Andy Stewart Campaigns for Orangetown Supervisor

The scenic Piermont waterfront served as the backdrop yesterday morning as Democratic nominee Andy Stewart campaigned for Orangetown supervisor. 

Author, professor and environmentalist Joan Gussow hosted the event in her home and garden, drawing enthusiastic supports that included a number of party office holders and candidates.

Stewart is well known to county residents as executive director of Keep Rockland Beautiful for the past ten years and his work on the Orangetown Planning Board.

“We need to give people a reason to get involved in town affairs," Stewart said. "I view the office of supervisor as my biggest community service project ever.

"As head of Keep Rockland Beautiful, I have overseen neighborhood clean-ups, code enforcement and advocated for beautification.  I have helped to raise awareness of water quality and water shed priorities.   I see my work with KRB and the planning board as assets that I would bring to the job.”

Stewart outlined other priorities that he believes are critical to serving as supervisor: 

• “The town needs to do a much better job recruiting and supporting volunteers.  We need to bring talent to the table and listen. “

• “As a non-profit manager I know the value of a dollar and I am going to be looking for ways to get more bang for the buck.”

• “We also need to invest in green infrastructure to prevent flooding and to protect our water resources.  I invite people to look at my web site and call with ideas”

Orangetown Councilwoman Nancy Low Hogan, who is running for the District 17 seat in the Rockland County Legislature, showed her support for Stewart. 

“Andy is full of energy, full of creative ideas, a thoughtful intelligent person who cares deeply about our community," Low-Hogan said. "He offers a profoundly pro-environment perspective that I think is sorely needed in Orangetown.  I think the entire Democratic slate presents an important opportunity because they are pro-good government and pro-environment”

Also backing Stewart was one of the longest-serving county lawmakers Harriet Cornell, the chairwoman of the Rockland County Legislature.  She has represented the 10th Legislative District (Clarkstown, Nyack) since 1984.

“Andy brings a wonderful background regarding land use planning and understanding the concerns of the people of Orangetown with regard to quality of life and tax payer issues," Cornell said. "He also has a willingness to involve the public in protecting the town.”

Regarding her own reelection campaign she stated, “I am proud of my record.  I have brought changes to county government by involving residents on a host of important issues including the Tappan Zee Bridge, the aging population in Rockland, and ways to improve our educational system.”

Also seeking a seat on the Orangetown Board is Elijah Reichlin-Melnick who is on the staff of Congressman Eliot Engle. Reichlin-Melnick echoed Stewart's concerns about community involvement in the business of the town. 

“We need to have a more open and accessible town government because there is not always a willingness to listen,” Reichlin-Melnick said. “The voters’ concerns are not being heard.  In my job as a caseworker for Congressman Engel I listen to people, find out problems and how to solve them. That is the attitude council people need to have.”