Face-Off

Candidate Bios and Q & A

By: White Plains Times

Published: October 30, 2009

With three Common Council seats open and five candidates vying for the positions, 2009 has been a very active election season. Out of all the Council candidates on the ballot, only one, Tom Roach, is an incumbent, leaving the remaining four candidates with the challenge to prove themselves before a public that is crying out for change.

Over the past few weeks, there have been numerous debates and forums sponsored by various neighborhood associations and special interest groups. From budget issues to concerns about city infrastructure and open space, it is clear that White Plains residents are concerned about their city’s future.

On page 5, we introduce you to each of the Council candidates. On page 6, they answer questions posed by White Plains Times regarding budget deficits, smart growth, and the relationship between the city of White Plains and the White Plains School District. The answers provided by each candidate have been published as they were presented to us.

We would also like to note that David Haack, the 24-year old White Plains native who tried to get on the ballot as a Common Council candidate, but who did not have enough White Plains registered voters on his petition, is running a write-in campaign. (See "Candidate Brings New Party, View to White Plains Politics," September 15-30 issue, page 1.)

We also direct you to page 8, where we introduce the two candidates vying for the position of County Legislator for District 5.

Jim Arndt
whiteplainscitycouncil.com
Endorsements: Republican and Conservative Parties

Jim Arndt

Photo credit: Courtesy of the candidate.

Jim Arndt currently is the Director of Stores for Canali, a high-quality clothing retailer based in New York. Previously, as a senior executive of a $140 million family owned and operated business in Fairfield County, Arndt was one of five non-family members in a senior executive position. As an executive for Neiman Marcus, White Plains, Arndt played an integral role in bringing the underachieving store forward to obtain and then exceed financial expectations. Arndt developed strategies and budgets and was the liaison between departments for optimization efficiency and obtaining goals.

As an executive for Bloomingdales, White Plains, Arndt was involved in the 40,000 square foot expansion project in the 1990s, where as a senior executive he was part of a team that enabled the opportunity for profitability by layering an additional $28 million in volume. Jim started his career with Gatsby men’s stores in White Plains.

David Buchwald
davidbuchwald.com
Endorsements: Democratic, Independence, and Working Families Parties, Congresswoman Nita Lowey, Assemblyman Adam Bradley and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin

David Buchwald Photo credit: Courtesy of the candidate.

I am a tax attorney at the firm of Paul Weiss and previously worked at White Plains-based National Economic Research Associates. My community activities include: White Plains Historical Society (Trustee); Downtown Residents Association (Board Member); Metro-North Railroad Commuter Council (Westchester Representative); Westchester Earned Income Tax Credit Program (volunteer). I am a graduate of Harvard Law School, the Kennedy School of Government (Masters of Public Policy), and Yale University (B.S. Physics).

I believe that I am well equipped to ask the right questions, understand a wide range of issues, and generate solutions that will benefit all White Plains residents (which include my parents and sister). As a Common Councilman, I will devote my energy to preserving the special qualities that distinguish White Plains: diversity, affordability, convenience and services.

Leonard Lolis
leonardlolis.com
Endorsements: Republican, Independence, and Conservative Parties, Mayor Joseph Delfino, Mayor Alfred DelVecchio (1976-94)

Leonard Lolis

Photo credit: Courtesy of the candidate.

I was born and raised in White Plains, the son of an Italian immigrant, Mary, and a first-generation American with Greek and Irish heritage, John. My father owned a business on the Post Road corridor before working at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital. My wife Charlene and I have three daughters. I work for Emigrant Bank as Director of Network Infrastructure. Prior, I worked for White Plains for 21 years under three mayors–DelVecchio, Schulman, and Delfino. I began in the Building Department as a code enforcement officer. I was appointed the City’s first Director of Information Services responsible for all computer technology. I believe in smarter, efficient government, no wasteful spending, a safe, clean environment, balance and transparency.

Tom Roach
vote4roach.com
Endorsements: Democratic and Working Families Parties

Tom Roach, Jr.

Photo credit: Courtesy of the candidate.

I was born in White Plains and reside in the Westminster Ridge section of the city with my wife Beth and our two children, Henry and Lawson. Henry and Lawson represent the fifth generation of my family to live in White Plains. I am a practicing attorney with 23 years of legal experience. Prior to serving on the Council, I was active as a volunteer and board member with several local non-profit organizations in our city. I have also served on a number of Westchester County environmental committees. I was elected to the Common Council in 2001 and currently serve on the Personnel and Green Technology Committees and as the Chair of the Recreation Advisory Committee.

Beth Smayda
bethsmayda.com
Endorsements: Democratic, Working Families, and Independence Parties, Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee

Beth Smayda

Photo credit: Courtesy of the candidate.

