FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Port Chester, N.Y. --- February 8, 2011
Port Chester voters, unhappy with the direction of their local government, are uniting in their support of popular Village Trustee Bart Didden in his bid to unseat embattled incumbent Mayor Dennis Pilla in the village's upcoming spring election.
Didden has secured unanimous support from the local Republican and Independence Parties. Bart Didden will be the lone challenger to Democrat incumbent Dennis Pilla who is running for a third two-year term.
Didden, a successful local businessman who owns an alarm and security company located in Port Chester, was the top vote getter in this past June's election for six village trustees.
After serving in office on the Village Board for seven months, it didn't take long for him to realize that, in order to bring real change, he would have to run for mayor.
"Port Chester lacks leadership and is heading in a disastrous direction under Mayor Pilla, and if we don't turn things around quickly our village will be in real trouble for years," Didden said, referring to the village's ballooning debt and stagnating tax base.
"I have worked hard as a trustee to make this government more accountable and responsive to the needs of Port Chester residents. I have tried to make the village board get serious about our financial crisis. But the mayor has been totally unresponsive. Unfortunately, I have learned that one vote on the Board of Trustees is not enough to affect the change we desperately need," Didden explained.
"Real change has to come from the top. We need a new mayor --- a strong leader --- who is ready to enact sweeping reforms that will restore financial stability to Port Chester and allow our local community to grow and prosper once again."
Didden describes himself as an "independent thinker" who will work for practical solutions to Port Chester's problems, mainly
reducing Port Chester's $37 million worth of debt.
"I'm a businessman; I employ dozens of people from our local community and I know how to meet a bottom line. That's exactly what we need in a mayor: someone who will run Port Chester like a business and make village government more accountable and responsive to our customers, the taxpayers."
Local party leaders agreed and organized overwhelming support for Didden's candidacy on the Republican and Independence ballot lines. Didden received unanimous support from both parties.
Didden outlined his platform and agenda as Port Chester's next mayor.
"We must
get our debt under control by adopting a multi-year capital plan immediately. This will mean tough choices but we have to do it. At the same time, we cannot balance our operating budget on the backs of our taxpayers, which is why I'm
proposing a freeze on local taxes. And we need better long term planning to guide Port Chester's future growth through an updated Master Plan and zoning ordinance."
Didden said he will also advocate for
stricter code enforcement of buildings in Port Chester to address code violations such as jerry-rigged electrical wires, illegal occupancies, safety violations and overcrowding.
"Port Chester voters will have a clear choice in this election. If they are okay with skyrocketing debt, higher taxes and a government that ignores their needs, then they can vote to reelect Mayor Pilla," the candidate said.
"But if Port Chester residents are unhappy with the direction we're heading; if they are fed up with budget deficits, high taxes, and mismanaged government; if they want change and are ready to move in a new direction, then I am their candidate. I promise to bring the reforms needed for a better Port Chester."
Didden summed up his feelings on the race saying, "All around us we see examples of local governments --- places like Rye and Greenwich --- serving their residents much better than our government here. But
I am proud to live in Port Chester. It's where I've made my home and raised my family. It's where I run my business. As a taxpayer and a stakeholder in this community, I feel we deserve better from our mayor. I know we can do better and I am ready to accept that charge."
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