Meet the Candidate: Pat Vetere

Candidate: Pat Vetere

Age: 82

Political Affiliations: Democrat, Independence Party endorsement

Education/Professional Background: Harrison School System, Operating engineer for 40 years. Councilman on the Harrison Town Board for 24 years, five years on the Harrison Zoning Board.

Patch: What is your platform for running for re-election to the town board? What should voters know about you before making their decision?

Vetere: Taxes mainly, we are trying to keep the town stable, keep the work force as-is and hopefully we can get some of the healthcare resolved. We need a combination of people to help us keep the taxes down and save jobs.

Patch: You have been on the Harrison Town Board for decades now, what lessons have you learned during your time on the board?

Vetere: Cooperation, these last 10 years have been pretty tough, being on the other side not having the majority on the board. There's a lot of things that we can do that they haven't done—mainly taxes.

I would also like to see the Sollazzo Center taken down, put in an indoor pool and a gymnasium and a new fitness center. Our basic pools are only open 100 days a year, if you get a bad summer then kids have nowhere to go.

Patch: There have been rumors in town that your health has been an issue going into the election season, do you see this being a problem over the next four years? Should people be concerned about your health?

Vetere: My health is fine.

Patch: Negotiations continue at this point between town leadership and local labor unions over possible changes to the healthcare aspect of their contracts. Will you continue to pursue these changes? What are your hopes, if any, for the renegotiated union contracts?

Vetere: It's up to the unions and the town to get together and get something resolved. 

Patch: What plans do you have for possible senior living centers in Harrison? Some of Harrison’s seniors have struggled to keep up with increased taxes and are considering moving from the area, how do you fix this problem?

Vetere: That's a tough question, there's a lot of seniors and a lot of the people that don't want to see senior housing. We tried for years with John Passidomo to try to get senior housing in the town.

I can remember going over to the Cabot Club with Charlie Valencia and John Passadomo, we brought up the idea of senior housing and we got killed that night. Most of those people that said no, no longer live in town and that's the sad part. We could have had what Rye did, Rye did an excellent job.

It takes a combination of help with both parties to try and get it done.

Patch: What is your biggest strength as a town board member?

Vetere: I know a lot of people. It doesn't matter who they are, if they need help I try to help them. I've been fair to the people in the town of Harrison.

Both parties should work together, if you work together we can get things done.

Patch: What is your biggest weakness as a town board member, how will you address it?

Vetere: Being the second vote, not having the majority, that's the biggest weakness. We have to get three members of the same party this coming election. Joan (Walsh) needs help, she just can't do it alone, we need a third person. I think Howard Hollander is going to be that third person that is going to help us.

Patch: What is one thing voters might not know about you that they should?

Vetere: I like Sofias Pizza, Sofia has always been a friend, we play a lot of golf together.

Pat Vetere is an incumbent and one of four candidates running for two open seats on the Harrison Town Board. We will post interviews with all four candidates in the days leading up to the election.