Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Franchino For Town Council Ward 3

NANUET, NY — Rockland County has several contested races in this fall's election, including in Clarkstown. Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Donald Franchino, 67, is running for re-election to the Clarkstown Town Council in Ward 3, which encompasses Central Nyack, West Nyack, Nanuet, and Bardonia. Challenging him is Schenley Vital. Vital will appear on the Democrat and Independence party lines on the November ballot. Franchino will appear on the Republican, Working Family, Conservative and SAM lines.

Franchino, an Allstate agent for 45 years, was born and raised in West Nyack and now lives in Nanuet.

Are you running for office in Rockland County? Contact Lanning Taliaferro at lanning.taliaferro@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Patch.

Previously on Patch:

• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Feiden For Clarkstown Town Justice
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Tannenbaum For Town Council Ward 2
• Rockland Candidate Profile: Diederich For District Attorney
• Rockland Candidate Profile: Walsh For District Attorney
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Carroll For Town Council Ward 4
  
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Milich For Town Council Ward 4

The single most pressing issue facing our community, and what I intend to do about it.

Taxes (school, town and county), code enforcement and zoning. My position on the Economic and Business Committee is to help attract and facilitate business in Clarkstown. I come from a business environment and seek to support the largest tax base in Rockland County--Ward 3 retail sector.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I am a community based candidate. My goals and priorities center on the community. I have devoted more then 40 years volunteering in the community.

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

As a volunteer some of my accomplishments:
1. Building the baseball facility(4 fields) at lake Nanuet
2. Construction and fund raising for the Highview playground--Castle Park (twice)
3. Current President of the Nanuet Family Resource Center
4. CCD 8th grade teacher at St Aedans parish in Pearl River 27 years
5. President of Nanuet Little League
6. Board of Directors United Way (retired)
7.Clarkstown Soccer Manager (10) years
8. Obtained Nanuet Fire Kids Training House--Allstate sponsor
9. Manager Nanuet/West Nyack Girls Softball
10. Clarkstown Community Award 2000, Police Chiefs Association of Rockland County 2002
11. President of the Rebuild Hi Tor Animal Shelter ($400,000 raised) now President of the Safe Haven Animal & Education Center
12. Current Town Councilman in Ward 3 Town of Clarkstown

The best advice ever shared with me was …

Treat others as you would expect to be treated.

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

I owe my allegiance to the community I represent regardless of party affiliation. Positions on issues are based on my life experiences. I am fair in my decisions and will work on future projects that benefit the residents of the Town of Clarkstown.