Port Jervis Councilman-at-Large Candidate Denis Livingston, Democrat
1. What circumstance prompted your interest in running for a seat on
the Common Council? Please be specific.
I don’t think there was one incident that prompted me to run for council member at large. My father instilled in me that you should give back to your community. Throughout my life I have followed his example. I have enjoyed working with many volunteer organizations; 49 years with the Fire Department, served as captain; 55 years with Boy Scouts, served as a Vice President, previous President of Pop Warner Football and Vice President of the Port Jervis Ambulance Corps. I also am serving as a two term third ward council person.
2. What experience and/or education prepares you for the position?
Please be specific.
I am now retired, but my previous work experience was as a sales consultant. In my position, I was responsible for assisting my customers achieve their business goals and success.
As a two-term council person, I have served on almost all the cities’ departments and negotiating committees. I am also the liaison to the Port Jervis CDA. I also served as Chairman of the Tourism Board.
My experiences in my work life, leadership positions in the many volunteer organizations and my two terms as third ward council person has provided me with the experience to continue to guide Port Jervis as council person at large.
3. What would you like to change in Port Jervis if elected? Why? How
would you go about it? Please be specific.
If elected as council member at large, I would like to expand the business district to create more business opportunities for our residents to be able to shop locally. I would start this process by increasing communication with our residents to see what types of business services they will need. I would then work more closely with our CDA to research funding and possible grants, to entice people to invest in the businesses needed.
I would also like to form a group composed of all the local healthcare providers and a member of the council to be able to keep our residents informed of the services they provide.
4. What would you like to accomplish if elected? How would you go
about it? Please be specific.
Port Jervis needs more affordable housing. The city has just annexed two commercial properties. I would like to attract good paying jobs so our citizens could have the opportunity to own their own homes.
I would also like to promote more tourism and recreation opportunities while keeping our small city feel.
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