The following article is from the April 2007 issue of

In early March, six-term republican Yorktown Supervisor Linda Cooper announced that she would not seek another term. Cooper was a long-time environmental advocate. Over the course of her eleven years as supervisor, she has preserved roughly 2,000 acres of open space, refurbished town recreational facilities, and brought sewers to areas that previously did not have sewer service.

NYLCV endorsed Cooper's campaigns in 2003 and 2005. We applaud her for setting aside nearly $1 million for open space acquisition, personally negotiating a number of the land acquisitions, and working to make sure conservation easements and other instruments are incorporated into approved site plans or subdivisions. She successfully linked land-use and water quality issues in the Croton and Peekskill Hollow watersheds, and promoted studies that will lead to new regulations, revised zoning, and a cleaner environment.

Who is in the running to take her place? The only candidate to announce so far is sporting goods storeowner Don Peters, a democrat who lost to Cooper in 2005. On March 11, the Yorktown Democrat Committee held a fundraiser to give Peters a boost. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, U.S. Representative John Hall, and County Executive Andrew Spano were keynote speakers.

Cooper stated that she timed her announcement to give the Yorktown Republican Committee time to find a highly qualified candidate to succeed her. No republican candidate has stepped forward as of yet.

According to Cooper, no plans are in effect for public life after her term expires on December 31, 2007, although she plans to stay involved in the Yorktown community.

Newsletter Issue

• Ecopolitics Monthly --- April 2007