Candidate's Name
Richard Goldman
Campaign Address
5664 pine ridge road trumansburg ny 14886
Campaign Phone
6075924673
Current Employment/Occupation
Financial advisor
Government Experience-elected or volunteer (e.g. committees)
12 years town board member town of ulysses
Education
B.s cornell university
After taking a hiatus from public office for personal reasons when a seat on the town board became vacant due to a resignation I realized I still had more to give in public office especially around issues of environmental protection fiscal responsibility and land use
as a financial advisor for almost 40 years I bring a knowledge of fiscal issues including maximizing our return on free cash and finding sources of income in our budgeting process. Having been a town board member for 12 years I have been involved in every aspect of town government including liaison to the planning board and board of zoning appeals finance committee representative to the municipal health consortium and on the negotiating team for union contracts and deputy supervisor Also on the board of 3 falls ldc since its inception in bringing to fruition the agreement that established the new state park three falls state park
Maintaining a careful balance in our zoning laws that allow for meeting the needs of a growing population while making sure we protect the pristine beauty, natural resources and character of our town.
Controlling costs for our residents while delivering the essential services we provide
Short term as the town board gets ready to enact new zoning that reflects the comprehensive plan I am advocating for slowing down the process so all residents can review the proposed zoning and give their feedback
Long term continued discussion with town residents to make sure their voices are heard and represented in discussions around zoning and land use and any other important topic.
Every town board member has a dedicated email where residents can send their concerns and start a dialogue I also plan to be at most farmer market days where I can speak with residents about their concerns. I will also follow community threads on social media.
Candidate's Name
Keith Hannon
Campaign Address
42 Whig Street
Campaign Phone
3107216996
Current Employment/Occupation
Major Gift Fundraiser, Cornell University, Owner Trimmer's Ice Cream & The Coffee Shed
Government Experience-elected or volunteer (e.g. committees)
6 years on the Village of Trumansburg Board of Trustees, Trumansburg representative on the Tompkins County Council of Governments, Member of the Trumansburg Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Ulysses Youth Council
Education
BS Television/Radio - Ithaca College
I believe the Town of Ulysses is at a crucial crossroads. A developing comprehensive plan has us positioned to set a course for responsible growth that will enrich our community and ensure our residents, businesses, and schools thrive for years to come. Since arriving ten years ago, our family has poured our time and energy into our community and I am highly motivated, and uniquely qualified, to help guide the Town through this historic moment.
I served six years on the Trumansburg Board of Trustees where I gained an intimate knowledge of the departments (Water, Fire, EMS, Police) that Town residents rely on. I'm also a local, small-business owner who understands the slim margins on which many of our favorite local businesses operate on. I am also a devoted local volunteer, serving as Little League president, youth basketball coach, and emcee for Winterfest, the Trumansburg Education Foundation, May Day 5k, and more. I am also a former member of Ithaca Rotary and the Tompkins County Library Foundation.
Quite simply, growth. New York State continues to lose population and the Town is no exception. We need to identify ways to encourage responsible growth that will support our local businesses and school district, while also limiting the tax burden on residents as cost to maintain important, local services continue to rise. Some would argue we should not make investments with a decreasing/aging population, but I believe that to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. We are a desirable location, but we will not grow if we don't embrace policies that create conditions that inspire development. That does not mean we aspire to be a metropolis that robs us of our rural appeal, but rather modest growth that offers us more patrons for local businesses, more volunteers to maintain our civic organizations and youth programs, and more students for our school district. The changing trends in local tourism and higher education have the potential to hurt our local economy. We cannot rely on visitors to sustain us, we need more permanent residents
We have two park projects in the works that will require experience that enables the Town to create a vision that serves the many different recreational needs of the community. As a coach and youth sports volunteer, I appreciate the lack of resources that currently exist within the Town and what areas should be a priority when it comes to future development.
The draft Town Comprehensive Plan proposes zoning that could increase housing, specifically in areas where there is access to water and sewer. To me, this is an essential first step to increasing housing. When we talk about increasing housing, it's important to note this is not just single-family homes. We also need more 55+ housing that provides our seniors with the opportunity to downsize, but remain within the Town where they can continue to be vibrant contributors to our community.
In my past government role, I regularly posted information on social media and answered questions online. I also was always open to meeting with residents in-person and hearing their thoughts and concerns. I would also continue to update my website with what's happening within the Town and my opinions on key developments.
One underrated approach to communicating with the community is to simply be present at events. Parades, Winterfest, sporting events, recitals, etc. all offer an opportunity to interact with residents and share updates/answer questions. I am a regular attendee and often emcee these events and would continue that commitment as a member of the Town Board.
