Candidate Profile: Sialiano Seeks Re-Election In Mount Pleasant

MOUNT PLEASANT, 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 Sialiano is seeking re-election to the town board in November. As a town board member for about 15 years he has served as liaison to Police Department, Library, Highway Department, Comptroller’s Office and as Deputy Supervisor. Prior to serving on the Town Board, he served on the Mount Pleasant Planning Board for more than 10 years after a one-year appointment to the Architecture Review Board.

Now Director of Golf Instruction at Pleasantville Country Club, he has taught golf professionally for 40 years. Prior to working at Pleasantville, the 62-year-old taught IB business management at the EF Academy, where he also coached golf. Before that, following in his family footsteps, he was a New York City firefighter for 22 years, ending with the rank of lieutenant, before retiring in 2006.

Sialiano and incumbent Laurie Rogers-Smalley are being challenged by Francesca Hagadus-McHale and Evan Echenthal.

Learn more about him on his campaign website.

Check out Patch's full Q&A with Tom Sialiano:

Why are you seeking elective office?

I strongly believe that my 22 years in the Fire Service has helped me understand the needs and wants of our Police Department, Fire Departments and Volunteer Ambulance Corps better, having been part of the inner workings of those organizations in a major city. After 9/11, I made a pledge to myself that I would dedicate the rest of my life to community service and helping others to obtain a better quality of life.

Today, I am seeking office because I feel my experience working for the Town in various capacities for 27 years gives me clear insight on how to solve problems effectively, utilizing the knowledge I have gained from my various assignments. My business background as an entrepreneur has allowed me to understand the difficulties and challenges small business owners face every day to make a living. I love this community and my Mount Pleasant neighbors, and I want to continue the work we're doing, staying true to the character of the town while making significant improvements.

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

The single most pressing issue in our Town is providing the greatest level of service to our residents while maintaining a strong tax base. I believe that by updating our 50-year-old Master Plan, our town stakeholders--namely residents, business owners, and future generations--will have a clear direction on how they can invest in their properties while still maintaining the character of our Town. This smart business approach will strengthen our hamlets by offering better goods and services, while improving the aesthetics of our business corridor. Secondly, it’s vital to provide more opportunities for housing for our aging population in town. Our current Town Board is aggressively pursuing a 55+ development in Town and we have several projects shovel-ready for assisted living centers for our seniors.

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

My general understanding of the position, experience in municipal government, and my sense of passion for helping others separates me from the competition. Working in the Business world, Fire Service, and Government has given me such a broad perspective on problem-solving and helping others succeed.

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

I truly believe our performance during the pandemic was outstanding for several reasons. First, we were able to keep Town Hall open in a safe manner while maintaining CDC protocols, which allowed residents to continue to conduct necessary business. We were able to maintain our entire workforce without laying off any employees, while most other towns shut down Governmental Buildings and laid off some of their workforce. Our approach allowed citizens to maintain some sort of normalcy, which we all desperately needed. Another outstanding decision we made was to offer various online recreational programs. We also made a key decision to open our pool at limited capacity, following CDC guidelines. By providing recreational programs and opening up our pool, it gave our residents a sense of hope and encouragement that their lives would return to normal.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

My platform is about helping all residents improve their quality of life while maintaining a vibrant tax base. Providing the best services to our residents is at the top of my priority list, while being sensitive to individual issues.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The best advice ever given to me was by my parents: “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” I always try to build people up. It pays to be nice to others.

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

I would like to let the voters know that I am very passionate about being their Councilmember and I have a tremendous love for our Town. I am highly motivated to help shape the future of Mount Pleasant - to keep the character of the Town we know and love, while setting our children and grandchildren up for success.

SEE ALSO:

• Candidate Profile: Hagadus-McHale Runs For Mt Pleasant Town Board