2021 Candidate Profile: Diviny Seeks Re-Election

ORANGETOWN, 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.

Thomas Diviny is seeking re-election to the Orangetown Town Board in November. An attorney, the 51-year-old has served three terms on the council.

Voters in Orangetown will fill two seats on the town board. Current Board member Denis Troy is not running for re-election. On the ballot, Brian Donohue joins Diviny on the Republican and Conservative lines and Lisa DeFeciani is running on the Democratic line.

Learn more about him on his campaign website.

Check out Patch's full Q&A with Thomas Diviny:

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am a lifelong resident of Orangetown. As a husband, father, elected official and small business owner, I am heavily invested in our community and I am committed to working tirelessly to preserve and protect the Town of Orangetown.

The single most pressing issue facing our town is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Presently, the consolidation of the Village of South Nyack with the Town of Orangetown is the single most pressing issue facing our Town Board. As a Town Councilman, I intend to make the consolidation as seamless as possible, while insuring that development in South Nyack fits in with the conservative land-use practices of Orangetown and that our zoning laws and codes are strictly followed.

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

My legal experience, governing experience and proven record of accomplishments differentiate me from the other candidates. For 12 years I have served our community on the Town Board and I am fully aware of the issues facing Orangetown and I have produced results.

Here are a few of my most notable accomplishments as a Town Councilman:

1. Parks fees for nonresidents:
2. Creation of a Landlord Registry
3. Creation of a No-Knock Registry
4. Established a Public Health Engineer
5. Rejected HUD Community Block Grants
6. Creation of a Entity Disclosure Law
7 . Revised Fines for Individuals/Corporations Who Violate Orangetown Town Code
8. Stayed under the 2% cap for the last ten years
9. Attracted NYC Football Club, Chase and other companies to come to Orangetown

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

Supervisor Kenny and my colleagues on the Board did a great job navigating Orangetown throughout the pandemic and continue to do so.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

For the past 12 years, I've been a fierce advocate for staying under the NYS mandated tax cap, continuing conservative land-use practices, including the re-development of the HNA property in Palisades.

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

Here are a few of my most notable accomplishments as a Town Councilman:

Again, I know the issues and have produced results, having authorized numerous laws and played a major role during my time of the Board, including:
1. Parks fees for nonresidents:
2. Creation of a Landlord Registry
3. Creation of a No-Knock Registry
4. Established a Public Health Engineer:
5. Rejected HUD Community Block Grants
6. Creation of a Entity Disclosure Law
7 . Revised Fines for Individuals/Corporations Who Violate Orangetown Town Code
8. Stayed under the 2% cap for the last ten years.
9. Attracted NYC Football Club, Chase and other companies to come to Orangetown

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Know who your friends are and listen to what they have to say.

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

I encourage everyone to follow my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Divin... - I’m very transparent about where I stand on issues facing Orangetown and what my platform is for my next term.