TODAY IS ELECTION DAY!

WRITE-IN vote Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler for Village Trustee TODAY, Tuesday, May 7 at the village firehouse at 25 Plattekill Avenue. Polls are open 12-9.

Don and Rebecca are the best candidates for the job. Their experience, passion for our community, and ability to see issues objectively will help our village face the challenges ahead. What our village needs now are leaders like Kerr and Rotzler.

We need Don and Rebecca, and they need your vote. Each and every vote is critical. Winning via WRITE-IN is a considerable challenge, but certainly within our reach. Bring your sharpened pencils to the village firehouse today to WRITE-IN Kerr and Rotzler.

See the many statements of support for Kerr and Rotzler from your village neighbors atwww.KerrRotzler.blogspot.com and on Facebook at “Kerr/Rotzler for New Paltz”.

New Paltz Village Election Debate at SUNY New Paltz: April 29, 2013

Michael Zierler supports Kerr & Rotzler for New Paltz

This Tuesday join me in writing-in Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler to be our next Village Trustees. Rebecca and Don have devoted years to serving our community both as volunteers and as elected officials. They have served on numerous boards and committees, often chairing them. And every time they have brought energy, vision, patience, and respect for others to the tasks at hand. I served with Rebecca for three years on the Village Board when she was Deputy Mayor. She worked tirelessly on behalf of our emergency service personnel, helped oversee Village finances as a member of the Finance Committee, and drafted the Village’s affordable housing law, to name only some of her accomplishments. Importantly, I could trust Rebecca to come prepared to meetings and to listen carefully to different points of view. I have watched Don serve for many years on our school board including as President. Recently, I had the opportunity to work with Don and Rebecca on a committee that Don spearheaded and chaired. Our charge was to identify ways to improve New Paltz’s commercial tax base. We set out to identify locations where development would be viable and likely acceptable to the community. We also identified types of businesses that we would like to see. We reached out to Ulster County government to assist us in making these development projects happen. Finally, Don and members of this committee presented our report to the Town Board so that they could implement our recommendations. The remarkable thing about Don was the skills he brought to lead this politically diverse group of citizens towards these common goals. He used everyone’s strengths to our best advantage. He led by example, getting his responsibilities done on time, and reaching out to help whenever it was needed. What the Village Board sorely needs now are people like Rebecca and Don. People who respect their colleagues, and who respect the public even if they disagree with the Village Board. We need Don and Rebecca because they will bring civility and professionalism to the Village Board. And most importantly, they will work on behalf of all Village residents. We need Don and Rebecca’s years of experience, their passion, and their work ethic. Please write in Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler on Tuesday May 7.

Michael Zierler

A Conversation with Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler

Theresa Fall's Letter to the Editor May 1, 2013

I stand behind Rebecca Rotzler as a village trustee 100%. I have worked side-by-side with Rebecca over the years and have always been impressed by her tireless commitment to serving the community as a dedicated, smart, and caring volunteer. She is usually the first one to offer her help when help is needed - whether for Flood Aid, Family of New Paltz, hurricane disaster relief or even just a fun-spirited community event. I believe her to be a good person down to the core, one who will be fair and just in all things relevant to our village. She has already proven herself reliable and level-headed as our former Deputy Mayor, working diligently and successfully on a diverse board with different political backgrounds. On May 7th, I am writing in Rebecca Rotzler in for Village Board Trustee and I strongly encourage you to do the same.

Don Kerr is an excellent choice for Village Board Trustee. He has a level head and a commitment to our community which he has shown consistently over the years through his volunteer work in so many ways: on the school board, the Land Use and Transportation Committee, a consolidation subcommittee, chair of joint Town/Village Public Access Committee, and of course, his public access television show "A Slice of New Paltz".  We need fair, just, balanced, multi-faceted people our village board. Don is just that person and I am writing him in for Village Board on May 7th. Please do the same. 

