Candidate Profile: Richard Becker For Cortlandt Supervisor

CORTLANDT, NY — After three decades, the town of Cortlandt is looking to elect a new town supervisor.

Linda Puglisi is not running for re-election in 2021, and two people are seeking the opportunity to replace her.

They are Laurie Abbate-Ryan, running on Republican and Cortlandt United lines, and Richard H. Becker, who will appear on the Democratic and Working Families lines on the ballot.

Becker, 68, is a councilman and deputy supervisor for the town of Cortlandt. He has a wife, Terry, and two adult children both of whom graduated from Hendrick Hudson High School.

He is a local cardiologist and graduated with a medical degree from New York Medical College.

Becker's campaign website is CortlandtForward.com.

Here are the answers to a series of questions as submitted by Richard H. Becker. They were lightly edited for style and clarity — not content.

Why are you seeking elective office?
With the closure of Indian Point, we need experienced leadership to move forward and create jobs, maintain our low local property tax rate (on average, just 1%/year while I have been on Town Board) and continue to keep Cortlandt green and safe.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The closure of Indian Point. ... This will have a rippling effect, due to loss of tax revenue, jobs and our school budgets. I have apprenticed for this position under Linda Puglisi for several years, and I am the only candidate with the experience to move forward.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I have 14 years experience on the Town Board, after serving on the Zoning Board, and have been Deputy (Vice) Supervisor. I know every (over 200) employee, including department managers, and am ready to take over today. My opponent has never served on any committees, has NO MUNICIPAL experience, has never handled Civil Service issues, contracts, labor law, or municipal laws. She lacks the contacts in Albany required for the needed funding and grants that we rely on. The next Supervisor will run the largest Town business, and hiring anyone without experience is dangerous and unwise. Would you invest in a company with an inexperienced CEO?? I think not!

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?
Our local officials did very well, as we followed BOTH the State and County mandates. We did not add additional mandates, nor ignore any that were set by the Federal, State, or County. We have an excellent vaccination rate and a stable and low case rate.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
Under my tenure, the Town Board has saved over 3,000 acres for perpetual green space; we have kept taxes less than 1% on average during my tenure. We have built the Cortlandt Town Center and new ShopRite. We have saved Verplanck from "The Buzz" by purchasing the property. I created "CHOP," Cortlandt's Home Heating Oil Program. We have built a popular dog park, rebuilt the Town Cook Pool, and created Family Fun Day. We have advanced Senior services as well as Veterans programs. We have built our wonderful Youth Center.

The best advice ever shared with me was:
Be who you are and be comfortable in your own skin.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
As a physician, I have been Chief of Staff at Hudson Valley Hospital and Vice President at Phelps. I have created hundreds of jobs personally. In our area, and I have cared for thousands of our residents. My children were raised here, and attended Hendrick Hudson District schools thru graduation. I am committed to Cortlandt, and I believe my many years of service attest to what I have done, and will continue to do for our Community. I am thoroughly committed to making Cortlandt the best Town in which to work, live, and raise a family; for this and future generations. Finally, I am grateful to all who have helped me along the way.

Editor's note: The candidate's responses have been lightly edited for style and clarity.