Candidate Q&A - Michael Scarneo

Michael Scarneo

Incumbent (D-Ward 3)

Q&A

1.  What have you learned from your past term?

Being an effective council member is much more than attending two meetings a month.  It is the willingness to work with a team to effectively ensure that our town provides the services our taxpayers expect and deserve. It is necessary to put in the extra time to understand the complexities involved in running a municipality, what can and can't be done, how you work with the County and State officials to advance your town.  How you form a budget, how you handle personal, and the list goes on.  I also learned it is impossible to make everyone happy; people will always have their own agendas and crusades that do not always fall within the scope of managing a small municipality. 

2. What unfinished business do you have on council?

Eliminating substandard housing and “stacking” in our town.  Bring ratables into our town to ease the burden on taxpayers.  Costs keep rising and without new sources of revenue raising taxes or cutting service is the only option.

3. Why should voters re-elect you?

 Two reasons are stated above, the third would be stabilizing the municipal budget so that we can address the pressing needs of police and fire protection.

4. How will you address challenges over residents’ immigration status?

We provide office space for an immigration attorney to meet with residents at town hall, and I support that.  Personally, I am not qualified and would never open myself to the liability of getting involved in a legal matter other than consulting a town attorney.

5. Do you support the Immigration Trust Act?

I voted to support the ITA.

6. How will you try to build relationships with Dover residents?

I respond to every resident who contacts me with issues and concerns, even if they are not in my ward. I attend every town meeting and most of the events that we hold. As many events that organizations in town hold, but time is limited, this is not a full-time job.