Patch 2011 Elections: Clarkstown Highway Superintendent

*Correction—The following corrections have been made to reflect Malone's original answers to the questionnaire. Check back with Patch for a more in-depth election article on these two candidates.

Patch has asked your candidates a set of questions. Check back each day for their answers. This week, we're looking at town candidates.  Check out this Patch article for the line up this week.  Last week, we looked at  and this week we're looking at town candidates. Today's candidates are Incumbent Wayne Ballard and Challenger Dennis Malone for Clarkstown Highway Superintendent.

Party Lines:

Malone: Democrat

Ballard: Republican, Conservative, Working Families, Independence

1.     What community do you live in?

Malone: I live in Congers*

Ballard: Clarkstown

2.     How long have you lived there?

Malone: 31 years

Ballard: Since 1996

3.     Age?

Malone: 57 years*

Ballard: 54

4.     Family?

Malone: Wife of 36 years, three daughters Megan, Victoria and Jessica

Ballard: Widower with three children, Sean, Kimberly, Justin

5.     What is your education background?

Malone: High Shool Graduate (Same as Steve Jobs)*

Ballard: Licensed Professional Engineer by the State of New York and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from CUNY.  Numerous courses in safety including construction, safe work zones and excavation work; obtaining Board Certification as a Safety Professional.  I also take continuing education courses in such topics as road maintenance, snow plowing and ice control, soil erosion, stream maintenance, drainage design, hydrology, material testing and management.

6.     Why do you think you are qualified for this position?

Malone: 41 years of hands on experience

Ballard: I feel that I am uniquely qualified for this position when considering the combination of my experience, qualifications and education.  The experience of being your highway superintendent for 14 years with proven response to emergencies such as hurricanes, snow, ice and black ice storms, wind storms, blizzards, and flooding.  My record shows that the Clarkstown Highway Department always gets residents back to their busy schedules in short order.  There truly is no substitute for experience in this area. 

With regard to education and qualifications, I am able to stay on top of the latest technology and regulations to make this department the best that it can be while ensuring safety and saving taxpayer’s money.  This is evident with the creation and installation of a salt brine system to make the roads safer in winter, a computerized work order system to provide better service to the public, posting the leaf pick up schedule with real time dates on the internet for the public and landscapers to follow, an asphalt recycling program to save money and building roads that will last to name a few. 

As an engineer, I have been an active department head interacting with Town agencies such as Planning and Environmental the NYS DOT and on the Federal level with FEMA after a storm as well as successfully obtaining funds from the federal government stimulus program for paving.  I am also part of the Town’s team to monitor the NYS Thruway’s TZ Bridge and Corridor Project.

7.     Why are you running for this elected office?

Malone: To fix a broken department

Ballard: I find this position to be challenging and satisfying as I work alongside the dedicated men and women of the Clarkstown Highway Department. I enjoy being able to help my community and partake in its future direction.

8.     What are the three issues that most concern you?

Malone: waste-waste-waste

Ballard:

1. Working within the 2 percent cap imposed by the state as well as holding the line on taxes for our residents with no loss in services.
2. The future of our town when considering the Town of Clarkstown’s Comprehensive Plan as well as the impact of the Tappan Zee Bridge and the I-287 Corridor Plan Projects.
3. The continuing investment and needed maintenance of this Town’s infrastructure.

9.     Explain your proposed approach to managing these issues.

Malone: Making the highway department a team

Ballard:

1. The consolidation of the Town’s three garages (Highway, Police and Mini Trans) will provide savings as well as an increased level of service to the Town.  This opportunity for our town was an idea in 2011 that now must be implemented in 2012-2013.  Over time this consolidation will realize a greater savings to the Town.  Furthermore, by combining the three garages, when snow storms roll in one after the other as seen this past winter, the mechanics from the other two garages can join in keeping the fleet up and running thus maintaining a high level of service when needed most.   I will continue to seek innovative ways to do more with less, which was accomplished with the installation of the brine system, the asphalt recycler and use of more efficient salt-spreading equipment.
2. Currently I am an active participant in the Town’s Comprehensive Plan as well as on the Town’s Task Force for the TZ Bridge/I-287 Corridor Project.  The numbers are clearly reflected in all forecast reports that this town will increase in population and traffic.  With my engineering background and knowledge of the town road system, I will continue to protect our way of life and push for the state to invest in our road system to handle the projected growth.  
3. History has shown that many times in this country, politicians (not in our town) under-fund rather than protect the infrastructure (roads, drainage systems, culverts, bridges and traffic systems) to cover other deficits.  If roads and drainage systems are not maintained, updated and properly funded, poor road conditions will cause housing values to decrease and neighborhoods will continue to flood.  With my experience, qualifications and education, I will continue to advocate for our needed infrastructure.

10. Have you held elected office before?

Malone: No

Ballard: I am proud to say that I have been re-elected as the Clarkstown Superintendent of Highways since 1998.

11. What organizations do you belong to?

Malone:

• Knights of Columbus
• American Legion

Ballard:

• Member of the National Society of Professional Engineers
• American Society of Civil Engineers
• Society of Board Certified Safety Professionals
• The American Public Works Association
• The Rockland County Soil and Water Conservation District
• I am a member and past-president of the NYS County Highway Superintendents’ Association, Inc.

12.  Election website?

Malone: Facebook Page

Ballard: www.wayneballard.com