Patchogue Village 2012 Mayoral Nomination

Dear Village Residents:

Below is the speech I gave accepting the Residents First Mayoral nomination for the March, 2012 Village of Patchogue election.  I would be grateful if you would take the time to read it.  It explains why I am running for Mayor and some of what I intend to do if elected to serve you.

Please contact me at or any of my running mates at residentsfirst1@gmail.com if you would like to meet, get more information or voice your concerns. Our full platform and candidate biographies will be released very soon. I look forward to speaking with and serving you.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Elisabeth L. McGuire

Residents First Mayoral Candidate

ELISABETH MCGUIRE ACCEPTANCE SPEECH

Introduction

My name is Elisabeth McGuire and I am honored to accept the Residents First
mayoral nomination for the March 2012 Patchogue Village election.  I have not made the decision to run for Mayor lightly.

I have decided to run for Patchogue Village Mayor, not for personal or professional gain, but to give back to the community I love, to make Patchogue a better place for the residents of our home – this small Village, 2.2 miles square, made up of our families, neighbors and friends.

I’ve been actively involved in this community since moving here 14 years ago. As a resident and former Trustee, I’ve seen this Village in the best of times and in the worst of times. After stepping away from active government service to focus on raising my son while advancing my career, I felt obligated to renew my involvement, and it is a sense of duty that calls me here tonight.

Mayor Pontieri’s Record

I was greatly disturbed by the actions of Mayor Pontieri which have recently come to light.  These events compelled me to get involved again, and they have strengthened my resolve to fight for the community I love.  That’s why I’m running for Mayor.

When Paul Pontieri first ran for Mayor, he promised to fight cronyism and corruption, to fight high density housing, to turn the theater over to professional theater management, and to put the interests of Patchogue residents first. He has broken these promises. Instead of fighting for Village residents, he has fought to further his own financial status and to advance his own political career; he has fought to promote the interests of his family and friends, and to enhance the monetary goals of developers and vendors.

Pontieri’s Broken Promises: Cronyism and Corruption

Paul Pontieri promised to put Patchogue First by fighting cronyism and corruption. Did he keep that promise? No. Instead he put himself first instead by raising his salary from $12,000.00 to $34,000.00, in the middle of an economic crisis, while residents were praying to keep their jobs and fighting to stay in their homes.  After justifying and securing his full time salary, he took another full time salary with the Town of Brookhaven as Deputy Supervisor without returning the raise he gave himself in the Village of Patchogue.

Paul Pontieri promised to put Patchogue First. Did he keep that promise? No. Instead he put himself first by creating unnecessary Village positions for his cousin and his former secretary at Bellport High School at significant cost to the taxpayers.  He sold his car to his brother-in-law, and then had the Village buy it back at a profit to the brother-in-law without the knowledge or approval of the Village Board, and in violation of the law.  He made a 30-year interest free loan to Artspace without Board knowledge or approval.  He accepted gifts and tickets from developers and contractors doing business with the Village, in violation of the law, and he permits his department heads and favored staff members to do the same.  He has fueled his private vehicle with taxpayer gas from the Village garage without Board knowledge, consent or approval. And he has issued himself a village credit card, treating himself and other people of his choosing to lunches and dinners, all without Board oversight or approval.

Patchogue Theater

Paul Pontieri promised to put Patchogue First, pledging to turn the Patchogue Theater over to a professional management company to attract quality acts to our Village. Did he keep that promise? No. Instead he hired an old friend, John Ashline, a local real estate broker, a man with no theater experience or connections in the industry, to be the Executive Director.  Despite the fact that Mr. Ashline has failed to secure many major acts to perform at the theater, the Mayor and his team gave Mr. Ashline a substantial salary package with health benefits at the protest of trustees McGiff and Crean.  The Patchogue Theater, what should be the centerpiece of our community, has failed to attract many quality acts that it should. It has been underutilized, remaining dark more often than not, and has yet to realize its full potential.

High Density Housing

Four years ago, Paul Pontieri promised to put Patchogue First, pledging to the residents, with much fanfare, a hotel, owner-occupied residential units, tiered parking and retail space on the four corners. Did he keep that promise? No.  Instead he put developers first, working with them to replace the original plan with 291 apartments.  When community leaders discovered this, we begged the Mayor to fight for the residents to find a compromise and to work for a balanced plan that would benefit the residents.  Instead, he fought to keep the developer’s amended plan exactly as they presented it, in order to maximize the developer’s profit.  When the residents needed him to work the hardest, he failed to secure a single change in the plan.

Paul Pontieri has forgotten who he works for -- the People.  He has forgotten who his office belongs to -- the People.

His plan to build 291 rental apartments of the Four Corners, if constructed, will lead to the long term demise of our Village.  We will not permit that to happen.

