Building the foundation

Well, the election season is finally behind us and I for one am okay with that. I must say that running for office has been a truly enlightening and energizing experience. For now, let politics be “a road less traveled.” I would like to thank the voters of New Paltz for making the choice and giving me this opportunity to serve. I also would like to thank all of those volunteers who put in so many dedicated hours working on my campaign.

Over the next two months, I will be working behind the scenes to build the foundation necessary so that on Jan. 1 we waste no time. The first step is to assess the situation. On day one we will start an audit of the roadways, the infrastructure, the equipment fleet and the personnel at the highway department. We will review each line of the highway budget. Soon, I will have a database up and running so we can start to collect information on needed repairs and concerns of the community. With the information in hand we can proceed forward in the most efficient and effective manner possible. It is my personal goal to make customer service the first priority at the New Paltz Highway Department.

Mike Nielson, Candidate Elect
New Paltz Superintendent of Highways

No comment needed

New Paltz Times Letters 10/29

The following letters were printed in the October 29th issue of the New Paltz Times:

Support the New Paltz Democratic line on Nov. 3

I am writing to support the New Paltz Democratic line of candidates on the ballot for the Nov. 3 election. The local slate includes some candidates running unopposed: Toni Hokanson for Supervisor, Kitty Brown for Town Council, Jeff Logan for Town Council and Jon Katz for Town Justice. Running opposed is Mike Nielson for Highway Superintendent.

The candidates running for the Town Board and Supervisor have displayed their commitment to New Paltz by working to strengthen our local economy through smart growth and encouraging new businesses while preserving the open space and vistas we all enjoy and many come here to visit. As Town Justice, Jon has shown that he has the experience, reputation and understanding of our laws to run a highly efficient and fair court.

For Highway Superintendent we have Mike Nielson running on a platform of making New Paltz a community that not only supports a sustainable infrastructure Mike also has the plans, insight and knowledge to implement the processes necessary. As a neighbor of Mike’s, I see the commitment he puts into his business, home and family and I know that he will demonstrate these same commitments when it comes to managing our current and future infrastructure needs and complex budget. I encourage all to come out on Nov. 3 to support these candidates for a better New Paltz.

Jeff Logan
Town of New Paltz Councilman

Vote for Mike Nielson and support the library

Election Day is Nov. 3 and in New Paltz there are two ballot items that deserve your careful consideration.

First, we have a choice for Highway Superintendent. For me the better choice is clear. I am voting for Mike Nielson. Mike understands that the best way to manage critical infrastructure is to develop and implement comprehensive, environmentally sound plans for our roads, stormwater and highway equipment. He also understands how to keep our infrastructure running smoothly by integrating 21st-century best practices into the process. Mike has the professional expertise to provide outstanding service as Highway Superintendent. The Highway Superintendent needs to be a leader and a manager. Here, too, Mike will excel. Mike will boost morale among employees, carefully manage the department’s budget and work effectively with other branches of government. Collaboration and cooperation are essential for our highway department to run efficiently and to save tax dollars. Mike’s practical, thorough and innovative approach to management will improve the quality of life for everyone who works in, lives in and visits New Paltz.

Second, our wonderful public library needs our help. The Elting Library is asking voters to approve spending $321,000 from taxes, which would cover 85% of its annual budget. We are already funding the library through our taxes; last year $295,000 went to the library. For a home assessed at $300,000, the tax increase requested would equal about 50 cents per month; that is less than two pennies per day! Our library’s total annual budget is really quite small for the priceless resource that it provides. Libraries transform lives, promote democracy, support community, and represent what is best about the human race. The Elting Library is a gem in our town.

Roads are a critical part of our town’s infrastructure. Our library is too. It is part of our cultural and community infrastructure. Please support infrastructure in New Paltz on Nov. 3. Vote for Mike Nielson for Highway Superintendent and vote YES for the Elting Library.

