Candidates '11
Marty O'Connor for Town and County Supervisor
Marty O'Connor
Clifton Park needs a new direction. We have a town government that fails to plan for either present or future needs and a county government that has failed to grasp the new economic realities.
Year after year the current town government does the same things, says the same things. Each year residents thinking and looking towards the future see gaps and voids between promises and realities. The current Town Board stated years ago there was a need for additional ball fields. Yet none have been created. Land was purchased but then, after the fact, this Board realized that wasn’t feasible. Shouldn’t they have known that beforehand? Of course they should have, but they didn’t.
Marty O'Connor's Family
I am married with two children. My wife’s name is Patrice and my children’s names are Rory and Eileen. I have lived in Clifton Park for 18 years. I am Executive Deputy to the President the New York State Public Employees Federation where I have worked for 21 years. I have a Masters Degree from Syracuse University in public administration and been working in and around government since graduation.
Solutions for Hard Times
Now we are in very difficult economic times. The old ways don’t work anymore. Saratoga County is running a multi-million dollar deficit
because the Board of Supervisors passed a budget that over estimated sales tax receipts. The school district is facing additional financial pressures because of the property tax cap. What is the plan?
We need to know what the plan is. Here is my vision. We need to look at ways to consolidate service delivery and maybe even jurisdictions to reduce their cost. We need to work with the school district to identify ways in which the Town government can assist so that costs are kept at a minimum. We need to work with transportation organizations in the Capital Region and with developers to ensure that our residents have the sidewalks and infrastructure needed for public transportation. We need to streamline social services especially during these hard economic times.
These challenging times demand creativity and imagination. Those have been sorely lacking from the current town and county boards. I am ready to work for you to make Clifton Park and Saratoga County stronger in these challenging times.
Listen and Respect
The people of Clifton Park are not listened to by our Supervisor and the Board. Wanda Zygmuntowicz and I will maximize citizen participation in developing a clear vision for the future of our town. A future that advocates well thought out "green" initiatives and open space preservation, and a proactive, accessible and ethical leadership to ensure our cultural, farm and small business community needs are targeted. We especially need to collaborate with our schools, and civic and not-for-profit partners in developing our community.
Clifton Park can become a model community under a strong leadership coupled with the participation of engaged citizens. Instead, of the current sensless and leaderless growth. I will seek full participation from the town residents and the collaboration with the schools and civic groups, as well as private businesses without regard to politics. Under the current hard economics the country and the region are facing we must be fiscally responsible, proactive, and good stewards of the environment.
