The Journal News (Westchester County, New York), September 14, 2007, Friday
Copyright 2007 The Journal News (Westerchester County, NY)
All Rights Reserved
The Journal News (Westchester County, New York)
September 14, 2007 Friday
RK Edition
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 4A
BYLINE: Suzan Clarke
BODY:
SPRING VALLEY - Six Democratic candidates will compete for two trustee seats and one justice spot in the primary elections Tuesday.
Two three-person tickets consisting of one justice and two trustee candidates will face off for the Democratic ballot line, which is crucial in a village where registered Democrats hold a wide majority. Some will seek the Republican line as well.
In the trustee race, there are also two opportunities to cast a ballot on the Republican line, which means candidates could face opposition from write-in candidates.
Incumbent Justice Christine Theodore of Spring Valley will face a challenge from Judeline Constant-Rouzard. Both women are lawyers and are seeking the Democratic and Republican lines.
Theodore was appointed by Mayor George Darden this year.
"I feel that I am now an experienced judge," Theodore said. "I'm the sitting judge at this point in time ... and I am an effective judge and I hope to remain here."
Her opponent, Constant-Rouzard, lived in the village until recently.
"I believe that with my qualifications I can be a fair and impartial judge," said Constant-Rouzard, of New City. "I love the community and I'd like to serve."
Two trustee candidates have been involved in a controversy.
One team of candidates for village office boycotted a meet-the-candidates forum Wednesday. The boycotting group, including the team of Demeza Delhomme, Darlene Roc and Constant-Rouzard, said they wouldn't attend because of wrongdoing allegedly committed by an opponent.
Delhomme, a trustee candidate who was formerly on the village board, recently filed a police report accusing opponent Anthony Leon of hitting him. Leon denied the allegation, saying Delhomme was the aggressor.
Delhomme could not be reached for comment on his platform yesterday. He has said during the campaign that voters know his record.
Darlene Roc said her priorities as trustee would be to create a safe environment with better recreation opportunities for youth and to improve the general quality of life for the community. She also would focus on tax relief.
"We know a lot of people that are moving; they're buying in Monroe, Washingtonville. Why? Because they can't afford to live in Spring Valley ... it's crazy," Roc said.
Roc and Delhomme - who are also seeking the Republican ballot line - are facing Leon and Trustee Joseph DesMaret. Leon is a village Planning Board member. The two are running as a team with Theodore.
DesMaret and Leon have both said the key issues were the provision of affordable housing and the reduction of taxes.
DesMaret said that, during his term on the board, the village has brought new business and jobs to the Spring Valley Marketplace, approved more than 500 apartment units and created new parks. He hoped voters returned him to office because of his vision for the village, dedication to community and integrity, he said.
Leon said he also would focus on the ongoing urban renewal project. He also said he would lower some of the top salaries at Village Hall.
"People should vote for me because I'm one of the most qualified candidates in the race," he said. "My contribution would be a plus for any administration."
Village justices earn $38,000 a year and serve four-year terms. Trustees also serve four-year terms and earn $16,000 a year.
Reach Suzan Clarke at snclarke@lohud.com or 845-578-2414.
{}The Delhomme file
{}Name: Demeza Delhomme
{}Ballot line: Democrat; Republican
{}Born: Feb. 17, 1948
{}Occupation: Bridge welder
{}Political, community experience: Former Spring Valley trustee; ran for county Legislature in 2004; ran for Spring Valley mayor against George Darden in a Democratic primary in 2002; ran for Spring Valley mayor against Allan Thompson in 1997
{}Education: Educated in Haiti and the Bahamas; attended Apex Technical College in New York for welding training
{}Priorities: Candidate could not be reached for comment
{}The Roc file
{}Name: Darlene Roc
{}Ballot line: Democrat; Republican
{}Born: Sept. 29, 1972
{}Occupation: Sales representative
{}Political, community experience: Member, Spring Valley Youth Court program; serves as local liaison for Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, D-Suffern; member, United Haitian American Caucus; ran for Spring Valley village trustee in 2005
{}Education: Bachelor's in business administration from Quiskeya University in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
{}Priorities: Youth and tax relief
{}The Constant-Rouzard file
{}Name: Judeline Constant Rouzard
{}Ballot line: Democrat; Republican
{}Born: April 11, 1973
{}Occupation: lawyer
{}Political, community experience: Served on board of the Spring Valley Housing Authority from 1994 to 2001
{}Education: Bachelor's in social science, Dominican College in Orangeburg; paralegal certificate, Mercy College in White Plains; juris doctor, Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Mich.; completed coursework for a master's in business administration at Long Island University's Graduate Campus in Rockland
{}The DesMaret file
{}Name: Joseph DesMaret
{}Ballot line: Democrat; Independence
{}Born: Aug. 18, 1957
{}Occupation: Financial analyst
{}Political, community experience: Trustee; ran for village trustee in 2001 Democratic primary; has two local-access cable television programs that appear weekly
{}Education: Bachelor's in public accounting, Mercy College in White Plains; associate degree, Westchester Business Institute in White Plains
{}Priorities: Affordable housing and tax relief
{}The Leon file
{}Name: Anthony Leon
{}Ballot line: Democrat; Independence
{}Born: Jan. 17, 1956
{}Occupation: Runs own management company
{}Political, community experience: Two-term appointed member of the Spring Valley Planning Board
{}Education: Master's in public administration and completed advanced studies in nonprofit management and health care management, Long Island University, Rockland; bachelor's in secondary education, St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill; attended educational institutions in Mexico and Haiti; trained in physical education and basketball coaching, diplomacy and electronics
{}Priorities: Affordable housing and urban renewal
{}The Theodore file
{}Name: Christine Theodore
{}Ballot line: Democrat; Independence
{}Born: Jan. 10, 1974
{}Occupation: Lawyer
{}Political, community experience: Appointed village justice in Spring Valley in April
{}Education: Juris doctor, Albany Law School of Union University; bachelor's in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.
<< Home