Michael Zierler
New Paltz

Please get out and vote

If you couldn’t tell by all the political discourse in the letter’s section or the advertisements everywhere you look, let me remind you that Election Day is just a week away. In the past few weeks I have seen a lot of people getting excited for another chance to take a proactive role in their community, which I particularly enjoy.

This is the time of year where questions are asked, ideas are challenged and the dream of working toward a better tomorrow is in our day-to-day conversation. Makes me sad this kind of participation is not the norm, but I figure I should just enjoy it while it’s here.

That being the case, I want to urge everyone in New Paltz to get to the polls this coming Tuesday. We all saw firsthand with my election to the Village Board that every single vote counts. I mean, I won by “just a single vote” and the difference between Trustee ODonnell and I was just three votes.

Although most of our elections in New Paltz are going uncontested this year, there are still candidates who need our support. I have met both countywide Democratic candidates Deborah Schneer and Gilda Riccardi several times in the last two months and I must say I think there are no better candidates for the positions. Deborah cares so much about what she does. When you hear her speak about her job as judge, you can understand the careful thought and consideration she puts into every single case. To me it’s clear why she is cut out for the job. Gilda is energetic, smart, well organized and so personable it makes perfect sense for her to be County Clerk.

County aside, let’s not neglect our Town Highway Superintendent race that seems to be the only race people in this town are talking about. Mike Nielson is the guy for the job as far as I am concerned. He has fresh ideas for the town that I believe would be huge steps forward in terms of how our Highway Department operates. He is a friendly, personable, well-spoken individual that I would 100% like to work with down the road.

New Paltz has the reputation as a Democratic stronghold. That is a place where the Dem vote is a sure victory. Just because we don’t have any “major” (as I’ve heard them called) races going on, remember this: There is a well-contested Town Highway race, county legislature races and most importantly county court and clerks races with hardworking candidates who need our support.

I’d just like to finish with the following, and whether you like me, dislike me, are unsure or don’t care either way, please take it into account. It was not just one vote that won me the chance to serve this community. It was every single vote. One less supporter who thought I could do the job and things would be very different, and right now our fellow Dems are in the same position. They are facing close races and every vote will count. We have the numbers in the county, but only if we show up. Please get out and vote!

Brian Kimbiz, Village Trustee
New Paltz

Let’s make sure the library can continue to thrive

When you step into the polling booth this coming Election Day, before continuing down the ballot to make your candidate selections, please stop and vote “YES” on referendum number 3: Proposition 414, located on the top right side of your ballot.

A “YES” vote on referendum number 3 will ensure that our local Elting Library has the adequate funds to: preserve and increase its inventory of books and materials, continue to provide cultural and educational programs and events, increase its hours (in particular, to Sundays), provide free access to books and inter-library loans from 66 libraries across our region and maintain staffing to do all of these things. A rejection certainly threatens the library’s ability to provide these services and might even cause it to close.

Why is the library requesting this funding? Most libraries in our region receive 90% or more of their funding from their local municipal budgets. The Town of New Paltz, for the past five years, has provided a much lower amount — 48% of Elting Library’s operating budget. A “YES” vote brings our library’s funding in line with its regional neighbors.

Since the new library building was constructed (which by the way is fully paid for), as a result of the expansion of space and services and the decline in our economy, library usage has increased tremendously. We need our library now more than ever — for children seeking books and after-school programs, for people seeking employment or better employment via available newspapers and online resources, for community organizations in need of space to hold their meetings and events and for people seeking free educational, cultural and intellectual resources.

Some people are concerned that the library will get this money no matter what happens in each budget cycle. But that cuts both ways, it also means they cannot receive any budget increases without coming back to the voters. Others have proposed that we take more time considering alternatives. While other models for funding libraries do exist, such as becoming a public library or to creating a library district, this is the solution that our library is presenting to us now so that they can keep their doors open for the next year — and it is the right choice, right now.

