Hyde Park Ward 1 residents face a choice this fall between two Staatsburg teachers in a battle to represent their ward on Hyde Park’s next town board – Megan Dore (R), a recent college graduate in her first year of teaching, against incumbent Robert Linville (D), a retired high school math teacher who has served two terms of office.
Both Dore and Linville are longtime residents of Staatsburg. Dore graduated from F.D. Roosevelt High School in Hyde Park in June 2003 and went on to graduate magna cum laude from SUNY Cortland with degrees in history and adolescent education. Dore also played collegiate softball while juggling classes and she’s now a first-year teacher in the Bronx. Linville, a 29-year Staatsburg resident, holds degrees in secondary mathematics from SUNY Brockport and SUNY New Paltz and is a retired math teacher from Spackenkill High School.
Both candidates are passionate about their town and are actively involved in community service. Linville serves on the board of the Staatsburg Library and is a member of the Hyde Park Visual Environment Committee, Staatsburg Spirit Day Committee, Staatsburg Association for Village Efforts (S.A.V.E) and several other environmental and civic organizations. Dore has volunteered for years with the Hyde Park Little League, both in boys’ baseball and girls’ softball, where she can be found coaching, umpiring and helping out in the snack bar. While in college, Dore was involved in student government and served on the board of the history club.
Each candidate has definitive goals for the future of Hyde Park; taxes are one of Dore’s top concerns. “As I see it right now,” said Dore, “Hyde Park is at a very important moment. I plan on helping to alleviate taxes by bringing in more of a business base – however, while accomplishing this it is important to preserve the rural, historic character of Hyde Park while at the same time making it much more affordable to live there.”
Attracting commercial business, said Dore, is key to Hyde Park’s tax relief. “As it stands right now, many people can’t afford to live here,” she said, noting that many of her friends who are recent college graduates have left the area due to lack of jobs and the high cost of living.
“I think, first and foremost, that the town needs to work hard to lower property taxes and bring in more business – this will help lower taxes and create a job base,” she said. If elected, Dore also hopes to improve recreational facilities, work with the school board to stabilize taxes and “work closely with the Hyde Park Police in order to preserve public safety.”
Balancing growth a priority
Throughout both terms of office, Linville has seen numerous proposals presented by developers interested in commercial and residential development, and sees the balance of growth as a top priority. “Growth and its effect on taxpayers is our biggest challenge,” said Linville, who added that the town is currently in a position to handle that issue well. “Done well, the town will come out as a better place to live with a secure tax base,” he added, noting that quality of life for Hyde Park residents continues to be an important issue.
While residents can expect growth to occur, said Linville, he will “continue the job of balancing the beloved aspects of Hyde Park while managing growth and development.”
Numerous large-scale projects are currently under consideration, and Linville believes his familiarity with these projects is an asset to voters. “We’re in the middle of a lot of critical issues,” he said, noting that the pending St. Andrews Village at Historic Hyde Park mixed-use development and a Route 9 sewer project have been under study for several years. “These issues are very, very complex and there’s a lot of work to be familiar with,” said Linville. The police department is still in need of new headquarters and Linville said he is “determined to find a solution that the voters will approve.”
Linville notes that his previous two terms have allowed him to gain knowledge and experience, as well as strengthen relationships. “In four years of office, I’ve developed a good working relationship with departments in town and civic organizations,” he said. Serving as Hyde Park’s Deputy Supervisor has also allowed Linville to interact with numerous agencies and state politicians. “I’m most proud of the respect and openness that constituents feel about me,” said Linville.
Dore hopes that voters will have confidence in her leadership skills. “While some might argue that I am too young to be getting involved in politics, I think likewise,” she said. “I always assume a role as a leader, but while I’m capable of leading, participating in competitive sports my entire life thus far has helped me to learn how to work cooperatively to achieve an end goal.”
Her strategy for Hyde Park, if elected, is to listen to her constituents. “I have learned to listen and then act in life,” she said. “This is what I think will be most beneficial to my constituents. I will utilize this skill to listen first and then I will react with what we decide is best for Ward 1 and Hyde Park.”
The complete list of candidates running for office in Hyde Park on Nov. 6.
(*=incumbent)
• Supervisor
* Pompey Delafield (D)
Chauncey Murphy (R,I)
• Tax Collector
* Nancy Sheehan (D)
Joanne Devens (R,I,C)
• Justice
* John Kennedy (R,I,C,WF)
* David Steinberg (D,I,WF)
Stanley Frangk (R,I,C)
• Legislative District 4
* Diane Nash (D)
Robert Clearwater (R)
• Legislative District 7
* Noreen Reilly (R)
Dan Kuffner (D)
• Ward 1
* Robert Linville (D)
Megan Dore (R,I,C)
• Ward 2
Valerie Hail (D)
Susan Serino (R,I,C)
• Ward 3
Hannah Black (D)
John Kane Jr. (R,I,C)
• Ward 4
* Richard Perkins (D,WF)
Shawn Gallagher (R,I,C)