County Clerk Endorses Schoenberger for Rockland Exec

Rockland County Clerk Paul Piperato shared his vision for 2014 at a press conference Tuesday on the steps of the Rockland County Legislature -- one that included Legislator Ilan Schoenberger taking office as Rockland County Executive. 

Piperato officially endorsed Schoenberger's bid to win the office Rockland County Executive in the general election Nov. 5.

Piperato spoke of his faith in Schoenberger's ability to work with town officials to find ways to run the county government more efficiently and to represent the county.

"I believe we have the person here today," Piperato said. "We have that person who has the experience. We have that person who knows the mechanics of government. He has served as our county attorney. That's why I'm here to formally endorse Ilan Schoenberger as our next county executive."

Schoenberger cited Piperato's eight years as county clerk and 16 as deputy clerk as an example of providing service to all Rockland County residents regardless of politics.

"I'm telling you that Paul Piperato is my role model for when I become county executive," Schoenberger said. "I'm not only going to work closely with Paul, but I'm going to follow his example, which is a county government run to serve the people irrespective of their politics, irrespective of anything else about them. When we look at people, we are color blind. We are neutral. We are going to run county government in a way that works for everybody."

Schoenberger is one of three Democrats currently set to be on the ballot for the Sept. 10 primary along with David Fried and Dagan Lacorte. Republican Ed Day already has his spot on the ballot for the general election Nov. 5. Piperato is also running for re-election this fall.

"I’m so proud he is endorsing me that I want to cross-endorse him," Schoenberger said. "I want to endorse Paul for county clerk. He deserves to be our county clerk. He deserves to be re-elected. He has done wonderful things in eight years as county clerk."