BENNETT SANDLER

CANDIDATE, OTSEGO TOWN BOARD

COMMUNITY OF RESIDENCE:
Fly Creek, Town of Otsego

EDUCATION:
MS in Landscape Ecology from Duke University;  BSNR in Ecology from the School of Natural Resources, University of Michigan.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Business Owner – Equity Energy LLC (Fly Creek, NY)
Environmental Consultant – Envisualization (Fly Creek, NY)
Business Manager – The Brookwood School (Cooperstown, NY)
GIS Manager/Analyst – Center for Conservation Biology, Stanford University (Palo Alto, CA)
Remote Sensing/GIS Analyst – Earth Satellite Corporation (Rockville, MD)
Remote Sensing/GIS Analyst – The Nature Conservancy (Rosslyn, VA)

COMMUNITY/POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT
Councilman, Town of Otsego (2012-2015)
Representative, Watershed Supervisory Council (2012-2015)
Board of Directors, Otsego County Conservation Association
Organized 7v7 Recreational Soccer at Cooperstown Soccer Association
Coached Rec and Travel Soccer Teams for Cooperstown Soccer Association
Participated on Parent Committee for CCS Superintendent Search

FAMILY
Married to Monica Brané.  We have three children, one graduated from and two attending Cooperstown Central School.

IN TWO OR THREE SENTENCES, EXPLAIN YOUR PHILOSOPHY OF GOVERNMENT.
I believe in ‘Government of the people, by the people, for the people’.

WHAT ARE THE THREE MAJOR ISSUES THE OTSEGO TOWN BOARD FACES, AND HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THEM?

1.) Maintaining fiscal strength is the most critical objective of the Town Board.  During my tenure on the board, we have improved our fiscal strength each successive year (as determined by the NYS Office of the State Comptroller).  Moving forward, I believe we need to get better with our mid-to-long term budget planning to maintain the town’s infrastructure and pay our highway crew a living wage while not raising or wildly fluctuating town taxes.  I would also like to explore ways to reduce or fix costs to the town through the adoption of renewable energy technology such as power purchased solar electricity, installation of heat pumps and/or biomass boiler systems in town buildings, and the conversion to LED street lighting.
(see http://osc.state.ny.us/localgov/fiscalmonitoring/satfiles/2014/Town/Otsego_2014.xls)

2.) Protecting property values is essential to all residents in the town and zoning help ensures landowners are insulated from development that might negatively impact their property values as well as their quality of life.  Conversely, we live in a region where property rights are highly valued and important to protect.  I would like the Town Board, together with the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals, to assess shifting priorities or missing updates in the land use law to reflect the Mission Statement and Goals of the 2008 Comprehensive Plan.
(see http://townofotsego.com/compplan/TownofOtsegoApprovedComprehensivePlanfordistribution13Feb08.pdf)

3.) Protecting our environment, our air and water, is repeatedly cited as an essential element in the quality of life among town residents.  During my tenure on the Town Board, I have firmly supported initiatives to reduce regional environmental degradation due to fossil fuel infrastructure development and to protect our lakes and streams from invasive species, failed septic systems, and toxic herbicides.  I am committed to looking for new ways to reduce the Town’s fossil fuel footprint, increase energy efficiency, and otherwise protect our environment from pollution.

WHAT QUALITIES/EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE THAT MAKES YOU THE BETTER CHOICE IN THIS RACE

I bring a myriad of skills, experience and perspective to my duties as a Town Board Councilman.  I am a small business owner.  I understand the obstacles in front of small business in upstate New York, particularly the cost of hiring employees.  I am a hobby farmer.  I have a glimpse into the economic constraints of agriculture in this region.  I am a building scientist so I have a clear understanding of the impacts energy costs have on operations and what can be done to reduce those costs.  I am an ecologist by education so I have a thorough understanding of the impacts of land use and invasive species on clear air and water.  I’m fluent in accounting principals, strategic planning, budgeting, and the use of computer tools to manage data.

IS THERE A STATEMENT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH VOTERS?
I love living here, in a safe place to raise children surrounded by natural beauty and a clean environment.  I’d appreciate your support on November 3rd.  Please come out and vote!