Greenburgh Supervisor Candidates Vie for Democrat Votes

Come Tuesday, Greenburgh Democrats will have to choose between two starkly different candidates to represent their party on the November ballot.

Paul Feiner has been the 88,000-person town's elected leader for the past 22 years.

At a debate Tuesday, Edgemont attorney Bob Bernstein said he thinks it's time for the official to retire.

Click here to see Paul Feiner deliver his opening and closing statements.

Click here to see Bob Bernstein deliver his opening and closing statements.

The two candidates seemed to agree on very little, and were open about attacking each other's records, as they fielded questions from three news reporters and the general public.

"It's time for some change," Bernstein said in his opening statement.

The attorney slammed Feiner for the first amendment lawsuit filed against the supervisor and other town board members by Fortress Bible Church ("It should have been settled long ago," he said), which panelist Susan Wolfert of the Scarsdale Inquirer said would cost the town upward of $5 million in damages.

In response, Feiner said, "First of all, we do not believe it's going to be $5 million," adding, "We believe we have insurance that will cover the case."

Bernstein asserted that if elected he would consider hiring a town manager; a move Feiner said he is adamantly opposed to.

"I will never delegate this responsibility to anyone because I have a passion for the job," Feiner said. "I believe that a town manager form of government...is dangerous for Greenburgh."

Bernstein assured his opponent that he, too, would "be a full-time supervisor" and discontinue his law practice if elected.

Other issues touched upon during the two-hour debate included the Town's rising taxes, developing business and the fate of the controversial Frank's Nursery property.

Feiner said the Town's proposed 15-year lease with Game On for the Dobbs Ferry Road property was meant to assure that Greenburgh would continue to have some control over the site over the next "15 to 20 years," and eventually turn it into a police station or courthouse.

"We can't afford it right now," he explained.

But Bernstein said a lease never should have been on the table for the property that was foreclosed two-and-a-half years ago. 

"It should have been handled like any other foreclosure," he stated, "...auctioned and sold the the highest bidder right then and there."

Feiner and Bernstein will appear on the Tuesday, Sept. 10 Democratic primary ballot in Greenburgh. To find your polling place, click this link.

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