Councilperson, Four-year term (Vote for 3):
Rich DePaolo (Democratic)
Did not respond to request for information
Tee-Ann Hunter (Democratic)
RELEVANT PERSONAL INFORMATION: I have spent a good part of my professional life involved in local government. Beginning as recording secretary for a local zoning board of appeals in the early 1980s, I have worked as a town/village clerk in three municipalities, and currently serve on the Ithaca Town Board. Prior to my involvement in government, I worked in print production/graphic arts at a management consulting firm, a newspaper, and for Time Life, Inc.
I consider the opportunities I’ve had to work on public projects including a watershed management plan for Cayuga Lake, a community garden for Ithaca’s west hill, a local government curriculum for area high schools, the Town of Ithaca’s comprehensive plan, and a possible ban on plastic shopping bags undertakings worthy of dedicated service. Over the years and into the present, I maintain involvement in municipal organizational and records management projects through administration of State funded grants in Ithaca, Caroline, Ledyard, Aurora, and Union Springs. I have served as president of the Tompkins County League of Women Voters, grant reviewer for New York State, and community outreach coordinator for Central New York’s Regional Planning and Development Board.
I received my bachelor’s degree from Wells College and did graduate work in Public Administration at Rutgers and Cornell universities. While my three children were young, I worked with my then husband in founding Hunter Research, Inc., a cultural resource consulting firm engaged in environmental review. I live on Ithaca’s west hill and have three grown children living in the Ithaca area.
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR OFFICE?: I initially came to the Town Board to fill a vacant seat. Having spent 6 years as Ithaca Town Clerk, I had sat at the Board table for many years observing the deliberations and policy making. It was my hope upon taking the seat that I had sufficient knowledge of the issues and the public process to help guide the work of the Town. During my time in office, I have become involved in projects and initiatives about which I care deeply. Among these are the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, the Town budget, the Cayuga Lake Watershed Intermunicipal Organization, work with the County’s Environmental Management Council, work with the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility, and the West Hill Community Garden.
I would like to continue work on the Town’s Comprehensive Plan update and subsequent amendment of the Town’s Zoning Law. This lengthy process will provide a vision and direction for the future growth of the Town. The current Town Board is determined to: preserve open spaces and agriculture land; encourage developers to provide housing affordable to middle income households; zone for mixed use development that centers new housing around existing water and sewer infrastructure, public transportation, and employment centers; and promote sustainable growth. It is a lengthy, sometimes contentious process that the current Town Board is tackling with dogged persistence. I am hopeful that the energies and perspectives brought to the process by board members, Town planning staff, and the public will result in a document that reflects the wants and needs of the community at large.
Like many municipalities, the Town of Ithaca is facing capital improvement costs to repair and replace water and sewer infrastructure that was built with the help of federal funding 50+/- years ago. These costs will necessitate borrowing, possible changes in user fees, and careful consideration of expenditures. I consider fiduciary responsibility a critical Board role, and I have an understanding of municipal budgeting and accounting and an inside perspective on operating expenses gained from 10 years experience working inside municipal government. I would like to work to keep the Board actively engaged in reviewing proposed capital projects and equipment purchases and working as an informed participant in awarding bids. Additionally, there will be some tough funding choices in the future and I hope that Town residents will make their voices heard as we grapple with making those decisions.
During my time as Town Clerk for the Town of Ledyard, I was involved in the preparation of the Cayuga Lake Restoration and Protection Plan. As a current member of the Cayuga Lake Watershed Intermunicipal Organization, I hope to continue work on strengthening this organization and bringing together municipal and not-for-profit entities in protecting Cayuga Lake. I am currently working on arrangements for the acceptance and administration of grant funding to update the Cayuga Lake Restoration and Protection Plan. A plan update, along with outreach and educational efforts, should position the municipalities within the watershed to access State funding for watershed protection projects.
The Tompkins County Environmental Management Council is currently working on a recommendation to the County Legislature to adopt legislation banning the single-use plastic shopping bag. The group has been working to draft legislation, meet with retailers, and survey other municipalities where bans have been enacted. Work on this initiative is likely to take many months and I would like to continue my involvement in moving it forward.
Perhaps my most enjoyable monthly meeting is the Special Joint Committee which oversees the work of the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility. In all honesty, I’m not sure I bring too much to the table here, but it is a true pleasure to be part of the energy saving and generating ideas and initiatives that come from the individuals who run our sewage treatment plant. I hope to continue my involvement here and grow in my understanding and support of some truly exciting initiatives being undertaken. A few years back, Town of Ithaca dedicated a portion of parkland for a community garden on West Hill. I was involved at the inception of this project and have remained involved during the garden’s beginning years. It has been a pleasure to see how well the project has served the needs of the gardeners. The next step is to establish a strong garden council to take over the work of managing the garden.
These are some of the projects with which I have become actively involved during my years on the Board. There are many other areas of work being undertaken by my fellow Board members. I am genuinely interested and engaged in the work and would like to continue my involvement. It is with humility that I put myself forward as a candidate for office. My thanks to those who have taken time to read this statement and I welcome any comments or input from my constituents.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE TO TACKLE IN THE POSITION YOU ARE SEEKING?: The two biggest challenges that I believe face local governments are prioritizing community needs and services in light of limited financial resources, and directing growth and development in ways that will create sustainable communities. These challenges are met through the initiation and oversight of work and projects like the above. I believe the current Town Board is fully aware of the challenges and working hard to meet them in ways that serve the needs and wishes of the community at large.
Patricia Leary (Democratic, Working Families)
RELEVANT PERSONAL INFORMATION: Long-term Cornell employee, 35-year resident of the same apartment in Cayuga Heights. Running for fifth term; Endorsed by UAW and SEIU.
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR OFFICE?: I believe that government can make a positive difference in people’s lives, especially at the local level. I want to preserve the suburban character of the Town of Ithaca and address the growing affordability crisis in housing. Suburbia, with its ticky-tacky houses that all looked just the same, is what made the middle class possible after World War II (that, and organized labor). The erosion of both the wage structure and the housing supply has created a widening mismatch in the town between housing prices and middle income residents and workers who would live here if they could afford it, but commute in.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE TO TACKLE IN THE POSITION YOU ARE SEEKING?: The biggest challenge is the assumption by some people, including fellow elected officials, that the desire to increase the housing supply is motivated by a desire to enrich developers, rather than provide shelter for middle income residents and workers.
Councilperson, Two-year term:
Rod Howe (Democratic)
RELEVANT PERSONAL INFORMATION: Mr. Howe served for ten years on the town’s Planning Board before he was appointed to the Town Board in December 2012. He is a director for Cornell’s Community and Regional Development Institute and Cornell Cooperative Extension, involved with community and economic vitality programming and supporting informed decision making. Rod is interested in the relationships among community development, economic development and sustainable communities. He lives in Forest Home with his family.
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR OFFICE?: I am very interested in helping people connect to their places and in helping people live, work and thrive. The Town of Ithaca offers such opportunities.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE TO TACKLE IN THE POSITION YOU ARE SEEKING?: First let me say that I would have a great deal to learn related to being a town level official. I would look forward to that learning process. I started having discussions with a few key people a year ago about the possibility of some day running for a town board position so this is not a new thought.
I have developed a foundation for this potential new role through my work. I would look forward to my role as a town board official informing my work with CaRDI and vice versa.
Justice
Jim Salk (Democratic)
Did not respond to request for information
