Ramapo candidates spar at forum

WEST NYACK - Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence and perennial challenger Michael Parietti squared off Sunday afternoon at a political forum held at Rockland's Jewish Community Center.

The 30-minute debate didn't sidestep the biggest controversies in Rockland's fastest growing town: zoning disputes; the power of the bloc-vote; financing for the Provident Bank Park; and an FBI raid at Ramapo Town Hall in May 2013.

Parietti, who is running on the Republican and Preserve Ramapo lines, railed against what he described as unchecked over-development backed by St. Lawrence and his handpicked political favorites.

"Right now it's totally out of control," said Parietti, who previously lost a bid against St. Lawrence in 2013 by a 2-to-1 margin. "There are no ground rules. Some developers get everything they want; some get nothing."

St. Lawrence, a Democrat who has held office since 2000, defended his record. He said Ramapo's 12 villages have different priorities in terms of encouraging growth and preserving open space.

"We have incredible needs in Ramapo," he said. "We have been able to balance those needs across the town."

The debate, sponsored by the League of Women Voters and a half-dozen other civic organizations, was lively as candidates took the stage to answer questions submitted by a standing room crowd of seniors.

Even the debate over fireworks at Provident Bank Park popped up again.

As the debate continued, both the crowd and candidates grew more restive. At several points moderator Adele Garber had to step in and interrupt the men.

Some of the sharpest exchanges came over a contested 2014 vote to establish a ward system that was narrowly defeated amid heavy turnout, accusations of electoral fraud and numerous court challenges.

"Right now one subset of the community is dictating everything," Parietti said. "Nobody else has a say."

"Of the 932 towns in the state of New York there are only a handful - perhaps 10 - that have a ward system," St. Lawrence countered, adding, "The representation that the town somehow stopped people from voting just isn't true."

St. Lawrence shrugged off a question about the FBI probe into the town's finances.

"You'd have to ask them," he said. "They took records. They wanted to review information. We're awaiting any results."

Parietti said St. Lawrence "misrepresented" the Ramapo's finances and went after whisteblower finance official Melissa Reimer after she tried to set the record straight.

"That's dysfunction," Parietti said.

Sunday's forum also drew candidates running for Rockland County Sheriff, Clarkstown and Orangetown supervisor.

The election is on Nov. 3.

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