Theresa Fall

Village of New Paltz

Brian Cournoyer's Letter to the Editor May 1, 2013

In times of uncertainty and contentiousness, we need experienced leaders who base decisions on facts. Rebecca Rotzler and Don Kerr are those leaders. In her time as deputy mayor, Rebecca Rotzler demonstrated her ability to lead discussion and build consensus on the New Paltz Village Board. She is a well-known and active member of the New Paltz community, and has worked tirelessly organizing a group of local citizens to bring aid to Hurricane Sandy victims on Staten Island. Don Kerr, in his time as a member and president of the New Paltz school board, also showed the characteristics of a conscientious, thoughtful leader who takes the opinions and input of his colleagues and the public seriously and gives careful consideration to the details and the data. I am confident that, as trustees of the Village Board, Rebecca and Don will bring these very important qualities to bear, using facts, rationality and sensibility in making the difficult decisions that lie ahead. 

Please join me in enthusiastically writing in Rebecca Rotzler and Don Kerr for New Paltz Village Board Trustees on May 7th.

Brian Cournoyer
Village of New Paltz

Don Kerr's Letter to the Editor May 1, 2013

It’s time to make a choice New Paltz. On May 7^th, WRITE IN KERR & ROTZLER or fill in the bubble for another candidate. My hope is that this wise community makes the most of an opportunity to elect experienced and creative local leaders – with track records of smart and constructive action.

 

In addition to her term as Deputy Mayor, law writing and grant experience, Rebecca Rotzler arrived on Staten Island with volunteers from New Paltz immediately after Hurricane Sandy. Demonstrating the commitment and energy that my running mate would bring to service as trustee, Rebecca has continued to spend her weekends there in service, up until this campaign. In Staten Island, it was Rebecca whom they sent into sewage filled basements again and again for her fortitude. And when our beloved city of New Orleans fell to Katrina, the Kerr family housed a single mother and her sparkling daughter for months. 

 

Rotzler and Kerr walk the walk. Please WRITE US IN.

 

My email handle is Donpaltz. For me, that says it all. It embodies who I am and my life in our wonderful community: PTSA, Reformed Church Choir (retired), NewPaltz.org, One Bus/One Town, Land Use and Transportation Study, Slice of New Paltz, Public Access committee, Board of Education, NP ad-hoc Tax Alliance, consolidation subcommittee, and more. 

 

Elected positions are best brought to life by clear vision, ability to articulate, empathy, strategy, and skin tough as leather. We have repeatedly demonstrated those qualities over time – you know who we are. You know that you can trust us. 

 

WRITE IN KERR & ROTZLER for New Paltz. Thank you. 

Donald Kerr

New Paltz

Forrest Kerr's Letter to the Editor May 1, 2013

I'd like to provide some personal insight on how my father Don Kerr faces important decisions: when I found THE car that I wanted, I thought about hitting him with some emotionally slanted rhetoric but then I remembered who I was bargaining with. Although he may be an empathetic and understanding man the most important factor for him in decision making is the facts and the rhetoric free reality of any given situation. I crunched the numbers and was able to prove that I could afford it and even pay my tuition and books afterwards and with that I won his vote on the matter. I have always known him to be a kind-hearted and emotional man, but I have never seen him let that take precedent to his deep moral integrity which is centered around hard facts and I like to think he has passed that on to me and shares it with the people he surrounds himself with. More importantly I have seen this modeled by his campaigning with Rebecca Rotzler and I know it is something they will bring to the village board which it could use dearly.

Forrest Kerr

New Paltz

KT Tobin's Letter to the Editor May 1, 2013

I would need 100 pages to fully write about how grateful I am for Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler’s contributions to both my own life and our community. As my friends, mentors, role models for my children, and deeply devoted volunteers for New Paltz, our village would be greatly served with both Don and Rebecca at the village board table.

Kerr and Rotzler bring it all: Institutional and Practical Knowledge. Positive Attitudes. Patience. Innovative Intelligence. Dedication. Constructive Thoughtfulness. Integrity. Perseverance. Trust. LOVE of our wondrous, funky, precious New Paltz.

They not only have long, full resumés of service - they have documented success. Their accomplishments span a diverse array of issues we know are important to New Paltzians: social justice/equity, public access, emergency service/preparedness, education, transportation/land use, environment/climate change/resilience, quality of life, and the critical, fundamental piece: affordability.  

A call to my wise neighbors: closely decided elections are not uncommon in New Paltz. In 2011, the mayoralty was won by 67 votes. In 2009, a village board seat was won by a single vote, and the victor was a WRITE-IN candidate. These very recent electoral experiences serve as stark reminders - and hopefully, lessons - that we all need to show up and exercise our right to vote, because every vote counts.

