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Harriman Village elections

By Marty Remo

Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Benchmark- Marty Remo-CDPE, E-Pro

March 17, 2009 09:18 AM

Harriman - On March 18 the Village of Harriman will hold elections for village justice and two trustee positions. Voting will be held in Village Hall on Church St. from 12 to 9 p.m.

Village Justice

Christine Weinberg is the incumbent town justice; in office for the past three years. A resident of Monroe for 14 years, Weinberg previously lived in Harriman for six years. She is a self-employed attorney focusing in matrimonial, criminal, traffic, real estate and municipal law. Weinberg is married with three children and two grandchildren. She received her law degree from Rutgers University Law School and is a member of the Orange County Bar Association.

"As the current elected Village Justice of Harriman, I have provided the residents with a safer community by enforcing and upholding local and state laws. I have applied the law in a fair and impartial manner to all of those who have come before me. This elected position permits me to utilize my law degree, as well as my legal and judicial experience to better the community. I have enjoyed serving the local residents of Harriman and if given the chance to continue to do so I am committed to uphold the integrity of the court. As a local attorney I enjoy the opportunity to oversee a court system where the people are heard and justice is served. There is no greater professional satisfaction."

Steven I. Milligram, challenger for the village justice, is a resident of the Monroe area for over twelve years. Milligram previously served as assistant district attorney in Bronx County and is currently in private practice trying medical malpractice, auto-accident, defective product and property accident cases. He also lectured at the Rockland and Orange County Police Academies. Milligram is married with four children. He received his law degree from Pace University and is President of the Orange County Bar Association and member of the Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association Conference of Bar Leaders. He is a former president of Monroe-Woodbury Pop Warner football.

"As an attorney I believe I owe an obligation to our community to participate in it. I am afforded a certain amount of deference and respect because I have the title ‘attorney'. As an attorney, I feel it is my responsibility to give back. So that's why I decided to run for election as Village Justice for the Village of Harriman. Court efficiency is only as good as the access it offers citizens to justice. ‘Justice delayed is justice denied'. Among the issues of concern for the Harriman Justice Court is how long it takes for cases to be heard and how crowded the Courtroom is. If elected, one of the first things I plan to do is to increase access to justice in Harriman, by expanding the number of monthly Court sessions beyond two per month. In addition, I will explore whether daytime sessions are needed, and increase the use of available resources."

Village Trustee

Edward Shuart is the incumbent trustee; in office since 2000 and appointed deputy mayor in 2002. He has also served as chairman of the Harriman Historic Committee, served on the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Parks Committee. He is Chairman of IBEW Local 503 Executive Board. Shuart is a Vietnam combat veteran and member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and BPOE Elks. An employee of Orange and Rockland Utilities as a line chief, he is also an emeritus member of the O&R Ethics Council. Shuart is a 30-year resident of Harriman, married with one child and is a graduate of Nanuet High School.

"I am running for the office of trustee to continue to provide quality services, which in turn provides a high degree of contentment with everyday life to Village residents. These services include water, police and fire protection, maintain parks and recreation facilities, highway maintenance and code enforcement; while at the same time, I will keep a watchful eye on taxes and budget increases and seek to secure any available grant monies. I am committed to pursuing the extension of the Heritage Trail to Harriman. I will continue to support the use of environmentally safe products within the Village."

G. Bruce Chichester is a 30-year resident of Harriman, is a merchandising manager and holds an accounting degree from State University, New York. He is married with three children. He is a former mayor, deputy mayor and trustee for the village. He has been a member of the Orange County Board of Ethics, Orange County Sewer District 1 Advisory Board and the South-West Orange County Traffic Advisory Committee.

"Having settled, raised a family and enjoyed the benefit of rural living in the Village of Harriman for over 30 years, I, again, wish to serve my community, and help our village remain a great place to live. I feel my knowledge can serve all Harriman citizens well. I hope to stabilize taxes with realistic services, and by maximizing revenue sources. At least once a month I will sit and listen to residents' problems, comments, and ideas. With the open trustee seat in this year's election, I offer the voters an experienced candidate with much love and respect for our village."

Fredrick Fitzula is a resident of Harriman for fifteen years, is a retired Harriman Police Officer, former detective, President and Vice-President of the PBA, President of the Police Athletic League and Liaison Intelligence Officer. He graduated North Rockland High School and the New York and Florida Police Academies. He is married with three children.

"As I have dedicated my life to helping people, and have resided in the Village of Harriman for fifteen years, I feel that I have the voters best interest at heart. I feel that my community knowledge, and local work experience will only be a benefit to my Harriman neighbors while serving as a Village of Harriman Trustee. I will work to adjust community services and revenue, rather than increase taxes. I wish to make government more accessible to our residents and will be available to listen to residents at least once a month. If I do win the trustee position, due to the economic times I will not receive any pay. As people are being laid-off, how can you expect a salary?"

-PhotoNews