Letter: Why I Admire and Respect Hawkins by Supervisor Richard Shea, reprinted from Philipstown.info / The Paper, July 6th, 2014

Supervisor Richard Shea works hard for our Town and has its best interest at heart. It means a great deal to me that he wrote this letter.  I'm proud to know that the projects I work on with neighbors and friends have resonance and are recognized as good service to the community by such a dedicated leader!  Thank you, Richard.  And thank you to all the people who have reached out to me in the wake of its publication.

Being an elected official is an honor. Anyone who steps up with honest intentions to run for public office deserves the respect of all of us. Once in office the work is both demanding and rewarding. There is no more accessible form of governance than that which your local elected officials participate in. For the residents it is a direct connection to the democratic process. All local elected officials bring ideas and hope to make their town and village a better place.

One of these people is Stephanie Hawkins. Stephanie brings tangible results that make the quality of life better in Philipstown. Before she was elected she started the Cold Spring Film Society with the fantastic idea to show classic film at the waterfront. This series has benefited both residents and businesses. As a trustee she has worked to improve the quality of village life on many levels.

One of these is her interest in keeping the trees in the village in good health. Cold Spring is a beautiful place in large part due to the many fine street trees that grace not only Main Street but throughout the village. Stephanie’s concern for the environment speaks for itself. She is more concerned about our residents and seeks ways to improve their quality of life weekly. Her efforts to make sure that the Butterfield project was thoroughly vetted were portrayed by some as holding up the process.

The largest construction project ever to be undertaken in the village needed to be looked at closely; especially one that will serve as the entry to the village. I feel that recent stories in the Putnam County News [and Recorder] have not accurately portrayed Stephanie. She is a smart professional woman who brings enthusiasm and an open mind to her work on the Village Board. Any organization would be lucky to have her in their ranks and the Village of Cold Spring is fortunate that she continues to work for what will be beneficial to the residents.

As elected officials we all seek to do what is best for the people that we serve. No one deserves to be treated with contempt or ridicule. Any attempt by journalists to create a dishonest accounting of an elected official’s conduct is a disservice to all of us.

I look forward to working with the Cold Spring Village Board and our elected officials at the county level to bring services not only to seniors but to all our residents. When it comes to the things that concern all of us there is no division. We all want what’s best for the Village of Cold Spring and the Town of Philipstown.

The next time you hear or read something that raises questions, do yourself and your elected officials a favor; give them a call or just stop by and see them. It’s better for all of us if we work together. I know that Stephanie would love to see you.

Richard Shea
SupervisorTown of Philipstown