Ragin
November 5th, 2007, 01:41 PM
http://www.giecom.net/political-ads-07/cooke/10-18-07-125.jpghttp://www.giecom.net/political-ads-07/mcmahon/formal-125.jpg
Mary S. Cooke .... Peter A. McMahon
By Joelle Logue
The main focus for Islanders this Election 2007 is the race for supervisor between incumbent Democrat Supervisor Peter McMahon and Republican Councilwoman Mary Cooke. All the other town candidates are running unopposed. For McMahon it’s all about continuing to do a job he enjoys. For Cooke, it’s about being the right time and being the right woman.
Even though he told many that he would not seek re-election after his win in 2003, McMahon says exciting things are happening in the town and as long as the job is fun he wants to stay on. Not ready to leave politics behind, McMahon had been on the short list for a position in Fire Prevention and Control in the Spitzer administration.
Cooke, a 14-year career council member and consistently the highest vote getter in council elections, says her children are older, her husband is retired and she now has that added time to devote to the job of supervisor. Should she lose to McMahon she still has two years left on her council term.
Major Accomplishments
When McMahon was asked about his most important accomplishment since taking office six years ago, he said it was “hiring a professional grant consultant.” Early in his administration he convinced Sam Hoyt to fund a professional grant writer at $20,000 per year for three years. It more than paid off in some two million dollars in grant money that allowed the town to do projects it never would have been able to do without the extra funding. He points to projects like the Bike Trail Connect project in Buckhorn Park that made visiting the park safe for pedestrians and bicyclists and he mentions Veterans Park improvements such as the new rest rooms, parking lot and new softball fields.
Citing her work ethic as her main strength, Cooke says the attention she has paid to the Local Waterfront Revitalization Project is her main accomplishment. Her detailed study of the project included correcting maps that were mislabeled and making it an accurate and viable document. This was significant because it has become the basis for the Greenway Plan that could bring a lot of money into the town. She credits her commitment to research and fact finding to improving projects and saving the town money. Examples of projects benefiting from her careful oversight include the ReTree project that came about after last year’s October Surprise. Donated money increased three fold with the availability of matching grant money that she worked to apply to the project.
Main Priorities
McMahon says his main priority is economic development and cites the Supervisor’s Economic Development Committee formed under his administration in working to enhance the tax base. He says the property across from the former Dunlop building is shovel ready for an Industrial Park, and possible funding from the Restore NY grant will be used to either deconstruct the former Dunlop building or be applied to abate the asbestos, fix the glass and roof and put in a sewer system. These improvements would make it available to lease. Other projects in the works include economic development south of Long Road by way of Build Now New York grants. McMahon added that two design standards for the Boulevard would make a vibrant business district and increase the commercial tax base that is crucial to keeping taxes at a reasonable level.
Cooke’s main priority, if elected, would be to improve communications in the town at all levels – for government, business and residents. She feels the need to have more input in the decision-making process and the need for a protocol to keep everyone informed. She also strongly believes there needs to be a line of communication that is clear and totally transparent. Her other priority is to see that the Master Plan is carried out and updated. An important aspect of that is educating residents about what’s on the Master Plan from concept to zoning issues.
Main Differences in Leadership Styles
The Town Board over the past four years has been unified as a body for the most part and has come to decisions in a bipartisan manner. This is particularly refreshing when looking at other towns in the area. Furthermore, the campaigns run by McMahon and Cooke have been free of mudslinging. For those who don’t vote strictly party lines, a decision between McMahon and Cooke may come down to leadership styles.
McMahon said the biggest surprise he had coming from the private side to the public sector was how long it took to get things done. Thus, his style (very different from his predecessor Jim Pax) is to act more quickly and move on, or delegate to his department heads which he finds competent and capable of making the right decisions.
Cooke admits she is more deliberate in her decision making process and believes in thorough investigation of the issues so that nothing is overlooked. For her the job of supervisor is one of oversight of all departments and operating up front with a clear line of communication and standards of accountability.
Both McMahon and Cooke are running on their records. McMahon cites economic development under his leadership and the formation of the Citizens Corp Council and CERT. He consolidated offices, put in Fleet Management and put in place a professional grant writer to help keep taxes in line.
