Rosario and Scuccimarra to discuss issues in Open Forum on Monday, Oct. 15 at Haldane School
By Kevin E. Foley
The two candidates vying to represent Philipstown in the seven-member Putnam County legislature will join for the first time in a public forum sponsored by Philipstown.info The Paper.
Barbara Scuccimarra
Barbara Scuccimarra, the Republican, and Steve Rosario, the Democrat, will make their respective cases to the voters of Philipstown in the Haldane School music room on Monday, Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Their discussion will be moderated by the founder/publisher of Philipstown.info and The Paper, Gordon Stewart. The format will be largely informal with opening and closing statements by the candidates.
The candidates are running for the District 1 open seat vacated by Vinny Tamagna, who was prevented from running because of term limits applied to members of the Putnam County Legislature.
Steve Rosario
Both candidates have experience with Philipstown government, having served at different times on the Philipstown Town Board. Rosario served from 1994-1998. He defeated Vinny Tamagna for that seat but then lost to Tamagna when he sought the county seat.
Scuccimarra lost her Town Board seat last year.
Among the issues over which the candidates will likely contend are the level of county services Philipstown receives, especially in relation to the amount of revenue generated here, along with county tourism initiatives, the creation of county offices in the proposed Butterfield project, and sharing sales tax revenue collected by the county with the town and villages.
Refreshments will be available.
Barbara Scuccimarra is the right choice here. She will truly represent the entire town of Philipstown in Carmel. Barbara is absolutely the only Republican I’ll be voting for, this election cycle. But party politics aside, I’ve known her for several years. She is a genuinely nice and approachable person, she is a hard worker, and she does not play favorites. She consistently tries to do the right thing, for those she represents. As a Philipstown Councilwoman, she did a great job, and I believe, (as do many others) that the only reason she did not retain her seat was because of her party affiliation. Go Barbara! You rock, and you’re as solid as a rock.
Steve Rosario worked hard for property owners in Continental Village in the past to reduce our Lakeland School Tax burden. It is refreshing to hear a politican even acknowledge our existence in Philipstown and Putnam County. I will be attending the forum Monday night and look forward to hearing the candidates discuss issues that are important to all of us. We’ll miss you, Vinny!