Q&A With the Candidates: Jeffrey Rednick

On March 16, Rye Brook will hold an election for its Village Board of Trustees. Mayor Joan Feinstein, who was elected in 2008, is currently uncontested in her efforts to seek re-election. However, three candidates are vying for two spots that will be left vacant by Village Trustees Dean Santon and Patricia Sanders Romano, who aren't seeking re-election.

In the run-up to the election, Rye Patch is featuring a Q&A with the candidates. We had our first Q&A last week with Toby Marrow. This week's Q&A is with Jeff Rednick, a Rye Brook native and local attorney.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am 42 years old, married to Lois Rednick and have 2 children, David – 8 years old in third grade, and Samantha – 6 years old in kindergarten. I was born and brought up in what is now Rye Brook, and am a product of the Blind Brook schools.  I want to raise my children in Rye Brook. I am an attorney and my office is located in Port Chester.  My practice is a general one, focusing on real estate law, criminal defense and civil litigation.  I graduated college from the University of Michigan and law school from St. Johns University.  I love playing golf, watching sports on TV and spending time with my family.

2. Why did you decide to run for public office and have you ever been involved in politics before?

I decided to run for public office to ensure that Rye Brook remains a great place for families to reside. I believe that I have the experience and knowledge to accomplish that. I am a great listener, and am able to understand and deliberate on the issues and make decisions that are in the best interests of Rye Brook.  I have never run for office before.

3. What is your campaign platform?

My platform is based on doing the things necessary to make sure that Rye Brook remains a great place to live for everyone in the Village.  I will work hard for EVERYONE in Rye Brook, keeping a watchful eye on finances and quality of life issues.

4. What civic groups are you involved in? How have you been involved in the community as a Rye Brook resident?

I was previously a member of the Village of Rye Brook's traffic commission and currently sit on the Zoning Board of Appeals.  I continue to coach recreation league baseball.  I am a member of the Elks. Before moving back to Rye Brook, we lived in Port Chester, where I served as Chairman of that village's Planning Commission and was the village's prosecutor. 

5. What are the three most important issues local government needs to address in the village? How would your presence on the village board help to move these issues forward?

The three most important issues facing local government are:

A. Taxes /spending – how can we continue the current boards approach of minimal tax increases without sacrificing the excellence in services that our citizens are used to and expect?  Can shared services help?
B.  Affordable housing- with the recent settlement with the County of Westchester, what are our obligations?  What is the best way to achieve this?
C.  Development in the Village - the trade-off between preserving green space and increasing our tax base.

My experience on various boards and commissions is excellent preparation for the consideration of important issues in the Village, especially those involving land use, such as affordable housing, the proposed project at the Hilton, and even the current situation at the Arbors.  I have the ability to listen to all sides of an argument, pick out the important issues and arrive at a decision that benefits the Village.  I am creative and can think "outside the box," which is going to be important when doing this year's budget.

6. You were born and raised in Rye Brook. How has Rye Brook changed since you were a child and how can the village improve life for parents and children living in the community?

Since I was a child growing up in Rye Brook, there has been a lot more development in the village.  Property values have also increased tremendously since I was a kid.  The schools have won awards and have become some of the most prestigious in the state, if not the country.

7. Budget season is fast approaching. In these times of economic hardship, in what areas should the village cut expenses or increase them? What kind of budget would you like to see approved this year?

I would like to see a budget with no increase in taxes or possibly even a decrease.  We will have to go through it line by line and see if we can cut any spending which won't detrimentally affect services in the village. I would also look at the revenue side and see what ways we may be able to increase the revenues of village without raising the taxes.