Politics & Government

Meet the Candidate: Dan Scott

Patch poses questions to the candidates running in the March 15 local election in Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow.

Daniel Scott – Sleepy Hollow – Mayor Candidate

Dan Scott has been a resident of the village for four years. He has been married for 11 years and has two young boys. He graduated from Manhattan College as the Valedictorian in his class. He earned his law degree at St. John's University and is a member of several bar associations. He currently works for Chabourne & Parke LLP in Manhattan, and has for nine years. He is interested in getting more people involved in local government.

1) Can you name some of your accomplishments or experiences that highlight your ability to function as a trustee? 

Find out what's happening in Tarrytown-Sleepy Hollowwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I think overall my track record educationally and professionally is one that shows success. I try to base my life on hard work and good intentions and that has paid off. I'm an attorney at a top-tier law firm and my understanding of the law is going to be helpful. I'm accustomed to the problems that will face us as far as GM goes. I also have experience dealing with boards, we deal with boards of governance issues which is similar to government in how things are run. I will bring that to our government along with an understanding fiduciary and fiscal responsibility. 

2) What is something that incumbents have accomplished that you approve of?

Find out what's happening in Tarrytown-Sleepy Hollowwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I know they did develop the natural playground in Douglas Park, I'm for that. I think developing GM is positive, but how to go about it is where we differ on things. It's difficult to say because I am disappointed in general with this administration save for a few things. It starts on a basic level on how they are running things. Taxes haven't gone up much, but we need to look at the other things that have, such as fees.

3) What would you do differently about the GM process? 

It's a great example of everything I wouldn't do. For example, people who have come out and made numerous comments, they have items and concerns that need to be addressed. What they (trustees) did was come out during a work session and say, carte blanche, we're right and everyone else is wrong. I thought the tone was belittling and demeaning. There hasn't really been an exchange, there has been comments and blanket rejections and I don't see that as useful. You need to have an active dialog, even if there is disagreement. Of course, some people think we should never build GM, I do think we need to act, but we have to respect the concerns raised and have meaningful conversation.

It is also completely wrong to expect residents of this village to read these voluminous legal studies. It is the responsibility of our leaders to show a summary. They said these documents are readily available, but Village Hall is only open during business hours and not on the weekend, and all these documents are not readily available online. You need to break it down for people, they aren't all lawyers and engineers. 

4) If elected, what would be your stance on the disciplinary hearings against suspended Sleepy Hollow Police Detective Jose Quinoy?

I don't think very much has been done in public about this. What I would say about Officer Quinoy, I think everyone deserves a fair public hearing unless they request otherwise. It is something the board needs to commit their time and effort to so a just outcome is achieved, especially given that he prevailed in the courts. 

5) Downtown revitalization has been a big issue. What is your take on it and how will this affect the Spanish-speaking population of the inner village?

We need a Master Plan for downtown so we can start carrying out a vision. We're plagued with a lack of diversity in the inner village. We need to learn from municipalities that have done it before. Why reinvent the wheel if we have a good foundation built in neighboring villages? The exciting thing is that it is a blank slate and we need to decide what the downtown is to look like and how it will function so that all parts of the village can enjoy it. 

I have no interest in having people displaced due to revitalization, so my hope is to have all parts of the village represented so that all interests are protected and everyone can remain in the village. The inner village is a strong part of our community and I want to preserve that. There are hard working families there. 

6) Can you name some state mandates that unfairly affect the budget of the village?  

There are a lot, but the first thing that pops in my mind is the tax exemption for not-for-profit organizations. We're a cash-strapped village. When there are not-for-profits who own property, that property will be tax exempt and there are costs associated with maintaining that property from a village standpoint. It's something that needs to be addressed on the state level. I think the role that not-for-profits play is hugely important, but we need to balance the costs of running a small village with a tight budget. 

7) If you and your running mates are elected, what would you consider to be your two-year agenda?

Our interests are really aligned with creating broader leadership and a more open government. We're not politicians, we're not interested parties, we're interested in running our village and saving it from politics. We want to give the community back its voice. 

8) How do you feel about shared services? Do you approve of the proposed plan to consolidate the Parks and Recreation departments of the two villages and the school district under the leadership of TUFSD? 

I think shared services is potentially a good thing. The idea of cutting costs is something I agree with on a fundamental level. You need to be careful of whether or not the quality of services is compromised under consolidation. The thing that jumps to mind is consolidating our police department and having county officers come from 35 miles away to work here. I think that is unacceptable. If they are not life-threatening services, I think it's something we should consider.

Specifically on parks, I don't know the details of it. It's an area I think you could have cost savings without reducing quality. You need to really look at the numbers. I think on the whole, the relationship can be strengthened. There is always going to be tension with Tarrytown, but I think our administration would mend that a bit. 

9) Are there any final comments or issues you think are important that you would like to share with our readers?

I don't think we have a strong leader. No pun intended, but without that you are headless. It would be our emphasis to involve the community in open government. I hear unanimous criticism that the government isn't open or transparent and they aren't involving the community. But I don't want to focus on criticizing, because we're trying to bring a positive future and part of that is cutting off the past and the baggage it brings. There are feuds and spats and issues that pre-date me. It's about cutting that loose and starting new and that is what is going to be the most refreshing thing for this village. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here