If you want our library to stay open and be fully functional for the next year, then on Nov. 3 vote “YES” on the library referendum. Elting Library is a gem in the heart of our community. Let’s make sure it can continue to thrive.

For more info, please visit www.eltinglibrary.org/414.php.

And of course, after voting “YES” for the library, I urge you to pull the lever for Mike Nielson for Highway Superintendent.

kt Tobin Flusser
New Paltz

Mike Nielson is our guy for road management

I will be voting for Mike Nielson for New Paltz Highway Superintendent on Nov. 3. Here’s why: New Paltz, like the rest of New York State, today faces two great stresses: one is the strain on municipal budgets caused by shrinking revenues at the state level. The other is strain on our natural environment caused by increased flooding, pollution of groundwater and erosion and sedimentation.

You may ask what role does a Highway Superintendent play in dealing with these problems? Aren’t they so much bigger than one person, one department? The fact is, the way we manage our roads directly influences municipal budgets and the quality of our local environment. About 1/7 of our town budget is devoted to the highway department. And the management of our roads influences our environment in many ways: the amount of flooding is affected by the amount of impermeable pavement we have, which influences the rate of soil erosion and sediment that is dumped into our streams. The amount of road salt used in winter influences the drinkability of our well water.

I have spoken directly to Mike about these issues and he is very thoughtful, methodical and conscientious. He has great ideas about ways to save the town money and be environmentally sound at the same time, for example, through the use of biodiesel fuel and finding alternatives to creating yet more flood-inducing pavement. He has experience running his own business and doing excavation, tree work and landscaping. He has a refreshing “customer service” ethic. All of these traits will serve our community well.

There is another area where I think Mike Nielson will make a fine Highway Superintendent: managing our roads with pedestrians and bicyclists, not just motorized vehicles in mind. There are too many roads in our community that are not very walkable, run-able or cycle-able. As a runner and cyclist, Mike will have these needs in mind as he makes decisions about road management.

Please join me in voting for Mike Nielson for New Paltz Highway Superintendent on Nov. 3. And by the way, please also vote for our fine, hard-working elected officials who are running unopposed: Toni Hokanson, Kitty Brown and Jeff Logan.

Seth McKee
New Paltz

Join me in voting for Mike Nielson

There isn’t much I can write about Mike Nielson that isn’t well known and often repeated. He is honest, hard working and thorough. He has that rare combination of a clear progressive vision, knowledge of the pragmatic steps necessary to put his vision into practice and the backbone to get the work done. The job of Highway Superintendent is largely a technical one — get the roads plowed, make sure the bridges stay up, order enough asphalt. But already, Mike Nielson sees those small opportunities that exist in public service to realize a larger purpose. It may not seem like much, reducing salt on the roads and trying to use biodiesel in our trucks, but small advances put into practice here can have enormous impacts when highway departments around the Hudson Valley begin replicating the innovations brought to the field once Mike Nielson takes charge. I’m voting for him this November; please join me electing Mike Nielson Highway Superintendent.

Jason West
New Paltz

Three things I can bet on

Here are my three reasons to vote for Mike Nielson for New Paltz Highway Superintendent:

Number 3. As a biker and a runner, he has personal experience to contribute in making sure that the future planning of sidewalks and roads can accommodate walkers, bikers and runners along with the cars for maximum safety for all.

Number 2. With his well over three-dozen certifications (in everything from New York State First Responder to New York State Hazardous Materials Incident Safety Officer) Mike will have the latest information and vision to plan the best future direction of the Highway Department, both in the use of people power and environmentally responsible choices. Honest, I counted the certifications myself on his web site!

Number 1. He will ensure all the current responsibilities and obligations of the Highway Department to keep the roads clear of snow and safe to travel in all seasons will be fulfilled at the highest level.

Rosalyn Cherry
New Paltz

Mike is right

A favorite saying I have heard in the field of educational leadership is, “We control systems, we lead people.” With that in mind I will be voting for Mike Nielson to lead the New Paltz Highway Department as Superintendent on Nov. 3.

