2013 Peekskill-Cortlandt Election Guide

Here's a rundown of everything you'll see on the ballot in Cortlandt and Peekskill on Tuesday, Nov. 5, from six New York State proposals to local and county-wide races in your district. 

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Find polling locations here.

Comments are included from candidates Patch was able to reach. * indicates incumbent.

From vote411.org:

Cortlandt Town Council (pick two)

• Debra Carter-Costello (D): "I am a lifelong resident of the Town of Cortlandt. I live here, work here, and raise my family here. I have always been committed to Cortlandt and I want to see my town, our town, continue to thrive and grow. I know I am part of the solution and will work to ensure Cortlandt experiences further growth, sound and healthy growth, toward the greater common good for our citizens, steering clear of projects that embrace profit for the few."
• Seth Freach (D): "With half of our current town board members retiring, it's important that we fill their vacancies with individuals who have the background and proven skills to continue the progress into the future, individuals who have experience in the technologies and methodologies that are being proven to create efficiencies and costs savings in other areas of our economy. These are going to be the skills that keep the Cortlandt of tomorrow affordable."
• Theresa Knickerbocker (R, C, I)
• John Lentini (R, C)
• Domenic Volpe (I)

Cortlandt Town Supervisor

• *Linda Puglisi (D, WF, I)

Cortlandt Receiver of Taxes

• *Mary E. Breining (D, R)

Cortlandt Town Clerk

• *Jo-Ann Dyckeman (D, WF, I)

Cortlandt Town Justice

• *Gerry Klein (R)
• Shari Gordon (D): "We need a fresh perspective in our Cortlandt Town Court. The world has changed and so must our judiciary. The issues facing our Courts such as domestic violence, drugs and our service men and women returning to their country with traumatic brain injury, depression and post traumatic stress disorder must be addressed compassionately and appropriately as a community."

Peekskill City Council (pick three)

• *Drew Claxton (D, WF): "...Our platform is to continue with the progress that we have made, to continue attracting new businesses, to broaden our tax base, to provide high quality services, and to keep our taxes low. We are differentiated from our opponents in that we are dealing with the real state of the City, which is incredibly optimistic."
• Chris Hanzlik (R, C, I): "I believe that an infusion of new commercial and retail development and redevelopment from the private sector on a much larger scale is needed ... I have worked for 30 years as a consulting civil engineer specializing in public and private sector land and infrastructure development. I also served as a member of the planning commission for 14 years. I know that I can use my experience and expertise to work with the city’s departments to create more streamlined processes for the approval of planning and development projects that is will meet the city’s economic development goals while protecting the city, its residents and the environment."
• *Marybeth McGown (D, WF)
• *Andrew Torres (D, WF)
• Joe Torres (R, C, I)
• Vinny Vesce (R, C, I)

Peekskill City Council - Special Election 

• Leslie Detres (R)
• *Vivian Cyndi McKenzie (D)

Peekskill Mayor

• Frank Catalina (R, C, I): "I believe we are at a serious crossroads in Peekskill's history. We are very near the point of no return as far as our finances are concerned. With that being said, I believe we can turn this nightmare around relatively quickly with a like-minded council. We can balance a budget, bring in a budget in line with what was expected, without deficits, get the city out of the real estate business, stop wasting time and money on studies, consultants and outside counsel and restore pride in Peekskill."
  
• *Mary Foster (D, WF)

County Executive

Term: Four years

Salary: $160,760         

The County Executive is the chief executive. Duties include supervising the day to day administration; supervising the structure and organization of each department; reporting to the County Legislature; appointing, subject to confirmation by the County Legislature; serving as the chief budget officer; executing contracts and agreements for the County; executing all executive and administrative powers in relation to any and all functions of County government.                    

• *Robert Astorino (R, C), Westchester County Executive of Hawthorne, Mount Pleasant, Campaign Website http://www.robastorino.com

• Noam Bramson (D, WF, I), Mayor, New Rochelle of New Rochelle, Campaign Website http://noambramson.org

For more on the County Executive race and their debate in White Plains, click here.