Cooke gets her record out by going door to door and feels grassroots campaigning is the best way to learn the concerns of the residents. Claiming to have no personal agendas, she has based her 14-year record of decision-making on doing the homework and finding out the facts.
http://isledegrande.com/
Mary S. Cooke .... Peter A. McMahon
By Joelle Logue
The main focus for Islanders this Election 2007 is the race for supervisor between incumbent Democrat Supervisor Peter McMahon and Republican Councilwoman Mary Cooke. All the other town candidates are running unopposed. For McMahon it’s all about continuing to do a job he enjoys. For Cooke, it’s about being the right time and being the right woman.
Even though he told many that he would not seek re-election after his win in 2003, McMahon says exciting things are happening in the town and as long as the job is fun he wants to stay on. Not ready to leave politics behind, McMahon had been on the short list for a position in Fire Prevention and Control in the Spitzer administration.
Cooke, a 14-year career council member and consistently the highest vote getter in council elections, says her children are older, her husband is retired and she now has that added time to devote to the job of supervisor. Should she lose to McMahon she still has two years left on her council term.
Major Accomplishments
When McMahon was asked about his most important accomplishment since taking office six years ago, he said it was “hiring a professional grant consultant.” Early in his administration he convinced Sam Hoyt to fund a professional grant writer at $20,000 per year for three years. It more than paid off in some two million dollars in grant money that allowed the town to do projects it never would have been able to do without the extra funding. He points to projects like the Bike Trail Connect project in Buckhorn Park that made visiting the park safe for pedestrians and bicyclists and he mentions Veterans Park improvements such as the new rest rooms, parking lot and new softball fields.
Citing her work ethic as her main strength, Cooke says the attention she has paid to the Local Waterfront Revitalization Project is her main accomplishment. Her detailed study of the project included correcting maps that were mislabeled and making it an accurate and viable document. This was significant because it has become the basis for the Greenway Plan that could bring a lot of money into the town. She credits her commitment to research and fact finding to improving projects and saving the town money. Examples of projects benefiting from her careful oversight include the ReTree project that came about after last year’s October Surprise. Donated money increased three fold with the availability of matching grant money that she worked to apply to the project.
Main Priorities
McMahon says his main priority is economic development and cites the Supervisor’s Economic Development Committee formed under his administration in working to enhance the tax base. He says the property across from the former Dunlop building is shovel ready for an Industrial Park, and possible funding from the Restore NY grant will be used to either deconstruct the former Dunlop building or be applied to abate the asbestos, fix the glass and roof and put in a sewer system. These improvements would make it available to lease. Other projects in the works include economic development south of Long Road by way of Build Now New York grants. McMahon added that two design standards for the Boulevard would make a vibrant business district and increase the commercial tax base that is crucial to keeping taxes at a reasonable level.
Cooke’s main priority, if elected, would be to improve communications in the town at all levels – for government, business and residents. She feels the need to have more input in the decision-making process and the need for a protocol to keep everyone informed. She also strongly believes there needs to be a line of communication that is clear and totally transparent. Her other priority is to see that the Master Plan is carried out and updated. An important aspect of that is educating residents about what’s on the Master Plan from concept to zoning issues.
Main Differences in Leadership Styles
The Town Board over the past four years has been unified as a body for the most part and has come to decisions in a bipartisan manner. This is particularly refreshing when looking at other towns in the area. Furthermore, the campaigns run by McMahon and Cooke have been free of mudslinging. For those who don’t vote strictly party lines, a decision between McMahon and Cooke may come down to leadership styles.
McMahon said the biggest surprise he had coming from the private side to the public sector was how long it took to get things done. Thus, his style (very different from his predecessor Jim Pax) is to act more quickly and move on, or delegate to his department heads which he finds competent and capable of making the right decisions.
Cooke admits she is more deliberate in her decision making process and believes in thorough investigation of the issues so that nothing is overlooked. For her the job of supervisor is one of oversight of all departments and operating up front with a clear line of communication and standards of accountability.
Both McMahon and Cooke are running on their records. McMahon cites economic development under his leadership and the formation of the Citizens Corp Council and CERT. He consolidated offices, put in Fleet Management and put in place a professional grant writer to help keep taxes in line.
Cooke gets her record out by going door to door and feels grassroots campaigning is the best way to learn the concerns of the residents. Claiming to have no personal agendas, she has based her 14-year record of decision-making on doing the homework and finding out the facts.
http://isledegrande.com/