I first got to know Mike during his term as the New Paltz Fire Department treasurer. As the Village Board liaison, I attended their meetings and was always impressed by his attention to detail, diligence and success in bringing their budget into GAAP compliance for transparency and efficiency. I have no qualms about Mike’s ability to run a department, we are fortunate to have someone with his intelligence and integrity come forward to take on this important position.

A few quotes from Mike: “we need to work openly and effectively with the communities that surround us, and the community we surround..,” what a concept!! “When we design and maintain our roads going forward, we need to consider how we use them today…” As a fellow cyclist I want a person in charge who has a detailed perspective of our roads that can only come from walking and riding on them. Parents with baby-joggers know that road safety goes far beyond plowing snow, adding a few shoulders here and there certainly won’t hurt! “We need to consider the side-effects of stormwater runoff, salt, silt, improper vegetation control…” Let’s face it, humans have collectively caused great harm to our planet. We are a caring and conscientious community and it is time we as a community put someone in this important position who will be proactive in reversing bad practices.

We built a Field of Dreams, now, with Mike as our Superintendent, we can go beyond the dream and get our kids there safely. For ourselves, our environment, our children, Mike is right; “it’s time to rethink the road ahead.” Please join me in voting for Mike on Nov. 3.

Rebecca Rotzler
New Paltz

Give Mike Nielson your support

Mike Nielson for Highway Superintendent? Sounds like a plan to me. I have known Mike since he was a child. He has always been a memorable person. I know him to be intelligent, hard working and impeccably honest. I feel that he will have a firm grasp of what we need in New Paltz. My late wife, Pam Rawluk, a longtime teacher in New Paltz, always referred to Mike as her favorite, all time student. “There’s just something about him.” Though she didn’t live to see Mike as a man, I know that she wouldn’t be disappointed. Give Mike your support. I know you won’t regret it.

Bob Rawluk
New Paltz

The Election is upon us

I recently heard a story about the City of San Francisco starting a citywide composting program. They expect to compost 500 tons of material a day, and a city spokesman summed it up like this: We are already moving the material, so more than anything it is just a logistical switch as to where we move the materials.

The story got me thinking. Let us look past the obvious. There are real savings here. San Francisco (just like we do) used to pay by the pound to get rid of all 500 tons… daily! They are now not paying for that 500 tons – smart right? It gets better: the finished compost will be given or sold to local farms, businesses and residents (providing income, where there was once only expense) and adding service without adding cost – better spending, through effective management. As a community, we pay tipping fees to get rid of biomass materials, we chip brush, and pickup leaves, we are trucking the materials. Are we getting any return on ours? Do we have finished compost for use by residents or for sale to businesses? Miles of information on composting is right at our fingertips through the Cornell Waste Management Institute, yet we don’t utilize it. It is time rethink what we have been doing. It is time to rethink the road ahead.

Honestly there are dozens of ideas out there for long-term savings, and many are extremely beneficial to the planet and all are beneficial taxpayers. To move forward with such initiatives, we need to have people in place who are open to input, open to new information and willing to work. It will take work, and a lot of it, but isn’t that what our hard-earned tax dollars should be spent on? In some positions that “work” involves driving a dump truck, or operating a motor-paver, and in other positions the “work” we are paying for is management. The role of the Highway Super is planning and managing. More effective and efficient management – essential for strong leadership- leads to higher productivity. Exponentially higher productivity yields higher quality service.

We need to plan, because good planning can bring a public benefit and taxpayer savings.. Our plan must consider bicyclists, pedestrians, our environment, infrastructure and our government structure. We need to work together with our entire town government and surrounding communities, organizations and individuals to avoid costly duplication of services, and gain economies of scale. It is time for all departments to stop warring with each other and get down to the business for which they are elected: Serving our citizens.

It is time to rethink the road ahead. Election day is Tuesday, November 3rd.

