Candidate Profile: Laurie Rogers-Smalley Seeks Town Board Return

MOUNT PLEASANT, NY - In 2021's general election, residents of the Hudson Valley will be voting for local officials.

There are two contested races in the town of Mount Pleasant — which includes the villages of Pleasantville and Sleepy Hollow, a small part of Briarcliff Manor, and the hamlets of Hawthorne, Pocantico Hills, Thornwood and Valhalla.

In anticipation of the election, Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Laurie Rogers-Smalley is seeking re-election to the town council in November. Retired in 2019 after a 41-year career in nursing, the 65-year-old Republican has been on the town council since 2014. She and her husband Peter have three children and a grandchild.

Rogers-Smalley and fellow Thomas A. Sialiano face challenges from Democrats Evan H. Echenthal and Francesca Hagadus-McHale.

Learn more about her on Keep Mount Pleasant Moving Forward.

Check out Patch's full Q&A with Rogers-Smalley:

Why are you seeking elective office?

Mount Pleasant is on the precipice of exciting changes. The proposed new Master Plan will replace the one from 1970. There are needed updates from the “landscape” that existed 50 years ago to meet the needs of society today. I have worked hard during these past seven plus years to reach out to the residents of each and every community in our Town to identify their priorities. I would like to serve the next four years to continue to bring their wishes to fruition with the approval and implementation of the new Master Plan. The Master Plan will not only improve streetscapes, roads, sidewalks, and drainage, it will bring new choices in housing for Seniors, young professionals, and our workforce. W are striving to incorporate additional green space and are hopeful to encourage retail establishments that will add to our vision of walkable downtown areas.

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

Cost of living.

With careful budget control we have and will continue to provide the best service possible to the residents of the Town of Mount Pleasant. The 2021 budget provides a 0% tax levy increase from 2020 on the Town tax portion of a tax bill. No matter what the issues are on a National and/or state level, people need to provide for themselves and their families. Controlling taxes on the local level gives a concrete savings that helps the average citizen in his/her daily life.

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

• Experience-I have served 7 plus years in the role. My liaison assignments have included Recreation & Parks Department and Comptrollers office. I currently also serve as Deputy Supervisor.
• Knowledge-my experience had given me the opportunity to know the workings of the Town government on a very detailed level.
• Community Involvement-outside of my role as Councilwoman, I have served and continue to serve the residents of Mount Pleasant through active participation in several organizations. Currently I am a member of the Steering Committee of Pleasantville Strong, the Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus St. Dominic Council 4399 in Thornwood, the Auxillary of the American Legion Post 1038 in Valhalla, and the Daughters of Liberty’s Legacy. Along with my husband, we served as founders and ongoing volunteers of the Mount Pleasant Food Pantry of the Knights of Columbus. I also work with the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce to raise funds to support the food pantry and holiday gift giving to residents of our Town.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I have always run on a quality of life platform. My priorities have been:

1. Sound fiscal management.
2. Intelligent development.
3. Public Safety.

In everything I do, I put the needs of the residents of Mount Pleasant first.

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

I think my record as a Councilwoman and my Community service support the fact that I have and will continue to “handle this job”. I have done a lot of work since being first elected to start serving 2014. I have more work to do!

The best advice ever shared with me was:

“Work hard and always take the high road."

From my Dad — who worked as a tradesman all his life and successfully raised a family with six children (in Pleasantville, NY).

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

The residents of the Town of Mount Pleasant are my first priority. I am here to serve them. My allegiance is to the Town of Mount Pleasant. If given the opportunity to serve again, I will work as hard as I can to meet the needs of our residents for the next 4 years.

Find information about absentee and early voting here: Election 2021: New Systems For Early Voting In Westchester

To find all your candidates, as well as statewide, county and local propositions, follow the links offered by the Board of Elections:

• View the 2021 General Election Candidates List.
• The General Election ballot will contain state, county, and local propositions. View the 2021 General Election State Propositions. View the 2021 General Election County and Local Propositions.

Editor's Note: Patch misidentified candidate Laurie Rogers-Smalley's first name in the original version of this report. We regret the error.