County District Attorney 

• *Janet DiFiore (D, C, WF)

County Clerk

• *Timothy C. Idoni (D), Westchester County Clerk
• Mary Beth Murphy (R, C, I), Supervisor, Town of Somers

County Court Justice

• Montgomery J. Delaney (R), Trial Attorney
• David F. Everett (D, WF, I), Attorney

Supreme Court Justice - 9th Judicial District (pick five)

• Daniel D. Angiolillo (R, C, I), Associate Justice, of the Appellate Division, NYS Supreme Court

• Daniel Castricone (R)

• John P. Colangelo (D, C, WF, I), Judge, Westchester County Court

• Mark C. Dillon (R, C, WF, I), Justice, Appellate Division of NYS Supreme Court

• Alex Eisemann (D)

• Janet Malone (D), Acting Supreme Court Justice and Westchester County Family Court Judge

• Maria S. Vazquez-Doles (D, WF, I), Town Justice, Town of Monroe and Attorney

• Victor G. Grossman (D, C, WF)

• Christie Derrico (R), judge

• John W. Sweeny, Jr. (R, C, WF, I), Sitting Justice
  

Family Court Justice

• Kathie E. Davidson (D, R, C, WF, I)

District Legislators

Term: Two years; Salary: $49,200 Base

Duties: Among the duties of each County Legislator is to enact laws dealing with the County and its residents; to adopt an annual budget and to levy taxes; to determine the structure of County Government and the number of County employees and their salaries; and to initiate new projects and programs as the need arises.  There are 17 County Districts.

DISTRICT 4 contains part of Yorktown, New Castle, part of Somers 

• Gregory P. McKain (R)
• Michael B. Kaplowitz (D, I- Somers), County Legislator

DISTRICT 1 contains Cortlandt, Peekskill, Yorktown

• John G. Testa (R)
• Duane Jackson (D), Village of Buchanan Trustee 

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New York State Proposals

1: An Amendment - Authorizing Casino Gaming

The proposed amendment to section 9 of article 1 of the Constitution would allow the Legislature to authorize up to seven casinos in New York State for the legislated purposes of promoting job growth, increasing aid to schools, and permitting local governments to lower property taxes through revenues generated.  Shall the amendment be approved?

2: An Amendment - Additional Civil Service Credit for Veterans with Disabilities Certified Post-Appointment

The proposed amendment to section 6 of article 5 of the Constitution would entitle a veteran who has received civil service credit for a civil service appointment or promotion and subsequently is certified as disabled to additional civil service credit at subsequent appointment or promotion. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?

3: An Amendment - Exclusion of Indebtedness Contracted for Sewage Facilities

The proposed amendment to Article 8, section 5 of the Constitution would extend for ten years, until January 1, 2024, the authority of counties, cities, towns, and villages to exclude from their constitutional debt limits indebtedness contracted for the construction or reconstruction of sewage facilities. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?

4: An Amendment - Settling Disputed Title in the Forest Preserve

The proposed amendment to section 1 of article 14 of the Constitution would authorize the Legislature to settle longstanding disputes between the State and private entities over certain parcels of land within the forest preserve in the town of Long Lake, Hamilton County. In exchange for giving up its claim to disputed parcels, the State would get land to be incorporated into the forest preserves that would benefit the forest preserve more than the disputed parcels currently do. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?

5: An Amendment - In Relation to a Land Exchange in the State Forest Preserve with NYCO Minerals, Inc.

The proposed amendment to section 1 of article 14 of the Constitution would authorize the Legislature to convey forest preserve land located in the town of Lewis, Essex County, to NYCO Minerals, a private company that plans on mining the land. In exchange, the NYCO Minerals would give the State at least the same amount of land of at least the same value, with a minimum assessed value of $1 million, to be added to the forest preserve. When NYCO Minerals finishes mining, it would restore the condition of the land and return it to the forest preserve. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?

6: An Amendment - Increasing Age until which Certain State Judges Can Serve

The proposed amendment to the Constitution, amending sections 2 and 25 of article 6, would increase the maximum age until which certain state judges may serve as follows: (a) a Justice of the Supreme Court would be eligible for five additional two-year terms after the present retirement age of 70, instead of the three such terms currently authorized; and (b) a Judge of the Court of Appeals who reaches the age of 70 in order to complete the term to which that Judge was appointed. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?

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