New Paltz Times Letters, 10/23

The following letters were published in the October 23rd issue of the New Paltz Times:

Join me in voting for Mike Nielson

I may be a tad biased, but I am convinced that Mike Nielson is the best candidate for New Paltz Highway Superintendent. The Mike I know is committed, responsible and cares about our community. Mike has high standards and an ability to see the big-picture without losing sight of the details. I know he will make the effort to build a high-performance team at the town highway garage. Mike is both a capable manager and a respected leader: He never asks more effort of anyone than he himself is willing to do. He truly cares about people — employees, colleagues, friends and neighbors. Mike has the capacity to diligently establish and maintain close working relationships.

As Mike’s wife I am proud that he is running for office. In our family, we believe that the duty to serve at the local level is a civic responsibility we have in a democracy. For our democracy to work, we believe that it is critical for every citizen to take the opportunity to vote on Election Day. I urge you to join me in voting for Mike on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Nikki Koenig Nielson
New Paltz

Sharing the road with Mike Nielson

What impressed me most about Mike Nielson, Democrat and Working Families candidate for Highway Superintendent, was his concern about the natural environment. Mike gets the concept that our established network of roads have an environmental impact that can be managed. While facilitating transportation for humans, highways often do the opposite for wildlife. Ecosystems suffer fragmentation; habitats and biomes that had worked in cohesion are separated. Migratory species find their progress blocked; some may be separated into genetic islands, impoverishing future biodiversity and leading to local extinctions. Transportation projects may also contaminate wetlands and destroy crucial habitat for many species.

I admire that Mike is physically fit and that he sees the road from the perspective of a bicycle. It would be great to have a Highway Superintendent who appreciates the need to share the road with pedestrians.

Erik Forster
New Paltz

Cast your vote for Mike Nielson

I urge New Paltz voters to cast their vote for Mike Nielson as Highway Superintendent. Highway Superintendent is a bread-and-butter kind of job. The butter is properly affixed to the bread when the roads are kept clear of snow and safe to travel on in all seasons. No one in this post could expect to stay in it if he or she could not fulfill these bottom-line responsibilities. There is nothing in Mike’s resum￩ that suggests he could not.

More interesting is Mike’s view of the larger picture, that the roads belong to all the users. His candidacy comes at just the right time, since in July the Ulster County Legislature unanimously passed a resolution adopting a Complete Streets policy. Complete Streets is the idea that the roadways ought to be designed to make our communities more livable for everyone — young or old, motorist or bicyclist, walker or wheelchair user, bus rider or shopkeeper.

Complete Streets improve safety for all users. They address climate change and oil dependence and they foster strong community.

I believe that Mike Nielson’s position on this means that New Paltz and Ulster County as a whole will have one more voice speaking in behalf of a more enlightened policy for how our streets and roads are designed and used.

Please cast your vote for Mike Nielson as Highway Superintendent on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3.

William Weinstein
New Paltz

New Paltz Times Letters 10/15

The following letters were published in the New Paltz Times on October 15:

You can’t go wrong by voting for Mike

As a registered Republican, I am writing to support Mike Nielson for Highway Superintendent because I believe he will do a great job for our town. I have only had a few interactions with Mike, but in each one he was nice, professional, honest and most of all helpful. I got the sense from being with him that he could handle any emergency with a cool head. If that is the kind of person you want running our public works department, you can’t go wrong by voting for Mike.

Alex Holt
New Paltz

Mike Nielson is the right man for the job

The people of New Paltz should feel great privilege that a man with the pure work ethic and diverse ability of Mike Nielson is willing to take on the responsibility of town Highway Superintendant. To say that I support Mike in this is an understatement. Having had the opportunity to work alongside Mike on a great variety of projects, I’ve seen firsthand the level of his technical ability and tenacity. Choosing the right equipment and work force for the job, along with the tasks of maintaining these entities, is more than just a requirement to him. It appears to be a second nature. I’ve had the need to call upon Mike and his knowledge on many occasions and without hesitation there he was. Always able to lend a hand, take charge of a project and offer solutions to unforeseen hurdles, along with providing a practical plan of execution. This ability alone makes him an invaluable resource to anyone who has relied upon him.

