Meet the Candidate: Lynne Eckardt

At a recent Eastern Putnam County League of Women Voters candidate forum, Eckardt (D) shared some information about herself with community members. According to her statements that night, and her flier, she:

(Personal)

• Has lived in Southeast for 33 years
• Owns a local business
• Raised a son, who attended

(Community, Local Government)

• Serves on the Southeast Architectural Review Board
• Has sat on the Reed Memorial Library Board of Trustees since 1994 
• Says she would work hard to bring "corporate business" to Southeast in the hopes of increasing local, sustainable jobs
• Would like to see more communication on the Town Board, as "a professional board running a town in a professional manner will help attract" corporate businesses
• Says that compromise is "not a dirty word"
• Believes the Town's garbage contract should be re-bid, with the following options considered: once-a-week pickup, once-a-year bulk pickup and/or a potentially consolidating services with the Village of Brewster
• Would like to fund the "properly and fairly," and does not believe it is the Board of Trustees' job to collect signatures to qualify for a ballot vote
• Supports a freeze in salaries for elected and appointed Town officials
• Says she would improve financial oversight by meeting with the Town accountant "as often as necessary" to ensure a "healthy" fund balance
• Would make repairing the a priority
• Believes that monthly, public, roundtable discussions with residents is one way to " enact the best and the brightest ideas" for the Town
• Has worked with Brewster Mayor Jim Schoenig on potentially updating the Village's agreement with Peaceable Hill residents regarding water services
• Says that "simple civility" on the Town Board would make a difference
• Does not believe in a public referendum for the Town budget, and says that it's the Town Board's job to examine finances, rather than employ "slash and burn tactics"