Robert Greene ‘09 is one of the Democratic candidates for Vestal Town Council. An engineer who has worked at BAE Systems, The Raymond Corporation and ENSCO, Greene has also served in the U.S. Army as a signal support systems specialist, a supply sergeant and a communications sergeant. He has also volunteered locally as a firefighter. Questionnaire responses have been edited for clarity.
1. What motivated you to run?
A lot of people are upset with not having a voice or being heard. Another is seeing trees take up half of the park in my neighborhood without any conversation with the people that live within the neighborhood, not even a mailer to the 30 or so residents about it.
2. How does your background and previous experience make you a strong candidate for this position?
Engineering provides a focus on budget, schedule and return on investment (ROI). Service in the U.S. Army taught the value of serving your country and leadership skills and firefighting teaches being part of your community. Overall, I look forward to serving Vestal residents as their elected official.
3. What do you believe are the biggest issues facing your constituents, and how do you plan to address them?
The biggest issues are the following — having a voice is resolved by hearing constituents and including them also through polling and meetings [and a] comprehensive plan resolves the need for clear guidance to zoning.
4. Many students and community members are concerned about increasing prices, including housing and household essentials. How do you plan to address these concerns?
There are no easy answers to these items, as the issues are more nationwide than local. As a councilman, I can work within the constraints of local government with [an] emphasis on reducing budgets, and this will lower taxes. Other methods would be through donation programs to help those in dire need.
5. Why should students and young people vote for you?
I firmly believe in a democracy where the people have a voice and a right to be heard. As an elected official, I would be a public servant who needs to answer to his constituents. I have lived the struggle of college in tough times and graduated from the very same college.