Each and every vote for Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler is critical. Winning via WRITE-IN is a considerable challenge, but certainly within our reach. There is no question: I wholeheartedly encourage village voters to bring their sharpened pencils to the village firehouse on May 7th to WRITE-IN Kerr and Rotzler so that we will have a village board headed in the right direction. See you at the polls!

KT Tobin

New Paltz

Kimiko Link's Letter to the Editor May 1, 2013

You wouldn't think that big national issues like climate change or income inequality would have much place in a Village election -- except maybe symbolically. We know that these issues affect us; Hurricane Irene and Hurricane Sandy brought that home painfully. And literally.  But we often feel like there's nothing we can do about them here.  

As an environmental scientist with the Environmental Protection Agency, I know better. I work with municipalities all over the country to reduce waste and increase recycling and re-use. As part of a national effort, New Paltz was chosen as one of a handful of communities for a pilot program called, "Zero Waste Communities".   We are working with local volunteers to design a waste reduction program that can be used other places; in other words, we chose New Paltz as one of our laboratories to make those connections between global issues and local action.

As a mother of two and Village homeowner, I vote for candidates who can make the same kinds of connections. I know Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler will keep their eyes on the big picture, even while handling the routine issues that come up in the Village. Their experience and vision give them the tools to identify ways we can all work together to do our part,whether its clean energy, clean water, a sustainable economy, transparent, inclusive government or making New Paltz a Zero Waste Community.  I also want elected officials who are working to improve our community in particular; whether its more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly streets, protection of our historic places or creating more mixed-use, high-density, walkable neighborhoods.  Only Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler have the right combination of vision and track record to do both. Please join me in writing them in on May 7th.

Jason West's Letter to the Editor May 1, 2013

Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler are -- by far -- the most experienced and principled candidates running for Village Board. Having spent years on the School Board and Village Board, they have proven track records, accomplishments to be proud of and public reputations built on honesty, hard work, and an understanding of exactly how government can better our lives.

I've voted for Don Kerr in every election he's run in, and look forward to serving alongside him on the Village Board. His ability to stand rock-solid on principle while navigating complicated public policy is sorely needed on the Village Board.
I've already served with Rebecca of course; we won seats on the Board together in 2003 and she served as Deputy Mayor for our entire term. I already know her bulldog determination and tireless advocacy. Others have written about her humble, relentless dedication to rolling up her sleeves when others need help. But I also know her dedication to finding legislative solutions to problems too big for volunteerism; not only her work on such public policy as assembling a team and drafting our first Affordable Housing Law or creating our Housing Board, but also the seemingly small things like working with the Fire Department to get brand new uniforms for our firefighters.

Every once in a while you'll see a letter saying, 'I don't always agree with person X, but....". Well, none of that. I almost always agree on the same big picture as Don and Rebecca. And they both have the seriousness, expertise and conviction necessary to put that vision into practice.

We desperately need voices of reason on the Village Board, and I can't think of two more reasonable and dedicated neighbors to serve with.

Mike Russo's Letter to the Editor April 24, 2013

At last Tuesday’s meeting (April 17, 2013), the village board foolishly and recklessly decided to reduce the mayor’s salary from $36,000 down to part-time at $22,500. The difference between having a full-time mayor and a part-time mayor is huge – it is essential that the village have at least one person who can devote their full working time in an oversight capacity to the village finances, operations, needs, and vision. The difference in cost is trivial: it amounts to less than $5 per $100,000 assessed value. Without that full-time perspective, the village can easy lose many times that amount of money simply by missing a grant opportunity or having less focus during a contract negotiation. 

The village board action has all the appearances of the subtext of punishing Mayor West because of his opposition and criticism of the process by which consolidation has been advanced, a process to which all four village board members have been dedicated. But in fact, the mayor has been on point in his criticism – he and Town Councilman Logan were the first to question the report of the consolidation finance committee, which has now been proven to contain wildly exaggerated claims of savings. Trustee Rhoads served on that finance committee, and was chiefly responsible for pushing perhaps the most egregious claim, that of the false $300,000 police line in consolidation savings. Trustee Rhoads also propagated the financial committee’s false and inflated numbers to the public as early as November 2012, months before their actual report was released and could be vetted by other board members and the public.

