Letter to the Editor in support of Susan Carpenter
November 4, 2011
by Richard Laster
We are very fortunate in New Castle to have the choice of two good candidates for Town Supervisor. I have known both of them for some time. They are both good people, good citizens, and both are lawyers. However, I am supporting Susan Carpenter in this election.
As current Chair of the Planning Board, Susan has navigated through difficult and complex issues our town has faced, such as applications for Reader’s Digest-Chappaqua Crossing and the cell tower proposal in the West End.
I have witnessed her skill and determination, in Planning Board meetings, to protect the interests of the town and of residents who come before that board.
And recently, I had the opportunity to listen to some of her television interviews and debates. I was deeply impressed with her thorough and up-to-date knowledge of the issues that we face—financial issues, problems with infrastructure, sewer connection, update of the Master Plan—issues about which the Republican opponent is not up to date. Susan’s experience of our community and others, that she has gained both as Chair of the Planning Board and in her professional life, will serve the town well.
The position of Town Supervisor requires a variety of skills. Clearly, her knowledge and understanding of the Town is important, but so are her leadership qualities, her vision, and her ability to work with members of the community and benefit from their counsel and advice.
Susan has the integrity, professionalism and presence to be an outstanding Town Supervisor.
As part of “full disclosure,” some years ago when I ran for New Castle Town Board Member, I asked Susan to help me with my campaign. I made a good choice then and I ask you to make a good choice now by voting to make Susan Carpenter our Town Supervisor.
Richard Laster
While i know and have tremendous respect for Mr. Laster, I must take issue with one of his sentences. Knowledge of an issue does not imply an ability to deal with an issue. I have no doubt that our current New Castle Democratic representatives understand the facts, they simply lack the leadership, innovative spirit and political desire to change our direction. They believe in high taxes, an anti-business sentiment and double-digit raises for our large staff of town employees at the expense of our taxpayers year after year. Knowing the issues has not changed this reality. Given Mr. Laster’s kind words regarding Mr. Kirkwood, I actually view this as an endorsement for Mr. Kirkwood. Thank you Mr. Laster, you have now validated my vote for Bob Kirkwood…
Team New Castle is spewing the same untruthful vitriol here in town as its models are doing at county level and nation-wide as well. We’ll see at the polls whether it works here, boys.
@ Thank you Mr. Laster,
If you knew the issues, you would NOT vote for Kirkwood. You really need to do more reading.
You have CC and their lawyers in a room. It’s Captain Crunch time! The clock is ticking. Tick, tick, tick, tick…...It’s 3:00am in the Morning Chappaqua Bus Company is calling to say the roads are blocked by fallen trees, its now 3:30am heavy rains have washed away the roads in areas of the Municipality, its now 4:00am a water main has broken, its now 5:00am all of New Castle is getting hit with 36 inches of snow, its 11:00am and reports are coming in that residents are selling their homes in record numbers, its 3:00 pm and merchants are closing up shop and leaving Town for good, its 4:00pm and applicants are complaining to you about the terrible process to get anything done, its 5:00pm and residents are complaining about once a week garbage pick up. It’s November 8th at 9:00am in the morning who do we want to navigate these issues Carpenter or Kirkwood. It’s 9:00pm who did we make the Winner? CC and their lawyers are going to get what they want through the Court System whether we like it or not - when did this call originally come in?
It seems apparent that Ms. Carpenter is attempting to make excuses for the current Board’s mishandling of the Chappaqua Crossing application. Kirkwood is spot on with his analysis and the Town should elect him to bring the matter to closure. Otherwise, we will unfortunately only get more of the same.
Susan Carpenter knows so much more and has so much experience on all the significant issues as Chair of the Planning Board.
She is the one we desperately need at this time.
She was far more effective on the Chappaqua Crossing issue than the Town Board. She raised all the right questions.
