Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Carroll For Town Council Ward 4

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

Patrick Carroll, 38, is running for re-election to the Clarkstown Town Council in Ward 4. His opponent is Scott Milich, who currently sits on the town's Parks and Recreation Commission. Milich will appear on the Republican, Independence and SAM party lines. Carroll has the Democrat, Conservative and Working Family lines.

An attorney, Carroll is an Administrative Law Judge for the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.

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 posting campaign announcements on 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: Milich For Town Council Ward 4

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

Overdevelopment.
I have and will continue to utilize my background as an attorney to control and prohibit problematic development that has plagued Rockland. In the last two years we have utilized legal experts to shore up weaknesses in our Zoning Code to ensure that any development is directed to appropriate areas of Town. I would continue to fully staff the code enforcement unit of the Building Department and push for full prosecution of any code violations. I would ensure that our Town Land Use Boards ( Planning, Zoning and Architectural Review) are filled with the most qualified appointees from a cross section of our community in a process that includes published vacancies and open vetting. Much like our acquisition of Grace Baptist Church I would work with my Town Board colleagues to identify any appropriate parcels that could be obtained to fill public/private needs and foster development that is beneficial and contributes to our tax base. I believe that we need to strengthen our Ethics Code and expand the Ethics Board to include members of the community (appointed in a bi-partisan manner) so that potential abuses could be investigated and dealt with.

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

With my legal background, governmental experience and proven background to work with all sides, I am part of the solution to any overdevelopment concerns facing Clarkstown.

My opponent, who has been actively trying to build high density (300 units) development in New City (since 1993), albeit unsuccessfully, and has sued the Town and been sued by the Town related to those projects is part of the problem.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Open and Transparent Government - I believe that documentation and itemization for every dollar and cent of governmental spending should be available to the taxpayers.
Responsible Budgeting - The Town of Clarkstown has been artificially plugging holes in its budget for years and now the Republican administration is proposing a 4% increase in 2020. We need to ensure we are budgeting propertly and cut waste.
End Patronage - Such as the Rockland Republican Party Chairman who has been paid $125,000+ for legal work since 2016.
Add to our Solar and Alternative Energy Projects

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

I think my diverse legal experience in public and private arenas, my perspective as a person with a young family and my proven record in the last two years of working the current Board and Supervisor are evidence that I can handle the job.

In my time on the Board I have fought for more accountability with the budgeting process and outside spending, we have diversified our Police Department with new hires, promoted the first female CPD Lt. in Clarkstown's history, overseen two phase renovation to Street School Community Center and sought to innovate services and programs offered to Seniors and our young people.

The best advice ever shared with me was …

First listen, then think, then speak - in that order.

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

My goal is and always has been to be the voice of the constituents of Ward 4. I have worked tirelessly to represent them during the last two years and will moving forward.