Candidate Profile: Ron Matten For Yonkers Council President

YONKERS, 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.

Ron Matten is seeking election as the Yonkers City Council President in November. The 59-year-old is running as a Republican.

Learn more about Matten on www.ron4yonkers.com

Check out Patch's full Q&A with Ron Matten:

Position Sought

Yonkers City Council President

Party Affiliation

Republican/CS

Family

Khanittha Matten (Ask her Yourself)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

BS Finance Manhattan College
MPA Pace University
MS Business Analytics Baruch-started

Occupation

Associate Vice President for Facilities and Capital Planning-New York Medical College 30 years in the field.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Member, Yonkers Joint School Construction Board

Why are you seeking elective office?

My experience, competence, and vision for Yonkers uniquely qualifies me to improve the overall quality of life for Yonkers residents.

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

The most important issue facing Yonkers is quality of life, which is an umbrella for public safety, neighborhood preservation, and planning for the future.

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

I want to establish an urban and financial plan for the city, where residents have a voice through their community groups. This ad hoc development hurts the fabric of long established communities. Yonkers has developed without regard or input from her current residents. This has forced families from affordable housing. My opponent has received contributions from developers and cannot be objective regarding development.

The council should be reviewing the actions and budgets of Yonkers departments. We need to ensure that taxpayer funds are spent in the most efficient manner. The council has abrogated this responsibility.

My opponent has already stated that Yonkers residents need to pay more (taxes). I want to ensure that we are not taxing residents out of their homes, particularly seniors. After all, Yonkers homeowners make up 46.1% of the population according to the 2020 census.

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

I believe most Yonkers officials have performed adequately. Some have been outstanding in providing food and information for their constituents.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

My platform revolves around measurement. You can't manage what you don't measure. I want the council to review major capital projects with the aim of providing a best practices guide. The council has been a rubber stamp to the executive branch. I want the council to be a full partner working together and improving performance. It shouldn't be an adversarial relationship nor a subordinate relationship, but an equal partnership.

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

I have managed a staff of over 300. I was on the team that wrote and implemented the return from COVID policy for education and research at Hunter College. I was a certified School Business Administrator in the State of Connecticut. I have managed the construction of schools. I have written and instituted policy which heavily relied on stakeholder input. Drafting legislation is much like writing policy. It cannot be done in a vacuum.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

When you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

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.