Meet the Candidate: Jim Schoenig, Brewster Mayor

Incumbent Jim Schoenig believes he possesses the qualities that a mayor should have: Some sort of business sense, an open mind, a knack for negotiating and a passion for the office. 

Schoenig and his family lived in the village for 17 years. A registered Republican running on the Best for Brewster and Conservative lines, he served as a trustee for two terms before being elected mayor in 2007.

“The goal, from day one, has been to revitalize Main Street, which is being done right now,” Schoenig said, referring to revitalization and urban renewal efforts. 

A facelift on Main Street would bring in more people and more business, he told Patch. What exactly that facelift will look like is something that’s still in the works.

“My vision is the vision that the public wants to see,” Schoenig said. “When all is said and done the public will have a great impact on what they want to see down on Main Street, and that’s the biggest thing that’s coming out of this administration.”

When asked about his accomplishments Schoenig pointed to what he called quality of life issues: reduction in overcrowding because of building department enforcement and a cleaner downtown because of the police presence. The board shops around for everything, he said, from insurance to electric to gas, and makes it a priority to put money away for capital investments. 

Schoenig also cited negotiations with the DEP regarding the sewer project—which he said resulted in significant savings for taxpayers—and working with other elected officials to make sure local folks had the essentials in times of disaster.

“I’m a part-time mayor but it seems like it’s a full-time job,” he said. He also referenced Halloween 2011, when Putnam County called off trick-or-treating after a freak snowstorm.

Schoenig gave folks in the village the OK because locally, he said, the situation didn’t warrant canceling Halloween—even though he did draw some criticism from the county. 

If reelected, he plans to continue moving forward with revitalization efforts. He hopes one result will be a higher percentage of owner-occupied properties.

He also would like to see more people at meetings. He says he has an open door policy and he’s eager to help local folks, including non-village residents at times. He cited the decision to send Brewster Police Department patrols to Peaceable Hill when there were burglaries there. 

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Village of Brewster Board of Trustees incumbents Christine Piccini and Teresa Stockburger are running for reelection this year. Richard Allen is challenging Schoenig and Erin Meagher is running for trustee.