{UPDATE} First County Executive Candidate Debate Set For April

The Rockland Water Coalition is sponsoring the first debate and forum for the county executive candidates on April 18 at Clarkstown Town Hall.  The subject of the program is “Can Rockland grow a green environment and economy?” The four candidates, Republican Ed Day and Democrats David Fried, Dagan Lacorte and Ilan Schoenberger have been invited to the 7:30 p.m. program. Day said he is trying to resolve a schedule conflict so he can participate. 

Rockland Water Coalition member George Potanovic, who will moderate the forum, said questions for the candidates will come from the coalition, members of the audience and people who email them to rocklandwater@gmail.com.

“It’ll be broader than the desal plant,” said Potanovic.

Potanovic said the event gives residents the opportunity to hear the candidates speak about their views on the environmental issues affecting Rockland’s future: including United Water’s proposed Hudson River desalination plant, land use development, planning and zoning, water management, energy use, “green” growth and economic development. Potanovic said although there has been discussion on the various issues, he hopes the forum and debate will advance the conversations. He noted two candidates, Fried and Lacorte, voiced their opposition to the desal plant at a coalition program at the Nanuet Library in January.

The forum begins at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 18 in the Clarkstown Town Hall Auditorium at 10 Maple Avenue in New City. Doors open at 6:45 p.m.

The Rockland Water Coalition consists of Rockland residents and 30 regional, national and local environmental and civic associations and business people that question the safety, cost and need for the proposed Suez/United Water Haverstraw Water Supply Project, a desalination plant on the Hudson River that would provide drinking water to Rockland residents.