Incumbent Legislators Endorsed by Putnam GOP Committee
A trio of incumbent Putnam County legislators officially received the Republican nomination last Wednesday as the three begin their campaigns for a second term in office.
Legislators Barbara Scuccimarra, Ginny Nacerino, and Joe Castellano, who have all served the past three years, receive backing from the county Republican Committee during its annual GOP convention. Scuccimarra is so far the only legislator to have a Democratic opponent, while Nacerino and Castellano are currently running uncontested.
Scuccimarra, who represents District 1, said she’s running on a track record she’s “very proud of.” By developing a good working relationship with many other county officials and department heads, Scuccimarra argued Philipstown residents have benefited. She said the letter of intent from the county requesting space for a new senior center inside the proposed Butterfield redevelopment is her “crowning achievement.”
Scuccimarra, who is the chairwoman of the legislature’s health committee, noted she was the catalyst behind a polystyrene ban in all county properties and cast votes with most of her fellow legislators on “crucial, important” issues that have moved Putnam forward.
“I feel like I’ve done my job well and will continue to do my job well,” she said. “I’m excited about the next three years.”
Scuccimarra added she receives plenty of phone calls from constituents, helping those residents with smaller problems. As she noted, it’s “not always the big projects, and the big issues.”
Scuccimarra’s opponent, Lithgow Osborne, announced his intention to run two weeks ago. Osborne, who is the Democratic nominee and ran and lost for the county clerk seat last year, vowed to be a voice for every Philipstown resident.
When addressing Osborne, Scuccimarra asked, “What has he done?”
“I’ve lived in this community a little over 40 years, I’ve volunteered in this community, I’ve worked in this community, I know the people of this community,” Scuccimarra said. “And he comes in and he’s just picking jobs out of a hat. ‘Oh, I’ll run for this one, or oh, I’ll run for that one,’ but whatever it is, it is. I’m going to continue to work hard.”
As for Nacerino and Castellano, they might not have any opponent to worry about. Still, the two lawmakers point to the success they’ve had in their first terms.
Nacerino, of District 4, said the county has “accomplished so much in the last few years,” but there is more to be done. She added she’s excited about the “transition” the county has made over her tenure.
The Putnam County Golf Course is now a county asset, Nacerino said, and Tilly Foster Farm will “prove to be the jewel” of the county. She also said the SPO officers in school around the county was a great accomplishment put forward by the legislature.
Fiscally, she’s helped oversee a county budget that has stayed under the cap, while providing essential services.
Nacerino has also been outspoken about finding remedies to alleviate the current emergency services problems plaguing her area, with low volunteer turnout and a high demand of calls. She maintained that the struggle to respond to every emergency call is a countywide problem rather than just a Patterson issue, one that would be complex to address financially and logistically.
Nacerino, who was honored to get the Republican nomination, said she would continue to work closely with constituents, like when she got crosswalks put in the Putnam Lake area and has advocated for other needs in the community.
“Anything that I can facilitate, anything that I can do to help the residents in the town of Patterson is certainly my mission and objective as a legislator,” Nacerino said.
Castellano, who represents District 7, said he’s running again “because I know what I’m doing.”
“It’s a pleasure to be on the Putnam County Legislature,” Castellano said. “I’m honored that I won the first election. I think we’ve done some great things in my first term there and I want to continue to do the good work that we’re doing.”
Castellano, who works for Westchester County in the clerk’s office, said the legislature has built up the county’s fund balance while keeping taxes in check. He also said the county has improved public assets like the Putnam County Golf Course in Mahopac and the bike path that is now going to be extended into the Village of Brewster.
Going forward, Castellano said infrastructure repairs in his district must continue to be addressed, with a number of bridges in horrid conditions. The county secured funding for the Morningthorpe Bridge last year to make it into a walkway. The Carmel Ave. bridge and the Prospect Hill bridge also need dire repairs, Castellano noted.
Castellano also wants to see business growth in his district.
“I want to see government work with businesses to improve the climate in Putnam County and see these businesses succeed, especially business in the Village of Brewster,” Castellano said.
