The race for Monroe Town Board

Incumbent Monroe Town Board members Mary Bingham and Rick Colon, both Democrats, are being challenged by Dorey Houle, a Republican who is a Monroe Village Trustee.

The Photo News asked each candidate these questions:

1. Personal information. I.E. job, community service, some people include their families, etc.

2. Why are you running for office and why should people vote for you?

3. What is the most critical issue before the town or village and what can be done about it?

Here are their responses:

Mary Bingham

My husband Bill and I have lived in Monroe for 38 years. We have two grown children, and four grandchildren. I have been working for a local hospital in its acute care/rehabilitation department for 25 years.

I am running for re-election for the Monroe Town Council because I feel I can best represent the residents of our community. When I moved to Monroe, it was a very suburban community. Over time, I have seen Monroe grow to become more suburban/urban. I understand the need to balance growth and to limit any potential impacts on traffic, water, air quality, and our schools. My prior experience on the Planning Board and Monroe Conservation Commission gives me the knowledge that will ensure Monroe remains a community residents can take pride in.

I feel the most critical issue our town is facing is the availability of affordable housing for seniors and young professionals. I voted for a Conservation Cluster Residential Floating Zone that will allow for 20 percent of the units to be used as workforce housing, and 15 percent of the units for 55 and older. This zoning change will lead to more housing choices, and give our seniors and young professionals more opportunities to remain in Monroe.

Rick Colon

My wife and I moved to Monroe when we first got married, in December 1981. By 1990 I had a major career change, and began to work for the New York State Department of Corrections. I recently retired, March of 2019, with just over 29 years of service.

I feel that running for public office is a serious commitment, and also one of responsibility to one’s family, neighbors and community. It is understanding that what you do may have an effect on the community for a long time. So careful consideration is a must. Any elected position does not belong to a single person, group or political party, it belongs to the citizenry. I hope that the people of Monroe continue to have trust in what I have done thus far and will vote for me again; as I strive to have reasonable and sensible outlook for the future of our town.

The usual, water, sewage and traffic. Are what we are facing now. However, opioid addiction has had a great impact on our community and nation. We must all stand united against this plague, because it affects all of us.

Dorey Houle

I am currently a trustee in the Village of Monroe, having served as liaison to the Police Department and Village Hall. I teach sign language programs for babies and toddlers at the Monroe Free Library. My five children have all attended M-W schools. We are a military family. My husband is a retired Master Sergeant from the U.S. Air Force Reserves and our oldest son is a specialist in the U.S. Army serving in South Korea.

I am running for Town Council because, while the population of the Village of Monroe is equal to the Town of Monroe, there is no representation of the Village on the Town Board. I look forward to representing the Village and protecting its resources as a Town Board member.

One of the issues I am eager to examine is ways to mitigate the growing traffic in the Village of Monroe. With our proximity and easy commute to New York City, Monroe has become a popular destination for former NYC residents. Our roadways were not designed to accommodate the increased traffic. I look forward to developing traffic patterns that will ease the congestion through both the Village and Town of Monroe.

Other races

Town Supervisor Tony Cardone, a Republican, and Town Justice Audra L. Schwartz, a Democrat, also are on Tuesday’s ballot. Neither faces opposition.