Tuckahoe Village Departments

TUCKAHOE TALK
With Mayor John Fitzpatrick

Are you Experienced?

October 5th, 2008

Whatever level of politics you explore, the question of a candidate’s experience inevitably arises. Be it our own Village Board, the Eastchester Town Board, right up to the Vice Presidential or Presidential candidates. It seems that for pundits or spin masters there is never enough or the right kind of experience. Often those most vocal regarding this topic have an agenda. Interestingly, you can also be painted as having too much experience. For example, being labeled as one of the “good old boys” is never a benefit to candidacy. Nevertheless, members of the public have their own threshold of what is required to do a job.

Barack Obama has been in the U.S. Senate for ten seconds compared to many former candidates for President of the United States. But apparently the public felt Obama had enough experience or they wouldn’t have voted him to be their Democratic candidate. Vice President candidate, Sarah Palin, just three years ago was a Mayor running a municipality smaller in populace than the ones Bronxville Mayor Marvin and I are now running. Granted, Palin took the leap to run for Governor, but without one term in the books the question of experience is still following her.

I have stated that it is beneficial for members of the Village to possess some experience that is relevant to the task at hand. Yet I had no experience being a Mayor before I was Mayor. I did have one year as Trustee, but that isn’t a very long resume. It could be considered just a basic minimum. What the public feels is adequate experience is their own business, because some jobs are a stepping up of sorts and no past record is relevant. Other times it is simply a matter of people putting their faith in you.

For every person you poll you can expect a different answer as to what job experience is preferred to be part of government. Some say you should be a business owner. Others say you should be a lawyer. Still others say you shouldn’t be a lawyer. I think there is much non-governmental job experience that can translate to relevant know-how. Here is a list of jobs and the special skills that I believe may prove useful to future Mayors.

The experience debate is not only reserved for those elected, it occurs also when we appoint board members to committees. While I must say that experience certainly makes the confirmation of an appointment easier, it doesn’t always tell the whole story. The traits I look for in those nominated for appointment to our Village Boards and Committees are: integrity, new ideas, and a stake in our community. Also, I believe a great asset for one to possess is the ability to make sound judgments. Yet without some record of the past this may prove difficult to determine. Again, it can come down to faith, because sometimes reason and evidence don’t always lead to truth.

In most cases, confirmation of my appointments requires board ratification. Others are Mayoral appointments alone. Since the current Tuckahoe Village Board is a well-balanced combination of political viewpoints, there are moments that confirmation of my nominees may appear as difficult as attempting to place Supreme Court Justices. Yet in two years as Mayor I have recommended the appointment and received confirmation for two new Planning board members, one Planning Board reappointment, one new Zoning Board member, two Zoning Board reappointments, three new Library Board members, three members to the newly created Sign and Awning Review Board, ten members to the newly created Environmental Committee, two new members to the Assessment Review Board with three members reappointed and finally two new Treasurers.

The Commissioners for the Tuckahoe Housing Authority are one of those cases where the Mayor may appoint without Village Board approval. But after taking into account the past occurrences of this troubled agency, and the question of the group’s level of competency, I felt it was in the best interest of our residents to offer our Trustees a fair and balanced discussion, and a vote on future THA appointments. Even though I would love new Housing Authority members to have housing experience, I must accept the fact that most residents don’t fit that criterion. Experience should always be welcome, but not to the disadvantage of those who are eager and full of new ideas. The climate today indicates that Frank Capra’s Mr. Smith is already unwelcome in Washington. I would hate to see that apply to Tuckahoe as well.