By Mary A. Crisafulli
SHANDAKEN - Shandaken Supervisor Peter DiSclafani, who is seeking reelection on the Working Families party line, is challenged by Barbara Mansfield on the Democratic line.
The Mountain Eagle constructed the following questions for supervisor candidates:
A. Why have you chosen to run for election?
B. What makes you a good candidate?
C. What will be your first item of business if elected?
D. How long have you lived in Shandaken, and why did you choose to make it home?
Supervisor Peter DiSclafani was unavailable via phone or email by press time.
A. I was asked to run by Town Board members because they were troubled by my opponent’s lack of communication, self-serving actions, and poor financial management, and because they know I have the experience and relationships to do a better job for Shandaken.
B. I was a nonprofit administrator for over 30 years—specializing in helping nonprofits improve budget issues. I’m a small business owner (two businesses since moving here). I understand the importance of providing income for young workers in rural Catskills. Also, unlike my opponent, I understand that the Town Supervisor is a fiduciary—meaning you put the good of the Town and its people before self. The incumbent takes credit for the accomplishments of others, which is discouraging to volunteers. He put forward budgets that made substantial increases in his own salary, without providing raises for other Town workers. Via my nonprofit experience, I’m used to being scrutinized and to providing a higher level of transparency.
C. Addressing the financial tracking problems. This is a problem created by the current Supervisor and left unaddressed for too long. It's paramount in order for Town volunteers to carry out their duties, to reassure citizens, and to make Shandaken grant-worthy. The incumbent didn’t turn in required financial reports to the NY State Comptroller for five years, and an internal audit was called before that by the board member that actually created the 2025 budget in the Supervisor’s absence.
D. I moved to the Catskills full-time in 2006 to run a café and store with my family. My son died after a long cancer battle, and we had to close the café. We had trouble finding an affordable rental—even back then. Gratefully, we found an affordable home to purchase in Phoenicia. Because of this experience, affordable housing for hard-working young people with families is a passion for me.
Supervisor Peter DiSclafani, seeking reelection on the Working Families line
A. I am running for re-election and have been Town Supervisor for 3 terms. In the last ten years, six years as a Council member and four as a Supervisor.
I'm extremely accessible and easy to talk with, and many folks come to me to help solve their Town-centric issues.
B. My experience makes me a good candidate. I have fostered good working relationships with the Catskill Watershed Corporation, Coalition Watershed Towns, and all Ulster County branches, plus NYSDEC and NYCDEP, and of course, other Town Supervisors. I've received many grants from the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program (AWSMP) and CWC totaling over $500k; mostly for flood mitigation, Local Flood Analysis (LFA), and feasibility studies. I started our Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) that has hit the ground running and brought our Town into the 21st century with ecological sophistication and energy-saving grants! I also brought in a smart growth grant ($80k) with Pattern for Progress to do a new Comprehensive Plan, as our current one is 20 years old and very out of date. We will tackle our zoning code when the new Comp. The plan is eventually in place.
C. At this time, I have many projects in the works that I would like to see come to fruition. New property for the Town Hall/ Highway garage complex, which I know is many years down the road, but very important. I'm working on Stormwater retrofit for the existing Pine Hill parking lot and a new parking lot for Pine Hill, and eventually upgrading sidewalks and Main Street paving. Unfortunately, as much as I tried to find ways to fix sidewalks in Phoenicia, Main Street is Ulster County owned and the sidewalks are owned by the adjoining property owners.
D. My wife and I moved here in 1987 and opened a restaurant in Mt. Tremper. It instantly felt like home; there is so much diversity and it's easy to get to hiking and biking.
I was a 20-year member of the Fire District, an ambulance driver for a few years, and am a member of Phoenicia UMC.
Also on the ballot is the position of Superintendent of Highways. While no candidates will appear on the ballot, incumbent Eric Hofmeister is running as a write-in. Hofmeister first took office in 2008 and, if reelected, will serve his 10th term. "He has some big projects coming up next year and is getting grants to repair bridges," said Cara Grant-Fatum, highway superintendent assistant, "We talked him out of retirement."
Councilmembers Robert Drake and Elizabeth Kneissl are both seeking reelection unopposed. The terms will run for three years, rather than the typical four-year terms, to align with State regulations that change local elections to fall on even years.
Kneissl, who is running for a second term, said the first four years were a learning experience. "It feels like a lot has happened over the last four years, but I think my biggest accomplishment would be getting the initial STR law passed," noted Kneissl, "I helped write the original draft while on the STR committee and then led the charge to get it passed a year later when I was elected."
If reelected, Kneissl said, "I am focused on affordable housing and the long-neglected Phoenicia water district." She is working with Drake and Mansfield to turn the Phoenicia Elementary building into workforce housing after James Amenta suggested the project. When the school first closed, Kneissl said Supervisor DiSclafani sought to turn it into an updated town hall. "I pushed back hard because I knew that wasn't a good use of the property," she explained.
"I'm most grateful to have been able to get the town Climate Smart Certified in partnership with the town's Conservation Advisory Council and many others. It's been a pleasure and honor getting to work with all the town's many volunteers," said Drake, "If re-elected, I hope to continue my work improving the town's financial controls, completing the Comprehensive Plan, and seeking even more grants to help reinvigorate our parks."
Shandaken has one proposition this year: “Shall the Town of Shandaken increase its annual contribution for the operating budget of the Morton Memorial Library by $19,750 to the sum of $79,975 annually; and shall the Town of Shandaken increase its annual contribution for the operating budget of the Phoenicia Library by $34,750 to the sum of $234,500 dollars annually?”
Elections are scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 4, from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. Polling sites are organized by district. District one, Phoenicia Firehouse, 58 Route 214, Phoenicia; district two, Shandaken Town Hall, 7209 Route 28, Shandaken; district three, Pine Hill Firehouse, 265 Main Street, Pine Hill; district four, Mt Tremper Firehouse, 24 Ingersoll Road, Mt Tremper.
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