Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Vital For Town Council Ward 3

CENTRAL NYACK, NY — Rockland County has several contested races in this fall's election, including in Clarkstown. Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Schenley Vital is running for Clarkstown Town Council - Ward 3 (Central Nyack, West Nyack, Nanuet). His opponent is incumbent Donald Franchino, who will appear on the Republican, Conservative, Working Families and SAM lines on the ballot. Vital appears on the Democratic Party line..

Vital, who is 36, is a legal consultant in his own practice advising clients on issues relating to banking, finance, and land use.

Are you running for office in Clarkstown? Contact Lanning Taliaferro at lanning.taliaferro@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and posting campaign announcements on Patch.

Previously on Patch:

• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Feiden For Town Justice
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Ascher For Town Justice
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Gerber For Town Justice
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Carroll For Town Council Ward 4
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Milich For Town Council Ward 4
• Rockland Candidate Profile: Wolfe For County Legislature
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Tannenbaum For Town Council Ward 2
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Franchino For Town Council Ward 3
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Martens For Highway Superintendent

The single most pressing issue facing our community, and what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our town is inappropriate and exclusionary development. I plan to use my position on the town board to highlight projects that exclude people based on race, religion, ethnicity, and/or sexual orientation. I plan to promote and support projects that bring affordability and diversity to the town.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

My opponent supports incremental change and the status quo, whereas I will provide real solutions using current laws and regulations.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

They have failed to identify the primary issue. They have failed to discuss the route cause of inappropriate development. Rather they focus on secondary and tertiary issues that simply lead to heated rhetoric and a further divide along social issues.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Another very important issue is affordability and the availability of affordable housing as a necessary element in order to keep businesses in The Town and attract new businesses. The Town has over 60% of the County's rateable businesses however businesses are closing because young people and families simply can't afford to stay.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have over 10 years of legal experience and over 12 years of business experience. I have worked for Bloomberg, JP Morgan Chase and other large corporations. I have the experience and temperament to help lead Clarkstown.

The best advice ever shared with me was …

There are two types of people in this world, those that take a simple issue and make it complicated for their own enrichment and benefit and those that take a complicated issue and make is simple for the benefit of others. I was told to always strive to be the latter.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am a life-long Clarsktown resident. I am a home owner and business owner in the town. I have coached baseball, basketball and football. I am an active member in the community- within my church and local non-profit organizations.

ALSO SEE: Early Voting Begins Oct. 26 In Rockland County