Candidate Profile: Adam Weiner For Harrison Town Board

HARRISON, NY — In 2021's general election, residents of the Hudson Valley will be voting for local officials. In anticipation, Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Adam Weiner is seeking election to the Harrison Town Board in November. The 42-year-old is running on the Working Families Party ticket and as a Democrat.

Learn more about Weiner on www.movingharrisonforward.com

Check out Patch's full Q&A with Adam Weiner:

Family

My wife Dana and I have two children, Sasha (11) who goes to LMK & Zach (8) who attends Purchase Elementary.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Masters Degree from Boston University

Occupation

Vice President of Project Management and Creative Operations, ViacomCBS (12 years)
Deputy Regional Manager, New York State COVID-19 Contact Tracing Initiative (1 year)
Director of Creative Operations, Ross Stores

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am seeking a town board seat because after 10 years of the same administration I truly believe that Harrison needs a change. Our town needs leaders that will be proactive, honest, and transparent. I believe our residents deserve board members who will make smart development choices that don’t overcrowd our schools, worsen traffic, or overwhelm our town resources. We need to preserve our green and open spaces while making environmentally conscious decisions that anticipate and mitigate the effects of storms and the changing climate. And we need leaders who will modernize our town’s communication, making it easier to follow town decisions, navigate municipal departments and receive information from the town.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

We must fix the flooding issue. Many residents of Harrison were severely impacted by Hurricane Ida and this disaster has brought to light that our current administration has severely neglected disaster mitigation and relief. The budget allocated for these essential services is a fraction of what is needed and the studies that have been commissioned have not been acted on. Our administration would be proactive in drafting disaster relief plans that outline how we can mitigate the effects of these storms and how we will communicate to residents during a time of crisis. We would do a better job of pursuing help from state and federal sources to provide the information and relief needed to those impacted.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

By continually talking to and listening to the people of Harrison, the Moving Harrison Forward team is differentiating ourselves from our opponents. We are knocking on doors across town and listening to our residents across all our neighborhoods. We met with them after Hurricane Ida and attended their community meetings. We support the sustainability committee that the previous leadership resisted. And we understand that many residents feel ignored, neglected, or are fed up with the bureaucracy and politicking. Should I be elected, I will continue to listen to and be an advocate for all residents of Harrison.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

Having worked with New York State during the COVID-19 crisis and seeing first-hand the impacts this pandemic had, Harrison did an excellent job. The school board made quick and smart decisions to keep our kids safe while the town ensured that we adhered to the CDC guidelines. That said, there is still more to do. We need to continue to support the local businesses that were, and are still, impacted by this crisis. We need to address the educational and emotional deficits that our children endured from months of remote learning. And we need to have plans in place so that if we’re faced with this type of disaster again, we are prepared.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

We believe in smart development that will take the town’s schools, traffic and
infrastructure needs into account. We take climate change seriously and would insist on preserving and creating more open spaces and parks while promoting environmentally responsible building. We would emulate our neighboring towns which have been making it easier to invest in infrastructure for electric vehicles and solar power. And we believe in improving the communication to, and from, the town’s government. Our town’s website is outdated and needs to be completely revamped to make it simpler to find, receive and provide information. Processes for building permits and other municipal services should be brought online and made easier to understand and follow.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Having worked in project management for multiple Fortune 500 companies as well as with State, County and Municipal governments, I know how to get things done. My professional skillset includes making organizations more efficient, creating and valuing the benefits gained from teams and committees and and improving transparency and communication – all aspects I would bring to our town government.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

We have two ears and one mouth for a reason. Listen twice as much as you talk.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Local elections matter! The candidates you choose to represent you will be making quality of life decisions that will affect your taxes, property values, traffic, and municipal service. And I take this responsibility very seriously. My ideas and policies are smart, straightforward, and inclusive. They protect our taxes and property values while making sensical decisions that improve our community, protect our residents, and keep Harrison a great place to live and raise our families.

Our team has been endorsed by Governor Kathy Hochul, US representative Mondaire Jones, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, State Senator Shelley Mayer and Assemblymember Chris Burdick. The Working Families Party, the Westchester Putnam Central Labor Body and the Building and Trades Council of Westchester/Putnam have endorsed us as well. And the New York League of Conservation Voters has endorsed Frank Gordon’s candidacy for Mayor/Supervisor. We have earned the trust of these elected officials and organizations because they believe we have the ideas, the qualification, and the drive necessary to get the job done. I hope to earn yours as well.

The election is November 2nd and I would be honored if you would consider voting for me.

Find information about absentee and early voting here: Election 2021: New Systems For Early Voting In Westchester. To find all your candidates, as well as statewide, county and local propositions, follow the links offered by the Board of Elections:

• View the 2021 General Election Candidates List.
• View the 2021 General Election State Propositions.
• View the 2021 General Election County and Local Propositions.