Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Doliner For Town Supervisor

CLARKSTOWN, NY — Rockland County will have 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 until election day.

Nicole Doliner is running for Clarkstown Town Supervisor. Her opponent is incumbent George Hoehmann. Doliner is on the Democratic Party line on the ballot; Hoehmann is on the Republican, Conservative and SAM party lines.

.Doliner, 58, is the legislative fiscal analyst for the Rockland County Legislature. She served on the Clarkstown zoning board and is a past chair of the town's Democratic Committee. She has a BA from SUNY Albany.

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

Fiscal Stress – the Town of Clarkstown has been designated as being in fiscal stress by the NYS Comptroller. The general fund balance is now in a negative balance due to continued deficit spending. The general fund balance dropped from $16 million down to $9 million as of the end of 2015. Today the general fund balance is negative $2.4 million.

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

I have hands on experience with the inner workings of government. My competitor does not have the training or the work experience to run a multi-million dollar organization. This town needs a professional to get us out of the financial hole we are in.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

My opponent has been a voting member on the town board for over ten years. Ten years ago, the town had over 10 million dollar surplus in its reserve fund. We now are in a deficit by almost 3 million dollars, and Clarkstown is on the NYS fiscal stress list. What was once a well-run town, Clarkstown is now in the red. Our taxes are being raised and there is still no long term plan on how to get costs under control. He has claimed that he inherited a big mess when he became Supervisor four years ago. He has been voting on the town’s finances for the past ten years. The problems he inherited he helped create. This has to stop.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Over development must stop. As a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals I was often the only no vote whenever a variance was requested. For too long the people being appointed to our land use boards are doing the bidding of developers and builders. We need to appoint experts in land use who will decide projects based on what is best for the Town and not the developers. I have worked for sustainable growth in Rockland County for over 20 years. I led the fight to get the town to create the open space initiative. This has protected hundreds of acres of land from development.

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

As Budget Director for NYC Parks and Rec I managed a $700 million dollar budget and supervised a staff of over 20 analysts. Today, as the lone fiscal analyst for the Rockland County Legislature I provide budget projections and cost analysis on all fiscal legislative matters. I work for all 17 County Legislators, and provide fiscal research for each budget cycle.

In addition to the training required for Zoning Board Members, I completed the Land Use Leadership Training Program given by the Pace University Environmental School.

The best advice ever shared with me was …

JFK said " Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country” Those words ring true to me and inspired me to serve my country in the United States Peace Corps. I served overseas in Kenya East Africa.

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

I possess an understanding of both municipal financial matters and the need for better planning practices.

For the past two years the Town of Clarkstown has been on the NYS Comptroller’s Stress List. The town has run budget deficits and has depleted the unassigned fund balance. I have the expertise and skills to get Clarkstown’s fiscal house in order by developing multi-year budget plans and insisting that departments stay within their budgets.

Clarkstown must adopt a Comprehensive Master Plan to ensure sustainable development for the next decade and beyond. Far too often decision approvals of projects and variances are made without proper environmental review. Our natural resources, especially water, are both precious and finite. We can no longer afford to develop irresponsibly. As the Native American Iroquois said: In every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.

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 Town Justice
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Ascher For Town Justice
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Gerber For Town Justice
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Carroll For Town Council Ward 4
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Milich For Town Council Ward 4
• Rockland Candidate Profile: Wolfe For County Legislature
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Tannenbaum For Town Council Ward 2
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Martens For Highway Superintendent
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Franchino For Town Council Ward 3
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Vital For Town Council Ward 3
• Rockland Candidate Profile: Low-Hogan For County Legislature
• Rockland Candidate Profile: Foley For County Legislature
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Borelli For Town Council Ward 1
• Rockland Candidate Profile: Vivian Street For County Legislature