Patch Candidate Profile 2023: Mayes For Cortlandt Town Board

CORTLANDT, NY — This year for the general election Nov. 7, voters in the town of Cortlandt will be making some choices.

Besides choosing a town supervisor, two open seats on the Town Board will be filled.

Incumbent Democrat Robert Mayes, 43, of Cortlandt, is running for one of the positions, as are Democrat Joyce C. White and Republicans George C. Pappas and Ryan Mulcahy.

Mayes grew up in Cortlandt Manor, attended local schools, earned a Bachelor of Arts (criminal justice), Magna Cum Laude, from the University at Albany and a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

He previously was a trustee of the Lakeland School District Board of Education and served on the Cortlandt Planning Board. He was appointed and then elected to the Town Council last year.

From 2006-2017, Mayes was an assistant district attorney for the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.

He is married and has two school-age children.

Campaign website: www.cortlandt2023.com

Why are you seeking this office?

As a Cortlandt native, I was honored to be unanimously appointed to fill a Town Council vacancy, and humbled when the voters subsequently elected me to finish the term. I am running for re-election because I believe my strong track record of pragmatic advocacy for our community makes me best suited to help Cortlandt continue to thrive as a family oriented community.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

As a fifth-generation resident, I am fully committed to Cortlandt — I was born here, have lived here nearly all my life, and have chosen to raise my family here. Professionally, I have dedicated my career to public service, working as an attorney for both state and local government. And I have never shied away from engaging in my community, from serving on the board of directors of several nonprofits, to being a Cub Scout leader, a Little League coach and a PTA dad. My personal history, combined with all that I’ve learned through years of community engagement, has deepened my understanding of where Cortlandt has been, where it is now and where it can go. Over my lifetime, the town has undergone tremendous change but retained its appeal as a friendly, close-knit family community, and I’m passionate about making our community even better for the next generation. As councilman I have fought, and will continue to fight, to accomplish this goal. I have the skills, and more importantly the experience, necessary to get the job done. My track record proves that.

What is the single most pressing issue facing your constituents and what do you intend to do about it?

I want to continue Cortlandt’s legacy of low taxes and top-notch services. I believe in prudent fiscal management that incrementally raises revenues during periods of strong economic growth to avoid large, painful tax increases during downturns. I also believe that we must maintain our assets and engage in long-term planning for replacements and upgrades. These actions will ensure healthy reserves to weather inevitable storms.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Economic Development: I believe we need to responsibly encourage growth in a post-pandemic world and beyond. Growth for growth’s sake is never a good idea and we must be careful not to exhaust the capacity of existing infrastructure simply to increase the tax base. We can retain the character and diversity of our community while growing in a way that anticipates and accommodates future needs. I believe in a coordinated regional approach to growth as economic, social, fiscal, transportation and environmental issues are not contained within municipal borders.

Technology: I believe we can use technology to deliver services, improve efficiency and engage with residents. I envision Cortlandt as a twenty-first century leader in innovative local government technology. By harnessing all available technology to create more digital connections between citizens and town hall, we save money, make government more responsive, increase cyber security and position Cortlandt to move steadily ahead with the times.

Public Safety: Public safety isn’t just a campaign issue for me, it has been the focus of my nearly 20-year career in criminal justice. We are fortunate to live in a safe community, with declining crime rates, professionally policed by the Westchester County Department of Public Safety and the New York State Police. I pledge to utilize my professional experience when working with Cortlandt’s law enforcement partners and tapping their deep resources, to continue to keep Cortlandt safe.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

As councilman, I work with law enforcement agencies to keep Cortlandt safe. This includes the addition of a full-time traffic officer and local legislation that allows for more streamlined prosecution of offenses. I have fought for increased infrastructure investment, that will accommodate and encourage sustainable living and economic development well into the future. For example, I have worked with Buchanan to use a multi-million dollar grant to upgrade an existing sewer plant, and secured future use of the plant for town residents and businesses. I have also engaged with Peekskill, Yorktown and the NYS Department of Transportation to plan for long-term traffic improvements on the Route 6 and Route 202 corridors. But most importantly, I have kept an eye on the bottom line. Through judicious management of existing assets, such as the effort I spearheaded to modernize Cortlandt’s approach to maintenance at our parks and athletic fields, we can keep our taxes low — which is exactly what I will always strive to do.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Know what you don’t know and be interested in learning about it.

I try to embrace this advice by recognizing that it is impossible to know everything about everything, and by understanding that nobody has a monopoly on good ideas. I’ve employed this philosophy in my work on the Cortlandt Town Council by listening to the advice and opinions of various stakeholders and using that information to create depth of understanding on the issues facing our town.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

To all Cortlandt residents, I pledge to always be prepared and ready to work. I will approach all issues with an open mind and in good faith. I will remain mindful that I am accountable for each and every decision I make, as they affect the more than 40,000 people who call Cortlandt home. I promise to work collaboratively with Cortlandt’s partners in government. And I will make sure every resident knows not only the “what” about government actions, but also the “why.” Bottom line — you’ll get my all, and you’ll get it with complete transparency.

Editor's note: The candidate's responses have been lightly edited for style and clarity.