Candidate Profile: DeFeciani Seeks Seat On Orangetown Town Board

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.

Lisa DeFeciani is seeking election to the Orangetown Town Board in November. A licensed clinical social worker, she is a graduate of North Rockland High School and Rockland Community College as well as Concordia College and Fordham University for her masters degree. She was a Piermont village trustee from 2013-18. The 49-year-old and her husband have children in the South Orangetown schools.

Voters in Orangetown will fill two seats on the town board. Current Board member Denis Troy is not running for re-election.

DeFeciani is running on the Democratic line. Also on the ballot, Thomas Diviny is running for re-election on the Republican and Conservative lines, where he is joined by Brian Donohue.

Learn more about DeFeciani on lisa4towncouncil.com

Check out Patch's full Q&A with Lisa DeFeciani:

Why are you seeking elective office?

I care about the community, I’m raising my children here and I want to ensure that Orangetown remains a wonderful place to live, work, and retire! I also have the necessary experience having been on the Village Board in Piermont for 3 terms.

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

Preserving Orangetown! I will work together with Supervisor Kenny and the other members of the board to prevent overdevelopment, make sure our Zoning codes are updated, and enforced.

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

I’m a worker! I put 110% into all that I do. I also have the necessary experience, and that matters. I’ll be ready to start on Day 1!

In what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community?

I am trying to win the board seat being vacated by Denis Troy. Councilman Troy has served for many years in Orangetown and has been a dedicated and well-respected member of this community. I will have big shoes to fill but I will work my hardest when elected!

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

I think Supervisor Kenny and the board did a great job. They followed the advice from experts at Montefiore Nyack Hospital and the Department of Health.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Taxes are always an issue so will also make sure that I only support a cost-effective budget that respects the sacrifices of hard-working taxpayers in Orangetown.

Ensuring our updated comprehensive plan is equipped to deal with the needs of future Orangetown residents.

Fight for funding from existing grants for Town improvement and environmental projects to minimize taxpayer burdens

Support excellent recreational facilities and Make sure our environment has clean air and water, I will work with our Hudson River communities as they prepare for seal level rise.

Will work to make sure our valued and much-needed volunteers (Firefighters, Ambulance, EMS) can continue to afford to live where they volunteer

Will work with our State and National Leaders for continued and improved train service in Pearl River as expanded public transportation throughout Orangetown

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

I am a lifelong Rockland County Resident. I am a former Golden Gloves boxer, Completed the NYC marathon 4x, was a 3 sport collegiate athlete, I have experience on the Village board in Piermont, And I hold a PhD. I am focused, determined and ready to Fight for All of Orangetown.

My experience on the Village board in Piermont: Voted to remain under the tax cap each year served. Voted for annual budgets with minimal increases without sacrificing services.

I took office in Piermont right after Hurricane Sandy devastated the Village. I was Chair of the Waterfront Resiliency commission and we were able to bring in external funding to find ways to make Piermont safer from rising sea levels.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Be yourself! Especially with the state of politics today. People like you for you! You are genuine and it shows.

ALSO SEE:

• Election 2021: State, Local Propositions Fill Back Of Ballot
• Absentee Ballots, Early Voting In Rockland County

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