I am a 25-year resident of White Plains, where my husband Greg and I have raised three children, all of whom graduated from the White Plains Public Schools. I have taken on leadership roles as President and City Budget Chair for the White Plains League of Women Voters; Chair of the PTA Council’s Legislation and School Budget Committees; Youth Leader and Council Member at Trinity Lutheran Church; and member of City and School Budget Committees. I am a Managing Director at MBIA where I have worked on municipal government bond transactions and remediated problems in the portfolio. Previously, I worked at Moody’s, rating government bonds in the Northeast. I intend to use my background and skills to solve the financial challenges facing the City.

Questions Posed to the White Plains Common Council Candidates:

1. White Plains is facing serious budget deficits for 2010-2011. How would you prioritize spending in White Plains to control the budget? Do you have any ideas for new revenue sources to alleviate some of the property tax pressure now facing homeowners?

Arndt: The FIRST item for the agenda is we take hold of the 2010-2011 budget on January 1. We do not have a minute to lose. My prioritizing would be to do away with wasteful spending before we hit any services. If the commissioner of DPW can cut the budget by $500k in just a few days we then know we have been wastefully spending in all areas.

We can make or even save on revenues by reducing/eliminating our city-owned fleet. We own and operate 35 vehicles.

I would request the added quarter of a percent sales tax for additional city revenue of $4 to $6 million. Statistics show 80 percent of retail revenue is from shoppers who live outside the city.

Partner with the city’s workforce to reduce the skyrocketing costs of health insurance.

I would also ask that we never spend 100 percent of the revenues. We would make our budget 85 percent to ensure we fill in the reserves yearly.

For the future, do what we do in the private sector. Plan on a 2-, 5-, 10-year operating and capital budget, forecasting with three totally different scenarios—great economy, good economy, and today’s economy—to ensure we can change the course of the budget efficiently on demand.

Buchwald: The top priorities for spending are the essential city services of police and fire protection, garbage pickup, snow removal and storm cleanup. Yet with these and the many other important services our city provides, emphasis must be placed on ensuring that our government is operating as efficiently as possible.

I pledge to examine every line item in the budget for savings and to not simply accept last year’s expense figures as the basis for crafting the next budget. I will look to consolidate overlapping department functions, eliminate unnecessary spending, encourage voluntarism, and maintain favorable bond ratings.

For new revenues, I believe that White Plains needs to be more competitive in seeking grants to fund innovative city services and meet our infrastructure needs.

Whether it is taking advantage of county money designated for parkland, utilizing state funding for our transportation infrastructure, or being prepared to apply for federal stimulus programs, we should constantly be looking for opportunities to make White Plains an even better city at reduced costs to taxpayers.

Lolis: The Common Council shares responsibility for the current budget crisis. Due to my experience, I know exactly what is necessary to make our city government run smarter and more efficiently.

After two years of ignoring our budget crisis, our Council finally decided to address the budget and immediately cut services and asked labor to make concessions. They did not demand cuts to be made at the top.

We cannot expect cooperation from labor and expect our residents to accept cuts in services while there is obvious wasteful spending. Excessive use of our city vehicles must be cut, high-level staff must be reduced, and services that are duplicated must be consolidated.

Our capital program must be prioritized and non-critical projects should be placed on hold. Our city buildings must be made more energy efficient. Technology is already in place to allow administrative staff to be shared among all departments; this must be implemented. Departmental empires must be eliminated.

Zero-based budgeting can be established evaluating fees. This will increase revenues while relieving the taxpayers of subsidizing permits and specialized services. We should look towards greater private/public partnership and reach out to our residents for new innovative ideas.

Roach: The recent economic downturn has had a huge impact on the budgets of municipalities throughout the region. White Plains has been affected more than most due to our heavy reliance on fluctuating, economically sensitive revenue sources such as the sales tax. In good times, these revenue streams provide substantial funds, relieving the burden on property owners. In difficult times, these revenues drop, creating a gap between spending and revenue, which must be closed.

In my opinion, we should be looking for changes in the way we do business which reduce city expenditures. We should seek to consolidate services both within city government and between different branches of government to ensure taxpayers receive more “bang for their buck.”

We should review each department from the ground up to ensure our resources are being used in an efficient manner. We must recognize that our resources are not infinite and manage our city accordingly.

Smayda: Preservation of essential services to residents while mitigating property tax increases should be priorities in addressing the City’s budget deficit. I would ensure that the City’s Budget and Management Committee, with citizen representation, be reinvigorated and undertake in-depth analyses of proposals for cost savings and more efficient government. This Committee can play an important role in multi-year planning and analyzing and advocating proposals for streamlining administrative structures, functional consolidation, the sharing of services with the County and City School District, changes in employee benefits, and productivity improvements through increased computerization.

