This November, voters will have the opportunity to make a difference in local races. Both the Orange County Executive, Orange County District Attorney are up for re-election as are all 21 county legislators.
The Town of Warwick has elections for Town Clerk, Town Justice and two town board members.
While the Warwick Democratic Committee is already preparing for these races, it is always looking for qualified, motivated candidates to run for office.
The committee firmly believes a healthy democracy is one in which voters are presented with a real choice of candidates. Too often in Warwick and Orange County, there is only one candidate, usually the incumbent.
This leads to a sense that voting is inconsequential.
As we have seen, especially in the last two presidential elections, each and every votes counts and is very, very consequential. The committee wants to ensure that people with an interest in running for office are afforded an opportunity to explore that prospect and that the County and Town are well served by qualified candidates, even if they are new to politics.
There are no special qualifications for these offices, but a desire to make a difference in your community is obviously a must.
Warwick had three county legislators in their town representing different parts of our town. As a county legislator, you would adopt rules, approve the budget and exercise financial oversight of the executive branch. The legislature levies taxes and makes policy decisions for the county.
As a Town Board member, you would help run the day-to-day business of the town, including oversight of the police department, Department of Public Works, parks and recreation, recycling program, and the environmental and farmland preservation programs.
Board members are also charged with filling appointing member of the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeal and Conservation Board. They also are charged with adopting a budget and fixing salaries of town employees.
The Town Clerk keeps minutes of town board meetings, supervises elections, maintains town documents, issues permits and licenses and is the town filing officer.
The Receiver of Taxes monitors the tax rolls and ensures that taxes are collected and turned over to the appropriate entity.
The Town Clerk and Receiver of Taxes are full-time jobs.
The Town Justice need not be a lawyer but will receive legal training from the State on how to be a Justice. He or she will administer justice to any person accused of committing a crime in our town, including felonies. The justice conducts misdemeanor trials, summary proceedings for eviction, small claims trials and other civil trials.
For more information, contact Doug Stage at dstage@warwick.net.