There is a real sense of empowerment that comes along with having Mike Nielson in your corner. I do not question his ability to multi-task for one minute, either personally or professionally. I like to think that I, myself, can manage multiple challenges at one time, but am always more than impressed when I witness the results of Mikes’ efforts.

Please vote for Mike Nielson on Nov. 3 without hesitation and trust that you have chosen the right man for the job. Whatever and whenever it may be.

Steve Puleo
New Paltz

NP Times Letters, 10/8

The following letters to the editor were published in the October 8 issue of the New Paltz Times:

Support Mike Nielson

My name is Ken Casamento, owner of a local business and a town resident. I am urging you to endorse Mike Nielson for Highway Superintendant. I have lived in Gardiner and New Paltz my entire life and I have known Mike Nielson for 20 years. He is honest, hard-working and intelligent. Mike is the ideal candidate for government office — he is practical in his approach, yet thinks of the bigger picture. He is committed to our town. His concern for the environment couldn’t come at a better time and that concern is now shared by all political parties. He is a family man, is trustworthy and is friendly and approachable. What more could you ask for in a candidate? I enthusiastically support Mike Nielson and encourage the Republican Party to do the same.

Ken Casamento
New Paltz

Vote for Mike to serve

I write to urge others in our community to join me in voting for Mike Nielson to serve as our Highway Superintendent this November. Mike is a native of New Paltz and deeply rooted in our community. His service as a volunteer has demonstrated his commitment to New Paltz; his business and professional experience has given him the necessary knowledge and skills to function effectively in this most important position.

I have had two long discussions with Mike about how, if elected, he hopes to perform as Highway Superintendent. In these he demonstrated:

a sensitivity to the need to lead by example to attract and retain an able, dedicated workforce;

an approach that values regular, clear communication with others in town government and with the citizenry;

an understanding that trust need to be reestablished with the Village Highway Department to allow the level of collaboration necessary to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in using our scarce resources;

a commitment to a systematic, planned approach to maintaining our roads; and

a desire to establish a sensible replacement cycle for core departmental equipment.

In rural communities, our highways are our basic transportation system, essential to the conduct of our daily lives. Moreover, our Highway Department spends about one of every seven dollars we provide the New Paltz town government. Join me in electing Mike Nielson to make sure that this essential function is performed well and that we get full value for our money.

Gerald Benjamin
New Paltz

NP Times Letters 10/1

The following were published in the New Paltz Times, October 1st issue:

A vote for Mike Nielson for Highway Superintendent

I like Mike!

In 30 years as a small business owner in New Paltz, I had the dubious distinction of employing more than 50 teenagers. Despite my influence, many of them grew to be fine adults who I am proud to know. One that was truly a stand out was Mike Nielson.

From an early age, Mike showed remarkable maturity and know how. Customers sought him out for help and advice. I could count on him to finish a project and follow through with routine jobs with little or no supervision. What made him extraordinary was his ability to plan ahead and fix small problems before they became big ones.

At the age of about 15, while assembling canoes, Mike created a jig to hold the gunnels to the hull and line up the holes for rivets. This tool cut assembly time from four hours to one, did nicer looking job and saved me money. His ability to see a more efficient and practical way to accomplish routine tasks impacts his approach to everything he does.

Mike and his brothers worked as apprentices at their father’s side from the time they could walk. Mike learned to shoot elevations for drainage while most kids were shooting marbles. Mike drove a tractor before he drove a car. Today, Mike is an artist with and excavator. He understands the importance of doing a job right the first time while following safety protocols, protecting environment integrity and staying within a set budget. His integrity and work ethic are beyond reproach.