Potential areas of functional consolidation include snow removal, community services and fleet and other maintenance between public works and parking departments.

In addition to ongoing management of the expense side of the budget, the City should also explore revenue options to moderate the residential property tax burden. Fees and charges should be continually evaluated to ensure that they are not lagging neighboring communities. The City should also aggressively seek intergovernmental grants for local priorities.

2. In terms of city planning, how do you balance the pressing need to
fix the economy with the growing concern for the environment?
Is it possible to ensure that the progress that is made is “smart growth,” responsible and efficient?
If so, how? Or does one priority take precedence over the other?
 
Arndt: In today’s world, one would say that all issues are a priority: Economy, Ecology, and Education. We would have to find a way to balance what is good for all.

However, with the financial downfall one would have to give the state of the city’s finances a head start. How do we go forward with any initiatives with no money? 

That being said, as a member of the Council I would make that part of our agendas. One would ask how we preserve open space when we cannot even preserve our reserve account. We need to reduce congestion, pollution, and aggravation by implementing a trolley service and creating designated lanes for bicycles.

Additionally, as a city we should move toward energy efficient opportunities utilizing city-owned real estate; for example, wind turbines, solar panels and high efficiency steam boilers.

As I mentioned before, I would ask that we never budget ourselves to 100 percent of revenues, that we budget only 85 percent. This is to ensure that our city is never in the current position. We would be able to promote smart growth in a GREEN WAY.

Buchwald: Smart planning will help our business establishments and is good for the environment. If the City Center had a fully pedestrian entrance on Mamaroneck Avenue (where everything is currently only accessible by use of an elevator), that would both improve the walking-friendliness of White Plains and help the businesses inside.

By encouraging stores to open at convenient locations, we also reduce the need for people to drive out of White Plains to make purchases. We should make pedestrian and bike access a core element of our city planning.

I would like to see more bike racks throughout our city. I would also try to persuade the Galleria, if it were ever to undergo renovations, to create outward-facing stores at street level, so as to make Main Street an even more inviting gateway to our city.

Overall, my goals are to reduce traffic, promote healthy activity, and encourage people to support our local businesses. City government also needs to take to heart the value of environmentalism. For example, I would like to see our city conduct an energy audit of city government buildings to learn not only how we can improve our environment but also save taxpayer money.

Lolis: The need to fix our fiscal condition is not at odds with our environmental concerns. Almost always, the most cost efficient way to construct, operate or develop anything is also the most environmentally friendly.  It is only when we are short sighted that these two concerns become opposed.

Proper planning requires long term cost benefit analysis while developing a strategy to develop smart, energy efficient, environmentally friendly projects. However, until we get our fiscal house in order, the City will not have the funds to invest in many other projects such as the Greenway extension, improving parkland, etc.  We must plan and work with developers to entice environmentally friendly projects attracting federal funds as subsidies.

We must improve our own municipal buildings, making them energy efficient. We should bond for the projects that will deliver a direct payback in reduced energy consumption.

Our extremely inefficient data-center is a prime example and requires a major renovation. If done properly, it will promise greatly reduced energy costs. This necessary project would be subsidized by our reduction in energy consumption. Federal grants may be available to assist as well. Smart, effcient planning is paramount for
our success as a city, fiscally and environmentally.

Roach: During my time on the Council I have established a strong record on environmental issues. I drafted ground-breaking requirements for diesel construction equipment to help preserve the air we breathe. I have worked to ensure that all new construction projects reduce storm water runoff and to the extent possible, handle their storm water on site. The argument that environmentally responsible conduct is somehow economically unsound is a false one.

Requiring city buildings to use energy efficiently preserves the environment as well as the city’s bottom line. Capturing and reusing storm water on site not only protects our bodies of water; it also reduces the demand for drinking water, cutting costs with a minimal expenditure. Using our vehicle fleet more efficiently, both by reducing numbers through “pooling” their use and by acquiring more efficient vehicles, saves money and energy and reduces emissions.

I view the issues of environmental and fiscal responsibility as having much in common. If re-elected, I look forward to continuing my efforts in both areas.

Smayda: The slowdown in the economy has resulted in a pause in commercial and retail development in White Plains. This allows the City time to take a “breather” and to take stock of its priorities for the future, including charting a course of smart and responsible growth.

Given the dearth of current development proposals, City staff now have the opportunity to evaluate and develop plans for other community priorities, such as those relating to our environment. These include the preservation of open space, incorporation of LEED standards into future development approvals and promotion of pedestrian access and biking to and around our downtown area.

