,000 from bed-tax collections. I think we should continue to make the case that Cooperstown is the centerpiece for tourism in the county. I will work with Otsego County representatives to improve relations with the county board.
Finding and securing grants are keys to success for other revenues.  As a director at BOCES I have worked with all levels of government and secured over $800,000 grants.  I know I can bring knowledge of this process to help the village receive more grant money.   The village is receiving about $400,000 in federal grant money to pay for the Wetlands project.
A  hydro project has been proposed by the Sustainability Committee and could save the village about $60,000 every year in electricity costs at the water plant.  Doubleday Field committee has submitted a grant that could bring in over $200,000 for Doubleday Field,  which has over $1 million in needed repairs.   Our village clerk has expertise and knowledge in grant writing.  I would support all efforts to obtain grants to help pay for our infrastructure needs.
PLEASE DETAIL ANY PARTICULAR ISSUES/CHALLENGES YOU FEEL ARE IMPORTANT BUT ARE NOT REFLECTED ABOVE: There is no issue that has driven a bigger wedge in our community than the paid-parking issue.  It is unfair to the residents of Cooperstown to have a law on the books and not address it.  There is a constant threat of implementation depending on the political composition of the board.  This can only mean that the majority on the board did not listen to our residents when the debate over paid parking occurred.

Jeff Katz
Mayoral Candidate • Democratic Party

Place of Birth:  Brooklyn
Family:  Wife Karen; sons Nate, Robbie and Joey
Education:  B.A., SUNY Binghamton
Career Highlights: Worked my way up from an entry-level position as a clerk to a broker and then a trader, first on the New York Futures Exchange, then on the Chicago Board Options Exchange. I am currently a published author and have been devoting the majority of my time to volunteer efforts and village-government work.
Public Life: I am proud of my five years as village trustee, including two years as deputy mayor, four years as chair of Parks Board, two years chair of the Finance Committee, and service on many other committees.
Contributing facts and information to the decision making process, the result of in-depth research (for example, on sales tax laws), has allowed me to approach old issues with new information.  Also, I have come up with innovative ideas to present and act upon. Generating revenue through Doubleday Field concerts ($60,000), and adding reserves to fire contracts with other municipalities ($40,000), are just two examples.
To make our village meetings more transparent, I conceived of a new village web site to make meeting minutes available to everyone. In my role as chair of the Parks Board, I initiated a healthy working relationship between the newly revived Friends of the Parks in 2005 and the Parks Board to build the first public playground in Cooperstown and to improve Badger Park for our community. While working on parks issues, I came up with the idea of a Parks Reserve Fund for future projects.  There is now $20,000 in reserve.
I approached the towns of Otsego and Middlefield with statistics of library usage and requested more money, resulting in the towns tripling what they had previously paid.
WHY WERE YOU MOTIVATED TO RUN FOR MAYOR?  In my tenure as a village trustee and deputy mayor, I’ve dedicated myself to the village. My approach has always been one of consistency, honesty, openness and public involvement and the interests of the residents have always come first. The village is faced with more and more complexity, resulting in the need for more and more diligence from its next mayor. The village needs a mayor whose primary interest is its well-being. My schedule allows me the flexibility to change my personal work schedule in order to meet village needs. I have the hands-on, thorough knowledge necessary to responsibly lead our village into the future.
PLEASE GIVE YOUR VIEWS ON THE VILLAGE’S FINANCIAL SITUATION, AND PROPOSE SOLUTIONS:  The village is always in a challenging financial position. Cooperstown, and all it offers, is the driving force for tourism in the county. Look at the successful businesses that have evolved using Cooperstown’s name and baseball fame. The village budget doesn’t benefit directly from the tourist trade. Village businesses thankfully fare well during the summer months, yet pay 15-20 percent of the property tax; residents pay the rest. Businesses generate millions in sales tax, but Cooperstown gets back a mere 1 percent. While this is dictated by law, it is, nonetheless, unfair to our village.
We are susceptible to the effects of the economy on sales tax. We have carefully monitored month-to-month sales tax receipts and, in 2009-10, prudently budgeted 15 percent below the previous year’s budgeted amount, more than the actual decline.
On-street paid parking is a potentially large source of revenue that could address the massive infrastructure needs of the village and keep a lid on taxes. Last year, paid parking at Doubleday Field produced the equivalent of a 6.7 percent tax increase that the residents and taxpayers were not burdened with.
My ideas on capitalizing on logos and location fees for Doubleday Field are some other ways the village can generate income to help maintain the services and needs of our residents in ways other than raising taxes. The Doubleday Field concerts, which I have been instrumental in attaining since 2006, have added about $60,000 in revenue directly to the village.
Another initiative of mine has been adding a reserve line to our fire and ambulance contracts with the surrounding municipalities. The contracts had previously covered service only, with the village paying all the equipment replacement. By adding a reserve cost, the village has received an extra $40,000 for equipment from the municipalities it serves.
PLEASE DETAIL ANY PARTICULAR ISSUES/CHALLENGES YOU FEEL ARE IMPORTANT BUT ARE NOT REFLECTED ABOVE:  The biggest challenge for the village is preserving our village identity/integrity while dealing with the present day. Keeping our residents safe by maintaining a proper police force, protecting the interests of the volunteer fire department, and providing ambulance access, are basic necessities that I will continue to safeguard.  Detailed oversight of the village budget, which I have actively participated in each of the past five budget years, is a crucial component in making sure the village’s finances are well cared for.

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Editor’s Note:  Mike Molloy, the Republican village justice candiddate, did not return his questionnaire.  If submitted, it will appear in next week’s edition.