The mayor was elected to serve on behalf of the village and he has tirelessly done so. The four trustees on the other hand, have made as their primary focus, the promotion of an approach to consolidation that has been aggressive, divisive and untrustworthy. This most recent action of cutting the salary of village’s top elected office is the latest example of their poor judgment, and what certainly appears to be a coordinated vindictive maneuver.

It is exactly this flavor of recklessness and aggressiveness that has made me increasingly wary of the consolidation process, as has been handled by the current village and town board advocates. And this is why I ask all village voters to support Rebecca Rotzler and Don Kerr for village board trustees, to change the tone of the consolidation discussion and return decent, coherent government to the village. Remember that you will need to write-in the names of both Rebecca Rotzler and Don Kerr, as they were knocked off the ballot by a petition challenge.

Terence P. Ward's Letter to the Editor April 24, 2013

The reason politics makes strange bedfellows is simple:  the issues are not black and white, and thoughtful people look deeper than the labels and work with the people that will get the best results.  That's precisely why I will be writing in Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler for New Paltz Village Board:  I support a single, efficient government for all of New Paltz, and I believe that these two candidates represent my best hopes of achieving just that.

These letters are always short, so for the sake of providing more than glib platitudes, I will focus on just one candidate, Don Kerr, and what value I believe he will bring to our community.

Consolidation is a big issue right now, and it's one that I have backed since before Elliot Spitzer's fall from grace.  The state will force us to make one from two eventually, either passively as Cuomo has or directly, so we need to decide if we want to create that government, or have it defined for us.  With all the information on the table, we can and will make a better government than anything Albany defines for us.

But all information isn't on the table, and for months our elected officials have engaged in a cycle of hiring consultants, forming committees, and chastising citizens who ask questions.  Anyone who asks pointed questions about the process or the result is defined as "anti-consolidation," as if we were choosing up kickball teams instead of deciding how we and our descendants govern ourselves was some kind of game to be won.

Politics isn't a game, and I take a dim view of my neighbors who are more interested in gaming the system than they are serving the community.

That brings me to Don Kerr.  He's been asking questions, and been rebuffed.  I'd rather see him in a position where it's hard not to give him answers, because his questions will lead to a consolidation process which is less driven by the egos of our current Gang of Ten, and more by actual data.  It's nice that the state is dangling money for us to throw at consultants and merge offices, but I want this plan to be fiscally sustainable and to make our lives simpler, and the only way to do that is to ask tough questions, and take the time to answer them fully.

And believe it or not, there's more going on than consolidation talk.  One of our biggest ones is a failing sewage system faced with increasing demand.  Politicians never say so directly, but heavy rainstorms result in your poop floating down our river.   No one claims to know how much New Paltz poop ends up in the Wallkill, but Riverkeeper's data suggests swimming there isn't a good idea.

Don Kerr's experience with water and sewer is unrivaled by anyone now serving on or running for the board.  When the poop hits the fan, I want Kerr at my back.

Mark Portier's Letter to the Editor May 1, 2013

I'm taking a pen to the polls this Tuesday to write-in Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler for Village Trustee - and urge you to do the same. Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler are exceptionally and uniquely qualified to serve our Village. Don Kerr is the former chair of our school board and a career professional in the water and power industry. His working knowledge of water and sewer systems is of essential benefit to Village residents, at a time when we are facing substantial maintenance and upgrade issues. Rebecca Rotzler brings unmatched institutional knowledge to the position of Village Trustee. She earned the trust of the Village's employees and volunteers during her term as our Village Deputy Mayor, from 2003-07. I worked with Don Kerr on the Public Access TV Committee and volunteered to videotape the Village Board meetings during Rebecca Rotzler's tenure as our Deputy Mayor. I know firsthand that Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler are exemplary public servants - hard working, frugal, innovative, highly principled people, who come to the table prepared, able to listen and ready to lead. Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler will, above all, protect and safeguard the interests of Village residents at a crucial time in our history. They have my impassioned support and deserve yours. Write-in Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler on Tuesday, May 7!