Given the availability of stimulus and other intergovernmental grants for “green initiatives,” a focus on the environment, rather than detracting from fixing the economy, could be part of the solution. Several office buildings in White Plains have not yet been upgraded.

Working with County economic development resources, the City should explore the availability of funding to update these buildings to LEED standards and then attract “green incubators.” In effect, the promotion of environmental priorities should not detract from fixing the economy, but could be a catalyst for diversifying our local economy and promoting “smart growth.”

3. Governor Patterson just introduced his plan to reduce New York State’s $3 billion budget deficit. It involves considerable cuts in funding that may cause the White Plains City School District to lose up to 9
percent (about $1.3 million) of its state aid for the 2009-2010 school year. What is your opinion on this move? Do you think the White Plains City government and White Plains School District should work more closely together?

Arndt: Our schools are our future. My thoughts when it comes to education are that it is an area we should never cut. I would advocate for our school system, which happens to be one of the best in the state. Knowing how much wasteful spending happens here in our backyards, imagine what goes on in Albany.

If we have the $1.3 million drop in state aid, I would ask that the school and the city work hand in hand. Working as partners with the school in a good economy, I would give them support.

Being a realist, I would ask that we don’t lose administrative positions, educators or anyone that enables the quality education of our children. I would request to reduce redundancy between both the city and the operational area of the school system. This is where the city can help; for example, DPW, plowing or various outdoor maintenance.

Buchwald: Mid-year cuts to local public schools are a poor way to handle the state’s deficit. It sacrifices our future (the education of our children) and burdens property taxpayers at a time when we can least afford it. Moreover, it is unfair to our students, teachers and school administrators to take such a sizeable amount of funding away after annual budgeting decisions have been made.

The City government and the White Plains School District should work together. We have the great fortune to have city and school district boundaries that entirely overlap, so that the savings from shared services benefit all the taxpayers of White Plains.

I would look to coordinate items like snow removal (currently handled by different city and school workers), joint purchasing and after-school programs, to promote a more efficient city and school district.

I have had the pleasure of meeting with our new Superintendent, Dr. Clouet, and he genuinely wants to work with the people of our city, including their neighborhood associations and their government to provide an even better educational environment. I’d very much like to work with him, members of the School Board and others to support the needs of the children of White Plains.

Lolis: It is imperative that the City and School District work together immediately to reduce expenses. At present, not only do City departments duplicate services, but the School District does as well.

City/School District partnerships are imperative and will quickly yield substantial reductions in expenditures without reducing services at all. In fact, with proper intelligent review, services will improve substantially. Economies of scale will greatly enhance our efficiency, while also reducing our administrative expense.

As Director of Information Services, I succeeded doing just this. I personally worked with the School District in delivering numerous I.T. services, including the municipal fiber optic network, that has saved the taxpayers millions of dollars and will continue to do so far into the future. Perseverance to get cooperation from all parties involved was key. This model should be applied to all other areas of our government including Public Works, Recreation and Parks, Youth Bureau, etc.

On a small scale, many years ago, I consolidated I.T related expenditures in the City alone and saved millions annually. If this is spread throughout all aspects of our government, $1.3 million will be easily saved without raising taxes. Partnerships are necessary to be efficient.

Roach: I disagree with the Governor’s cuts to the White Plains School System. While I appreciate the dire financial circumstances facing the state, I would prefer to see the state address their own spending issues before cutting this necessary aid to school districts.

Unfortunately, school districts and local governments exist at the bottom of the governmental food chain. It is difficult to see how such a substantial cut could be made up, short of a substantial tax increase. Merely shifting the burden from one branch of government to the other does not resolve the issue of the growing burden on taxpayers. Each level of government should be expected to produce their own savings through changes in the way they operate.

As an example I would strongly support working in a more coordinated fashion with the school system. We are one municipality and we should share services as much as possible to reduce the burden on property owners.

Smayda: Given the recent political stalemate in Albany and depth of the current recession, I would expect that the recently proposed cuts are just the beginning of cuts in aid to New York’s schools and local governments.

It is more important than ever for the City of White Plains and the White Plains School District to work together. While the School District and City currently coordinate certain activities through the Joint Facilities Task Force, other areas of coordination should be explored.

Shared services with the City School District could include snow removal, transportation, computers (for use in after school and senior programs and summer camps) and grant applications.

Enhanced communication between the City and School District should be facilitated through periodic joint meetings of the Common Council and School Board to discuss critical issues affecting our youth and programmatic coordination, especially for at-risk populations. In short, it is more critical than ever for the City and Schools to explore ways to ensure cost effective delivery of services through economies of scale and coordination wherever possible.