Local Trustee Hopefuls Sound Off on Bridge, Budgets

Village halls in South Nyack, Upper Nyack and Grand View will be open for polling Tuesday, .

In all three municipalities, village trustee candidates are running unopposed despite major regional issues—in South Nyack, residents and lawmakers are fighting to prevent from encroaching on their land.

Current trustee Alain Leinbach is seeking re-election in South Nyack, and his running mate Bonnie Christian hopes to take the vacant seat.

Christian grew up in South Nyack and recently retired after serving 33 years with the Gannett Corporation as the director of customers programs. She has previously served on the planning and zoning boards.

Christian, a Democrat, says the future bridge is a cardinal issue.

"We can't stop the bridge from coming—we know we need it," she said. "But we can certainly keep South Nyack intact as much as possible."

When the current span , swaths of homes and businesses in South Nyack were wiped off the map. This time around, the state is .

"We're not happy with the six proposed homes, but at this time what we're looking at is getting something back from the Thruway," Christian said. Three of the homes being commandeered will be used for staging, and not actual land—Christian hopes the village can recoup the plots once construction ends.

"We want to make it so they do the least amount of residential damage," she added, noting village officials—like mayor Patricia DuBow, who —are working alongside Thruway officials to reach a compromise.

Christian also hopes to maintain the village's character beyond the bridge's impact.

"The homes in South Nyack are very different, and that makes the village who it is," she said.

In Upper Nyack, James Sarna, who was appointed to the board and has served two terms since, is running for re-election, as well—but sees his village as a somehwat safer distance from the coming Hudson span.

"[The impact] on Upper Nyack will not nearly be to the same extent of that on South Nyack," he said.

Sarna, a members of the Bell Tower party, noted the budget and a "fair share" of Clarkstown's services are top priorities. Upper Nyack is part of the Town of Clarkstown.

Over the past few years, Upper Nyack officials have and becoming an independent municipal entity. Sarna said the concept remains an option.

"It's something that we discuss whenever it's appropriate," he said. "It's certainly an option."

Current trustees Joseph Diamond is seeking re-election in Upper Nyack, as well.

In Grand View, current trustees Jospeh Abrams and Catherine Whitney are seeking re-election.

All terms are two years.