Mark Portier
Current resident and former Village of New Paltz Trustee

Karen Edelman's Letter to the Editor April 24, 2013

I’m writing to enthusiastically support Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler as write-in candidates for New Paltz Village Board.

Over the past several years, both Don and Rebecca have impressed me with their understanding and devotion to the New Paltz community and their dedication to public service, two qualities that top my list of what I’d want in a Village Board trustee. In his role as President of the New Paltz Board of Education, Don always struck me as a fair, thoughtful and approachable leader who would go out of his way to ensure that everyone’s voice was heard. Rebecca, who gained valuable, applicable experience as the former Deputy Mayor, has impressed me with her boundless energy and tireless efforts to aid Hurricane Sandy victims. She organized the local effort and brought critical food and supplies to some of the most affected areas in New York City—not just in the initial weeks, but for months after, without any fanfare. Rebecca wasn’t looking for accolades; she clearly just wanted to help so she set to work and got it done.    

Don and Rebecca both strike me as open-minded and generous with their time. They are consensus seekers who would unite, not divide our community. Given the many issues and decisions that they would face in this role, perhaps their best shared quality is this: They are great listeners.

I’m confident we would all be in capable, trustworthy hands if Don and Rebecca were elected. So please join me in writing in Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler on Tuesday, May 7^th.

Karen Edelman

Village of New Paltz

Jesse Chance's Letter to the Editor April 24, 2013

I have been a resident of the village of New Paltz for most of my adult life. My son attended the New Paltz Middle School and went on to graduate from the High School with distinction. My career and social life could well be termed village-centric. As such, I have had ample opportunity to get to know all four of the candidates for the two village board seats slated to become vacant soon. To begin, let me say that I have nothing but respect for Tom Rocco's contributions to and for the community of New Paltz, Ulster County and New York in general. However, his statement that he "was reluctant to take on more official duties" does not fill me with confidence. I have no wish to vote for a village board member who is simply running to bolster the political agenda of others. It is a four year term that begs for more passion and dedication than his platform broadcasts.

I have also long been friendly with Jon Cohen. Be that as it may, I do remember Jon's previous political campaigns in this village. I find it hard to believe that "common sense" would have much if anything to do with a stint by Cohen on the village board.

On the other hand, Rebecca Rotzler did an admirable job in her term as deputy mayor, and her passion for helping others is undeniable.  In a town like New Paltz (as of 2009, average age 21.5, 37.1% with income below the poverty level and rental percentage well above New York average), I feel that our board must (when possible) include a renter. Personally, I think it is crucial to offset the opinion of those that have with that of those who have not. Just sayin'.  I am confident that Rebecca will competently, considerately and honestly deliberate over the ongoing consolidation debate and act according to facts, not desires. Furthermore, you can bet she will vigorously strive to better our community throughout her four year term.

Last, but not least, I feel this town has done Don Kerr a disservice in recent years. This is a man none can deny is dedicated to this community. Don has given us years of service and has a demonstrable history of bridge building. For some to write him off as "having baggage" is to brashly discard the American tenet of "innocent until proven guilty.” Last I checked, he was acquitted! We deem ourselves a progressive community, but time after time, our actions brand us as conservative with all the baggage that that term implies.

I believe our village board should be representative of a broad cross section of our diverse community. I do not think we would be well served by a one note committee. I will be writing in the names Rebecca Rotzler and Don Kerr on May 7th because I wish for a village board that is a true representation of all of New Paltz.

Jesse Chance

New Paltz

Andrea Russo's Letter to the Editor April 24, 2013

I will be voting for Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler by “write in” ballot on May 7^th.  I believe that they are the “types of people” that I do want to serve as my village trustees. 

Don and Rebecca are examples of the best kind of civic-minded individuals.  They have both given innumerable hours of their time to help others.  They have served as elected officials, worked on government committees, and volunteered their services in the community.

Don and I served as together as co-chairs of the joint town and village Public Access Committee for the past several years.  He has shared my passion and commitment to making sure that there is community television programming on Channel 23. Don’s own program, A Slice of New Paltz, offered close-ups of local residents, businesses and events that celebrated the specialness of our home.

Rebecca and I have known one another since 2003.  She and my husband, Michael Zierler, served on the Village Board together.   During her years on the village board, she was liaison to our first responders, Police, Fire, and Rescue Squad.  She is a person you can count on to show up when community response is needed, whether it is shoveling snow after a New Paltz blizzard or clearing out moldy basements for residents affected by Hurricane Sandy. 

