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SOMERS, N.Y. - The two incumbent Somers Town Council candidates are running unopposed in the November 8 election. They are council members Richard Clinchy (D,R,WF,I) and Thomas Garrity (D,R,C,I).
The Daily Somers asked each of the candidates to provide a brief biography and to answer a question about Somers' future. Richard Clinchy's biography and response follow.
Richard Clinchy and his family have lived in Somers more than 25 years. The Clinchy children graduated from Somers High and Mrs. Clinchy is the librarian at the Primrose School.
Clinchy earned a BA at Hobart College and an MAT in Political Science at Boston College. He has followed up his education with post-graduate courses at Fordham, WestConn and CNR.
For 32 years he taught Economics, Government and Law at John Jay High School. He coached high school basketball, baseball and softball for 33 seasons and was president of the faculty for 15 years. He retired last year.
Clinchy served as a trustee on the Somers Board of Education for 12 years and was vice president and president for a total of seven years. Since 2007 he has been on the Town Board and currently acts as liaison to the Recreation Board, the Library Board, the Conservation Board. He is a member of both the Energy and Environment Committee and the Somers Land Trust.
Question: What are the two most important issues you would like to see addressed in Somers over the next four years?
The most important issue for the near future is the "delicate balance" of finding a way to maintain and improve upon town services while both a tax cap and declining revenues are staring at us. Do we continually cut back on town services and keep taxes near zero? Or do we maintain services and a high quality of life, but consistently budget above the cap? A delicate balance for sure!
The second issue is related to the first. We need a clear vision for what Somers will be in the future so that money and efforts are both devoted to a common direction. Town buildings, highways, the library, police/fire, and our recreation/park facilities must all remain top-rate so that property values remain strong. In order to do this we must have well thought-out long-term fiscal plans coupled with new revenue sources from grants and innovative energy saving measures.
Comments (4)
"For 32 years he taught Economics, Government and Law at John Jay High School. He coached high school basketball, baseball and softball for 33 seasons and was president of the faculty for 15 years."
I graduated from John Jay several years ago. Students with senior-itis who didn't want to work used to sign up for his classes. The man is a joke.
To all your fellow Somers people, don't let these politicians fool you,
they are all a bunch of liars, and do nothing for the people of Somers.
Maybe after the people get wind of the federal law suit against the
town and its cronies, then maybe people will start to wake up and
realize that these politicians are all a bunch of crooks who feed off
of us taxpayers each year.
I am surprised at times by how people think where we live is not an excellent place. I for one am grateful I live in Somers - I never would have imagined as a child I would have what I have and live where I live. I for one, am one of the 60% who will override the tax cap - as long as the town and school boards are being fiscally responsible. No more cuts to anything - we didn't build new facilities at the schools to see them under staffed. I still want the sidewalks in town. I would love to have a "town" atmosphere where I could park in one place, walk to the Post Office, get a cup of tea at Tazo, and look at furniture at the Colonial Shop. Reis Park is excellent, the Elephant Hotel picturesque and historic, Angle Fly is a blessing. I for one, am counting them.
I can't believe he said this "own buildings, highways, the library, police/fire, and our recreation/park facilities must all remain top-rate so that property values remain strong. In order to do this we must have well thought-out long-term fiscal plans coupled with new revenue sources from grants and innovative energy saving measures." Shouldn't we already have a thought out long term fiscal plan? I have seen nothing top rate about anything he mentioned,