Mike has the endorsement of the Independence Party, as well as the Democrats — but more importantly, he has approval beyond political parties, he has the trust and support of hundreds of individuals in our community that know him. Join me on Nov. 3 to support Mike Nielson for New Paltz Highway Supervisor!

Fawn Tantillo
Ulster County Independence Party
Executive Committee

I choose Mike

This year we have two candidates for Highway Superintendent in New Paltz and there are several similarities between them. Both of them operate businesses of their own. They are both involved parents. Each of them has experience with heavy machinery. Both men are longtime residents of the community. How then to choose one on election day?

I like Mike Nielson because he has a forward-thinking vision that’s backed by solid relevant experience. Mike understands that we live in a community bisected by a river which is prone to flooding, that more pavement increasingly means more problems. I like Mike’s plan to phase in permeable surfaces to try to stop more dangerous flooding conditions from developing. Mike thinks we’re very close to being able to use biodiesel fuels in our highway vehicles. I like Mike’s interest in saving my tax dollars while reducing our carbon footprint. Mike is a firefighter of many years. I like Mike’s ability to work with and direct others in emergency situations and to inspire the loyalty in his team that can make all the difference in the lives of New Paltz residents.

Terence Ward
New Paltz

Support Mike on Election Day

I have known Mike Nielson for most of his life and I know firsthand that he is a genuine guy that takes pride in everything he does. Aside from his friendly personality, Mike is a smart, productive and efficient person. I believe those qualities will make him an excellent Highway Department Superintendent. I am a registered Republican, but in a local race for a highway superintendent, the best man should get the job and that person is Mike Nielson. He has prepared himself for this position and brings progressive ideas, a good attitude and a commitment to our community. In these times, we cannot settle for the status quo. We need a leader who thinks outside the box and prepares for the future and that is Mike Nielson. I encourage you to support Mike this Election Day!

Thank you.

Thomas J. Aube
New Paltz

http://ulsterpublishing.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=498551

New Paltz Times letters 9/24

The following letters were published in the September 24th issue of the New Paltz Times:

Thanks for the support

I would like to thank everyone for their support at the Democratic caucus to nominate candidates on Sept. 14. The huge turnout showed how much we really care about our community. I am very excited and proud to be running on the Democratic line in this November’s election. Together with the endorsement of the Working Families Party and the Independence Party, I think voters will have every opportunity to rethink the road ahead. Looking beyond the Nov. 3 general election, I look forward to the opportunity to serve New Paltz at the Highway Department. There is much to be done to protect our environment, improve highway department morale and get a better value for tax dollars spent and to maintain safe roads for residents and visitors. Thank you again for the faith you have placed in me.

Mike Nielson
New Paltz

Support Mike Nielson

Although I supported Phil Johnson in the Democratic caucus, Mike Nielson won fair and square. As the Democratic candidate for Highway Superintendent, he has my full support and I ask all Democrats that supported Phil in the caucus to support Mike Nielson in the general election.

Steve Auerbach
New Paltz

http://ulsterpublishing.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=497499

NP Times letters 9/17

The following letter was published in the New Paltz Times on 9/17/09:

Support for Mike Nielson

As a member of the New Paltz Green Party, I am proud to support Mike Nielson for New Paltz Highway Superintendent. Mike recently took the time to fill out the New Paltz Green Party candidate’s questionnaire, which asks detailed questions about issues important to Greens and other progressives in New Paltz (the questionnaire can be found at newpaltzgreens.org/elections.html). His answers were thoughtful and detailed and made me proud that we have a candidate running who is so clearly concerned with how the Highway Department can contribute to making New Paltz a more sustainable place to live. He has concrete plans to reduce carbon emissions, control beaver activity with nonlethal means, improve union relations, prioritize using permeable materials for grading and paving and more. I am convinced that Mike will work to make the Highway Department more efficient without scrimping on essential services and will always keep what is best for our town at the root of his policies.

Lagusta Yearwood
New Paltz

http://ulsterpublishing.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=495506