Town of Schoharie voters will have to choose between incumbent Supervisor
Gene Milone and the man he defeated in the 2011 election, former Supervisor
Martin Shrederis, once again in next week's hotly contested town
supervisor campaign between these polar opposites that the Schoharie
News was fortunate enough to interview.
Background
Mr. Milone - Before retiring to Schoharie, Mr. Milone worked in the
New York State Transit Authority for three decades where he rose up the
ranks from a bus driver in Staten Island all the way to the presidency
of his local union, and later served as a supervisor. Since moving to
Schoharie he has served as Town Councilmen for six years and Supervisor for
two.
Mr. Shrederis - Mr. Shrederis is a lifelong resident of Schoharie
who owned a dairy farm for a number years and recently retired from Berne-Knox
school district where he was employed as a bus mechanic. He has served as
President of both the Schoharie Fire Department and Little League Association
and previously served as Supervisor for fourteen years.
Campaign
Mr. Milone - Mr. Milone stated that his campaign has "been very
well" to this point, adding that he has visited "almost 650
houses," and that its "almost at its conclusion." He has used
this opportunity to address issues that came up at monthly board meetings
and to gain the public's perspective on the town's state of affairs.
Mr. Shrederis - Mr. Shrederis believes that he lost in 2011 because
he "didn't have time to campaign," due to his many public
responsibilities in the aftermath of Irene's devastation in addition to his own
home being flooded and still holding a full-time job. He decided to run again
because "people [have] asked me to keep running and running."
Town Level
Mr. Milone - Mr. Milone stated that "first and foremost [there]
is a need for a grocery store," and that he has worked closely with
neighboring Supervisor Jim Buzon and Congressman Chris Gibson's staff to bring
one into the area. He also touched on his 2014 budget proposal that sees only a
"0.9% increase in taxation," that "represents the cost of
operation," and his position that he will not take a salary if reelected,
emphasizing that he is a "firm believer of leading by example."
Mr. Shrederis - Mr. Shrederis named his "biggest concern"
as bringing more businesses back to Main Street and that he's in favor of the
pipeline looking to come into Schoharie, adding that the result will be
"cheaper fuel." He also hopes that the Town of Schoharie and
Cobleskill Stone's legal issues can be resolved, stating that "we won the
last case," and that "maybe we can get this resolved."
Tax Abatement
Mr. Milone - Mr. Milone said that he "struggled with himself for
a long time since the flood" and that he spent that time
"understanding their loss and the tears," concluding that his
proposal for tax abatement would be the town's "opportunity for us to
rebuild our community," and that if it doesn't work "we lose
nothing." Four town laws were passed and it "offers something for
everyone."
Mr. Shrederis - Mr. Shrederis position is that "first of all: we
had many residents that were hit by Irene," and "they got a tax break
for a short period of time." Adding that the tax abatement is "too
long of a period," and "not fair to all residents who got a
short-term break" that people who want to move in got a longer tax break.
He conceded that "it's an incentive," but it’s "way too
long."
The Report
Mr. Milone - Mr. Milone's motion twenty months ago before the Board
of Supervisors initiated the entire Fitzmaurice Report process that
resulted in the first section being released last Friday. Mr. Milone painfully
opposed that release on the grounds that its contents would be
"misleading," and that he wanted the full report published.
Mr. Shrederis - Mr. Shrederis contends that the "amount of money
[spent on the report] is a waste," and that the "second half isn't going
to come out with more than the first," labeling the first section has
nothing more than "scuttlebutt." He went on to label the report as a
"witch hunt," but that it was "smart they sent it to the
attorney general."
2 comments:
A few points for the voters in the Town of Schoharie to ponder:
Mr. Shrederis states the pipeline will result in lower fuel costs for the town. We've all read that it will not have an impact on what we have to pay locally.
Mr. Shrederis states " he lost in 2011 because he "didn't have time to campaign," due to his many public responsibilities in the aftermath of Irene's devastation in addition to his own home being flooded and still holding a full-time job." I suspect he wants everyone to believe he suffered the same impact as the rest of the village for the sympathy vote ---- When in reality his first floor never got wet. These small distortions of the truth are his standard operating method.
Mr. Shrederis seems to think everything was fine at the county complex and the personnel director ,that he helped put in place, did no wrong.
A vote for Mr. Shrederis is a major step backward.
I am in favor of the pipeline, because I have talked to a franchise vender that would come to Schoharie and explain the cost savings to Schoharie
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