The Sweeton legacy

When you talk with people about Mike Sweeton, you hear words or phrases like “nonpartisan ... listener ... problem-solver.”

Or, “I’ve learned from him.”

Or, “He’ll do something to help someone or a group when no one else is watching.”

Or, “First and foremost, a citizen.”

Sweeton steps down Dec. 31 after more than 20 years as supervisor of the Town of Warwick, the largest town in Orange County.

In this time of American history, when politics can be polarizing and when government on many levels, beginning with the United States Congress, is dysfunctional, there is a place called Warwick, N.Y. And Mike Sweeton has been its steward since 2001.

He leaves, as one community activist said, “the Sweeton Era.”

There will be children and grandchildren born and raised in Warwick for years to come who will benefit from what Mike Sweeton and the Warwick Town Board accomplished in the last two decades.

‘The long reign’

Geoff Howard, one of the founders of Sustainable Warwick, was among the many people who worked with Sweeton over the years on grassroots efforts like Community 2000, Sustainable Warwick, Community2gether and Transformation Trails.

“Mike Sweeton had an unusually long reign as supervisor, and the fact that they were very good, bordering on great years for Warwick in some way says it all,” Howard said. “All you have to do is go back to when he started and imagine a Warwick:

— without the 5,000 acres of preserved farmland — with instead residential development — perhaps quite dense development;

— on the 750 acres of what used to be a prison, but is now an incredible asset for Warwick, a combination of jobs, taxes and beautiful parkland;

— or, on a similar but smaller scale, what happened — and what might have happened, but didn’t — at Mt. Lake Park (the former Kutz Camp).

”I don’t think I’m taking anything away from Mike when I say that this wasn’t his ‘vision’ when he assumed office,” Howard added. “Each of these things, these opportunities, ‘cropped up’ on his watch and in each case, he saw the potential consequences, both sides, and decided to work hard to make sure it turned out the way it did, the right way.

“Warwick is very fortunate that there was, in fact, a Sweeton Era, and the strong hope is that the Sweeton spirit and legacy will live on.”

Why retire now?

Sweeton’s daughters live in Maine and Virginia. He and his wife Deborah have a home in the state of Florida, where she winters since she retired as president of Techni-Growers Inc., the wholesale/retail greenhouse operation started by her father, Dr. Paul A. King, that served independent garden centers in the metropolitan area.

King was a pioneering chemist as well as activist in local and national politics. He was among those who created the first local zoning laws in Warwick.

Sweeton was the vice-president of marketing before the couple sold the business, which later became known as The General’s Garden.

“I never wanted to be in office when I lost patience or have less drive,” Sweeton said in an interview. “Better to go out on a high.”

Lessons learned: ‘Make it right’

Professor Richard Hull, the longtime historian of Warwick, said Sweeton carried himself in such a way that he earned people’s trust. “He put the time in,” Hull said. “He built relationships. He was not confrontational. He had his ear to the community. He worked across party lines.”

In other words, he had “open eyes and open ears,” the historian added.

Such lessons are accumulated across the years. For instance, Sweeton worked in customer service for several years where people “with issues” would come in to complain.

“Make it right,” Sweeton recalled his boss telling him. “Because if you don’t, they will be going down the street telling 20 people that you did not.”

Joe Rampe, the former Warwick town supervisor as well as a former Orange County executive, urged Sweeton to solve the problem in the office, if he could, rather than making a big issue out of the situation.

”Make it right,” Rampe told Sweeton when he was beginning his political career.

‘The way government was meant to work’

Village of Warwick Mayor Michael Newhard said Sweeton’s approach to governance was one that exhibited patience, one that took the long view, one without turf wars.

“He made Warwick a stronger and better place to live,” Newhard said. “The way government should work.”

‘A firm believer in local government’

Sweeton, a registered Republican, said he does not have the stomach for today’s politics, which he is described simply as “nasty business.” He blames that on social media “intellectually lazy” people who shout but don’t listen. “Congress has the opportunity to do good things,” he added.

But he said he would run again if the circumstances were right because, “I am a firm believer in local government.”

A place for grandchildren

“I’ve worked with a lot of great people over the years,” Sweeton said.

He added: “Warwick was a great place to grow up in as a kid. I hope my grandchildren will see the community the way that I’ve seen it and experienced it.”

Mike and Deborah Sweeton welcomed their first grandchild earlier this month.