Professional Experience

For twenty years I have worked in Manhattan as a professional in sales and marketing, working with fortune 500 companies in the United States and internationally.  For the last 8 years I have been Executive Vice President with one of the largest international jeweler manufacturers and retailers in the world.  I acquire and manage over $40 million dollars in business annually – considerably more than the annual budget of the Village of Patchogue. I intend to use my skills, experience, and commitment to my community to make Patchogue realize its potential.

Restore Integrity to Village government

When elected Mayor, I will insist on adherence to the law, and to stringent ethical standards, for myself, my fellow trustees, and all village employees.  I will not hire a relative for a paid position of any kind at the Village.   I will continue to pay for my own gas, and I will go to the gas station to fill up my tank, just like every other Village resident.  I will not accept a village credit card, and I will pay for my own meals. I will make it a policy that no employee shall accept a gift of any kind from any developer or company doing business with the Village of Patchogue. I will seek to terminate any employee who violates that policy.

I recognize that in giving of these gifts, the developers and vendors doing business with the Village expect something in return, and when I am the Mayor, the office I hold will not be for sale.

I believe that the best way to ensure honest government is to have an open and
responsive government.  Accordingly, I will seek to televise village board meetings, so that the residents will know just what their elected officials are deciding on their behalf. I will meet with residents on weekends to hear their concerns and act on them. I will ensure that every Village resident will get timely and satisfactory answers to their questions and that the proper follow up is achieved.

Professional Management for the Patchogue Theater

Together with my running mates, I will conduct an extensive search to find top notch professional management for the theater. The director we hire will have the qualifications, experience, and connections in the industry to attract many more quality acts to the Theater -- acts that will bring not only enjoyment to our residents, but much needed foot traffic to our local small businesses.  We are all tired of seeing, time and time again, the big acts playing at Westbury, the Bolton Center, Westhampton, the Tiles Center, and Huntington.  When I’m elected Mayor, our new management will bring these acts where they belong-- to Patchogue Village.

Lower Taxes

When elected, I will drastically reduce the Mayor’s salary, and I will eliminate the unnecessary positions created by Mayor Pontieri.  I will work with my trustees to examine the budget, line by line, and together, we will do more than hold the line on taxes, we will cut them.

Increased Services

When elected Mayor, I will work with my fellow trustees to explore areas where we can improve services to our residents. Our residents pay more in taxes than residents outside the Village and deserve enhanced services like the preferred resident parking offered in Port Jefferson.  For years before Mayor Pontieri took office, cans and bottles, along with paper goods, were all picked up weekly by the Village.  Mayor Pontieri raised our taxes and cut valuable services.  Now recyclables are picked up on alternating weeks, leaving residents nowhere to store these items. Residents continue to wonder where their tax dollars are going.  When I am elected Mayor, they won’t have to wonder, because I will not only restore services but increase them.

Objective Code Enforcement

When elected Mayor, my running mates and I will work with our Village Code
enforcement to improve the lives of our residents.  Many of our brave code officers complain that they aren’t permitted to do their jobs without interference by the Mayor. They are directed by the Mayor to go easy on some businesses, and to come down hard on others.  Let me make it clear: I will never, nor will I permit anyone to, selectively enforce the law. I will never use the power of my position to unjustly punish an adversary, or to unfairly favor a friend.   I will encourage our law enforcement officers to aggressively enforce the law with a fair and even hand.

I will never give preferential treatment to any business or developer, or arbitrarily waive monies that are due this Village. Our team will work closely with our code officers, and together we will level the playing field and improve our quality of life.

Balanced plan for the Four Corners

Together, my running mates and I will work for a balanced plan on the Four Corners.  Such a plan must first and foremost consider the critical needs of our residents and surrounding small businesses, and ensure adequate parking and traffic flow. When elected Mayor, I will work with my fellow trustees, and with input from the community, use all necessary legal means, and explore all negotiations, in order to forge a compromise plan -- one that puts the long term interests of the Residents First. Unlike Mayor Pontieri, I will plan properly at the outset of a project, and hold developers and myself to our promises. I will not add more high density housing that will not benefit this community.

Keep Promises

We cannot afford another four years of corruption, cronyism, nepotism, incompetence, and indifference to the concerns of Village residents.  We can’t have four more years of broken promises and broken laws.  We need to restore integrity, honesty and trust at Village Hall. We need an open, transparent and ethical administration that values public service over personal entitlement and enrichment. We need a professional administration that will follow the law, protect the rights of its residents and watch how our tax dollars are being spent.  

We need to keep our promises.

We have assembled an incredibly impressive slate of candidates, candidates whose talents are uniquely suited to the positions for which we are running.  Together we will work to bring this Village to the next level -- a place our children and our children’s children will be proud to call home.

I look forward to getting out with my running mates, conveying our message, and talking to our residents.  Together we will make Patchogue the best it can be.  Thank you for your support.