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  Feiner, Paul J.
CANDIDATE DETAILS
AffiliationDemocratic  
 
NamePaul J. Feiner
Address
Greenburgh, New York , United States
EmailNone
WebsiteNone
Born February 14, 1956 (68 years)
Contributornystate63
Last ModifedRBH
Jun 01, 2017 11:11pm
Tags
InfoPaul Feiner began his career in public service at the age of l2, when he worked as a volunteer on the successful l968 Congressional campaign of Ogden Reid. At the age of l6 Paul Feiner was already fighting for quality of life improvements. As Chair of the Teen Democrats of Westchester, he persuaded the county of Westchester to open the Bronx River Parkway on Sunday for cyclists, a program that remains popular to this day.

Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude at Fordham University and a l98l graduate of St. John's Law School, Mr. Feiner immediately put his academic skills to good use. He led the campaign to open committee meetings of the Westchester County Board of Legislators to the public. This successful effort prompted Common Cause to name Mr. Feiner one of six national recipients of the Common Cause Public Service Achievement Award in l982. His award cited Mr. Feiner's "force of imagination, initiative and perseverence that have made an outstanding contribution to the public interest in the areas of government performance and integrity."

In l983 he was elected to the Westchester County Board of Legislators, defeating two opponents who were supported by the political establishment. As a County Legislator he always put his constituents first. Thanks to Mr. Feiner the county Legislature adopted a number of open government reforms, including meetings with public speaking access. And, in l986, Mr. Feiner established the "Have a Heart for the Homeless Committee" which to date has helped over 300 families avoid homelessness.

Mr. Feiner worked to lower utility rates and find housing for indigent families. In l99l, he was elected Town Supervisor of Greenburgh, the largest town in Westchester County. During the past 11 years Mr. Feiner has addressed the infrastructure needs of the town. In addition, Mr. Feiner convinced local residents and businesses to construct nine new playgrounds without using taxpayer dollars. A multipurpose center for seniors was dedicated in 2000, most of the funding for this project came from non tax dollars.

In October 2001 the Greenburgh Town Board approved plans to allow Madison Square Garden to build a training facility for the NY Knicks, Rangers and Liberty teams ---In 2003 Greenburgh will move its town hall to a new facitlity: 177 Hillside Ave. The building originally cost $12 million to build in 1992. The replacement value is over $20 million. The town has aquired the building for $6.9 million -- an incredible bargain.

Moody's has increased the town's bond rating 3 times in 5 years under Feiner's leadership. In August, 2001 the town received a new rating of AA1, the second highest rating a municipality can receive.

Mr. Feiner's unique Town Board meetings were so widely recognized as models of good government that they were profiled in a C-Span special report in l997. Hudson Valley Magazine said that Town meetings in Greenburgh are the best in the Hudson Valley. Feiner initiated a new concept called Dial Democracy, where residents have telephone access toTown Board meetings in progress. In June,2002 Greenburgh became the first locality in the Hudson Valley to provide library patrons with a mobile library that also has computers and satellite internet capability. The cybermobile makes stops throughout the town -including the pool, train station, senior centers and apartment complexes.

During Mr. Feiner's nine years as Town Supervisor, the first new rental housing in 33 years was built in Greenburgh. Mr. Feiner initiated police bicycle patrols, started a Farmer's market, dedicated a new 32 acre nature preserve, and opened the new Elmsford Animal Shelter. Moreover, Greenburgh received a $2.l million grant to expand the Fairview Greenburgh Community Center, an organization that assists low income residents.

Under Mr. Feiner's leadership, a philanthropy office was established to obtain private and corporate contributions to afterschool programs endangered by state and county budget cuts. Greenburgh's parks were not only rebuilt, the town became the first municipality in the state to place a referendum on the ballot establishing a dedicated fund for parkland acquisition. In l999 the town acquired a l23 acre estate, which has been dedicated as a park. As a result of Paul's efforts 85% of the funding for the park came from sources other than town funds. And, in l999, Greenburgh became the first locality in the region to ban pesticides, within three years, on town property. In 200l the Town acquired 45 acres of Glenville Woods as town parkland. The NY Times Real Estate Section highlighted this acquisition as one of 2 examples of "Smart Growth".

In l996 Paul Feiner established the Hudson Valley Regional Conference, uniting elected officials on both sides of the river to address regional issues. The Regional Conference compelled the New York State Thruway Authority to remove the tolls at Spring Valley in l997. In 2002 Greenburgh became the fist municipality in New York State to mandate energy conservation in residential construction. In l997 Mr. Feiner's leadership made local history, as the Tappan Zee Bridge was finally opened to cyclists.

Paul Feiner is the only elected official in the United States to base part of his salary on performance. He releases goals at the beginning of the year and returns a portion of his salary if his goals are not met.
Spotlight Westchester Magazine named Paul Feiner the "most interesting politician in Westchester" in their "the Best of Westchester 200l issue". Mr. Feiner was also honored by the Rotary Foundation as a Paul Harris Fellow. Mr. Feiner also began hosting a weekly interview program on WVOX Radio (l460 AM) every Thursday morning in January,2002

Paul Feiner was the Democratic candidate for United States Congress from the 20th Congressional District in l998 and in 2000. Although Mr. Feiner lost the election to the chairman of the House International Affairs Committee, Mr. Feiner won the Westchester County portion of the district by nearly 65% of the vote.

Mr. Feiner was born on February l4, l956 and is married to Sherrie Brown, an attorney at the firm of Arkin Kaplan and Cohen, in New York City. They adopted 8 month old Julia Rebecca Feiner in November l999 from Russia. The family resides in Greenburgh, NY.



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RACES
  09/18/2007 Greenburgh NY Town Supervisor - D Primary Won 66.73% (+33.46%)
  11/08/2005 Greenburgh NY Town Supervisor Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  09/13/2005 Greenburgh NY Town Supervisor - D Primary Won 51.53% (+3.06%)
  11/04/2003 Greenburgh NY Town Supervisor Won 70.11% (+40.22%)
  11/06/2001 Greenburgh NY Town Supervisor Won 88.97% (+78.20%)
  11/07/2000 NY District 20 Lost 40.10% (-17.53%)
  11/02/1999 Greenburgh NY Town Supervisor Won 64.81% (+33.41%)
  11/03/1998 NY District 20 Lost 38.83% (-19.51%)
  11/04/1997 Greenburgh NY Town Supervisor Won 67.61% (+39.76%)
  11/07/1995 Greenburgh NY Town Supervisor Won 88.40% (+76.81%)
  11/02/1993 Greenburgh NY Town Supervisor Won 66.58% (+35.39%)
  11/05/1991 Greenburgh NY Town Supervisor Won 68.37% (+38.90%)
  11/07/1989 Westchester County Legislature 12 Won 72.06% (+46.31%)
  11/08/1988 NY State Senate 35 Lost 41.89% (-14.46%)
  11/03/1987 Westchester County Legislature 12 Won 72.85% (+51.73%)
  11/05/1985 Westchester County Legislature 12 Won 66.96% (+35.95%)
  11/08/1983 Westchester County Legislature 12 Won 48.33% (+4.70%)
ENDORSEMENTS
NY District 17 - D Primary - Jun 25, 2024 D Mondaire Jones