The race for District 19

Cooper seeks another term

HARLEM VALLEY — For 10 years Gary Cooper has served in the Dutchess County Legislature representing District 19, which covers the towns of North East (including the village of Millerton), Pine Plains, Milan and parts of Stanford. Currently the Republican politician serves as the minority leader; previous to the change in power in the Legislature, he served as its chairman. This November Cooper is seeking another two-year term.

“I run basically because I want to try and keep our area the way it was when I grew up, so my kids can enjoy it and maybe their kids can,� he said. “And I continue to run because I see government pass more and more law that makes it hard for people to live. We’re just taxing people and taxing people and basically government can’t be everything for everybody, and we have to get it back to do what it was intended to do.�

For Cooper that means representing the people, providing services, protecting jobs and the economy and keeping communities thriving while still preserving the essence of rural and small towns, in his district’s case.

“I think the biggest issue facing everyone is basically taxes,� he said. “The state keeps passing down a lot of things to the county. They tell us we’re going to pay them for different programs, etc., in our district and county. It’s going to be a very tough budget cycle and some tough choices will be made and there are going to have to be some cuts. There’s a $50 million gap in the county budget — that’s a huge thing.�

But Cooper said he can help.

“I think that I’ve got the experience and I’m still a local person who grew up in the area and understands the area. I have no problem making decisions and cuts where they need to be made,� Cooper said. “You have to make sure that people don’t fall through the cracks, but I still think there’s stuff in the budget that can come out. Last year [the county] put stuff back in.�

Aside from county considerations, Cooper commented on what makes the 19th District special. He said one major factor is its size.

“What makes our district unique is that it’s still pretty rural. The district next to us is Red Hook, and Red Hook is a district by itself,� he said. “I just feel that ever since I’ve been in the Legislature, I’ve been a voice for our district. I’ve been in leadership positions six out of my 10 years in Poughkeepsie, which puts me on all the committees, so the voice of the 19th District is heard. I hope to continue to be that voice for the people.�

What it all boils down to, Cooper said, is that he’s got the experience to do the job well. He’s been in government for many years: In Pine Plains he has served as highway superintendent,  town councilman and fire commissioner.Through the years he has also volunteered as a coach for Little League and basketball programs.

“I’ve been around government a long time and it’s just something I enjoy doing,� Cooper said. “I like to be the voice of the people. And I’m not afraid to let people know how I feel.�

Eiger runs for county seat

HARLEM VALLEY ­— Stanfordville’s Mel Eiger has thrown his hat into the political ring to take on incumbent Gary Cooper in the race for the Dutchess County Legislature’s District 19 (including all of North East and Millerton, Pine Plains, Milan and parts of Stanford). Although he has never sought the seat before, Eiger does have some political and civic experience: He served on the Stanford Town Board from 1990-94, served as the president of the Stanford Fire Company, volunteered as a firefighter, was an EMT for a dozen years and is currently vice president of Temple Beth David in Amenia.

So what prompted him to run for a two-year term in the Legislature?

“I think there needs to be some more cooperation and brotherhood in the Legislature. It seems to me to be a battle of party against party and my philosophy is that at a lot of levels, especially at the local level, we’re all in this together and we should be concerned with what’s good for the people and not what’s good for a particular party,� he said.

Eiger is a Democrat, but he has also been endorsed by the Independence Party. His name will appear on both party lines on the ballot.

As far as he is concerned, there’s one big issue looming over the district, the county and state — the budget.

“Of course, the loss of revenue is going to have a tremendous negative impact on Dutchess County,� he said. “Revenues from mortgage sales tax are down and therefore there have to be some adjustments in spending to work with this reduced revenue. I think one of the problems is the county executive does not include the Legislature in the budget process, and kind of gives the budget to the Legislature at the last minute. Then they have to try to work things out in a limited amount of time. The government is really made up of the executive and legislative and judicial branches and they should be a check and balance on each other.�

But Eiger is not completely pessimistic in his outlook. He still feels he can help.

“I think I can apply some of my business acumen to making the adjustments in the budget in the right place to impact as few people as possible,� he said “I think innovation is a key word. New thoughts and a fresh mind are key.�

When asked what makes the 19th District unique, Eiger said it’s the fact that it’s been able to remain rural, but he added that doesn’t mean it can remain untouched by the growing world.

“I think it’s special in that it’s still a stronghold of open space, a more countrified environment, which people have come to appreciate,� he said. “I think it’s also important to keep it that way as much as possible, but also not stifle some growth. Some planned and controlled growth would be a good thing, I believe. We need businesses to create jobs. We need some young people who don’t automatically leave because there’s no work. We’ve got to have some affordable housing. We need easier access to basic services.�

Eiger said he hopes he can help District 19 get there.

“I think I have some basic common sense, and my basic belief is doing good deeds, doing what’s right,� he said. “I don’t see things from just one view.�

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