Don and Rebecca appeal to me as open-minded, fair and hard working.  They are independent thinkers and open to listening to varying opinions.  They will seek factual data when making decisions that affect others.

As we consider changes to our government structure, I can trust that Rebecca and Don will represent my concerns and interests as a village resident.  Although I care about preserving services and not paying unnecessary taxes, I also need to know that I will be fairly represented on any new government board.

I believe that Don and Rebecca have the right type of character to continue to serve our community with leadership from the heart and mind.

Andrea R. Russo, New Paltz

Village Election Debate @ SUNY New Paltz

Monday April 29 at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Union Building, Room 62

Village elections are on Tuesday, May 7th at the fire station from 12 to 9pm

RSVP on Facebook and invite your friends!

Kathy Preston's Letter to the Editor April 24, 2013

As a lifelong town resident who owns and operates a small business in the village, I can hardly express how dearly I would like to be able to write in a vote for Don Kerr and and Rebecca Rotzler on May 7th. Since I can't do that, I will simply offer this letter as my vote of confidence in their abilities to provide exactly the type of leadership our community needs.

The current village board and joint village/town boards lack a small business perspective and that is clearly reflected in the consolidation discussions. The village is not an island, it is the vibrant heart of our community. We are fortunate enough to live in a community where it is still possible to shop locally. Downtown businesses are the foundation of our economy. The sidewalks of the village are traveled by people from all over the country, as well as the residents of the town. The streetlights shine on everyone. We need trustees who know how important it is to keep New Paltz attractive to new businesses and economically viable for those already established here.

During discussion of all sorts of issues, from planning to budgeting, the village needs trustees at the table who understand the trials and tribulations of small business ownership, but who will not let personal issues or agendas stand in the way of coming to a solution that best serves the common good. When emotions rise at a board table it is essential to have experienced trustees who know how to reign in and focus discussions.  In 2010, Don and Rebecca successfully organized a culturally and politically diverse ad hoc group of community members that brought concrete results in the commitment of county funds to lay water and sewer on South Putt Corners Road, enabling businesses to come to New Paltz and increase our tax base. On issues that mattered most, Don regularly led the Board of Education to a unanimous vote, as Rebecca also did to find consensus during her term as Deputy Mayor on the village board. Their mature sensibility will help our village board to work at its best.  

Rebecca is one of the hardest-working volunteers I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She jumps in (often literally!) and gets to work where it is needed. She models respect and accountability in all she does. Don has been the owner of a small business on Main Street for over a decade, chronicles the many facets of our community via his work on our public access committee and in the public access series “A Slice of New Paltz”, and has a remarkable ability to provide a level-headed perspective when tempers run high.

Both Don and Rebecca are public servants who understand and exemplify the meaning of service, who are willing to listen and find common ground, to think outside the box and focus on long-term sustainability. I urge all village residents to write in their votes for Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler on May 7th at the village firehouse.

Kathy Preston

New Paltz

Matthew Flusser's Letter to the Editor April 24, 2013

Once again we stand at a fork in the road regarding who to vote for in our Village of New Paltz election. We do this in the context of making important choices about our village, town, state, country, and the world. As such, we must have people in power who are willing to make informed, tough decisions that will affect our lives and, more importantly, take us in a direction that will positively affect our children and our children’s children. We can’t make the mistake of voting for people who will only look at the short term bottom-line instead of taking thoughtful, sustainable actions for good over the long term.

Let’s take the positive, proactive route and vote for Rotzler and Kerr for village board. They not only care about the right issues but also have proven track records and experience to get things accomplished. We want better things for New Paltz and we can’t allow stagnant government systems and entrenched party machines to set us back. Let’s be able to look back in a few years and say we did it - that we have built and continue to have a village that is looked upon in America as a model of sustainability and acceptance. Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler can take us there - join me in writing in their names on May 7th.

Matthew Flusser

New Paltz

Meet Don Kerr

KT Tobin's Letter to the Editor April 17, 2013

It is unfortunate in a democracy when the system is manipulated as a means to an end.

Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler's petitions to get their names on the ballot for the New Paltz Village Trustee elections in May were not challenged based on principle, but - based on their own quotes in the press - Cohen/Rocco supporters contested only the Kerr/Rotzler petitions for political, not principled reasons.

I have worked on my fair share of campaigns, and I believe anyone who wants to run for office should be given the chance, so I have never advised candidates to challenge their opponents' petitions. I took a look at Mr. Cohen's petitions and they were a mess, easily challengeable. It would have been easy to disqualify him, but why would you do that to someone who shares your agenda? In this case it’s particularly disturbing that petitions were challenged, because it was done by one elected village official and one appointed town official, and clearly selectively, so that it was not on principle, but an electoral strategy to knock off competitive opponents.

The result is that numerous village citizens have been disenfranchised: some for getting married and changing their name, some because a witness actually had her petitions "double" witnessed, and many for their exuberance in signing for more than one candidate on the same day (rather than erring on the side of the voters, the Board of Elections deemed throw them all out, instead of assigning them to at least one candidate).

With Kerr and Rotzler knocked off the ballot, bureaucracy, party machine, and politics have won over choice and democracy - but only in this round.

Join me in voting for Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler - mark your calendars to write in their names on Tuesday, May 7th - and democracy will win the next round, at the ballot booth.

KT Tobin

New Paltz

Candidates' Forum at Woodland Pond 4-16-13

Don Kerr Candidate Statement

Several issues have led to my decision to run for Village Trustee in the May 7^th election. Among them:

a) the best decisions benefit from the broadest input, and I have been a small business owner in the Village for more than a decade. When I see Village Board and joint Town/Village meetings it seems that these discussions would benefit from a perspective that I will bring - one that understands the tightrope that our local small business owners walk, and

b) I have a demonstrated track record of working collaboratively with all sorts of people to get important work done. That sort of collaborative presence has been sorely lacking at Village Board meetings of late. As one trustee recently observed, the Village Board could do better job of presenting themselves to the public at meetings.

c) regarding consolidation, it is vital that trustees serve us as honest brokers. The current majorities on the Village and Town boards have chosen to sell us on savings, in contrast to the experience of other NY consolidated municipalities, and the results of the yearlong Fairweather study that the boards commissioned. We need clarity where it is sorely lacking.  

As we move forward with this investigation, I will continue to advocate for hard data and arithmetic, and I will insist upon the same as your Trustee.

Please vote Don Kerr for Village Trustee, May 7th, noon to 9 p.m. at the Village Firehouse.

Donald Kerr

Rebecca Rotzler Candidate Statement

I am excited to once again serve our community by running for village trustee. Since previously serving as our Deputy Mayor I feel that we are at a time where my record of service and dedication to our community will help us move us forward in an expedient and sensible manner. Our current economy calls for innovative ideas in terms of energy use, efficient municipal services, and development. We need to move forward and ensure that the investments of our residents are secure and we expand our local economy in ways that encourage sensible growth Any consolidation vote to reach the ballot needs to be with factual figures and an informed public. Regardless of whether or not our community chooses a combined government we need to go ahead and find ways to implement the cost savings and efficiency measures now.

One critical area of concern is emergency preparedness. I have served as a liaison for the Fire Department, the Police Commission, and Rescue Squad. During that time I also received National Incident Management System training and certification. After offering hands-on aid to Hurricane Irene victims I co-created a volunteer organization, Helping Hands of the Hudson Valley, along with Jen Dewitt, a fellow BOCES employee. For four months we traveled with other local residents to a devastated Staten Island assisting with rebuild efforts after Hurricane Sandy. The nature of our changing climate requires us to be alert and ready to help those who are most vulnerable. 

I am also excited for the opportunity to run with Don Kerr, our former School Board President, as write-in candidates. After a ballot challenge we agree getting our message out to the public we serve is a better use of energy and expense ($600 for the court filing fee alone) rather than restoring the supportive signatures. We live in a democracy and every citizen should have an opportunity to vote for the person(s) they feel will best represent their interests. I hope you agree that Don Kerr and I have the experience and dedication to serve you, and hope that you will write us in on the ballot on May 7. Voting takes place at the Plattekill Avenue Fire Station from 12-9 PM. 

Respectfully, 

Rebecca Rotzler