Democrat Photo | Sue Hallock INCUMBENT BEN JOHNSON, a Republican, is facing Nancy Dos Santos, a Democrat, in the seat for Town of Tusten Supervisor.

In Tusten, Johnson Faces Dos Santos

Incumbent Runs On His Record

By Susan Hallock
NARROWSBURG — October 30, 2007 — Ben Johnson has been the Town of Tusten supervisor for the past four years and feels he has seen a lot of progress with his position and in the work he and the town board have accomplished.
Johnson is proud of the fact that the board has updated the Comprehensive Plan, updated town offices, updated the town hall and has worked on a consistent budget and that Tusten continues to move forward.
Johnson also noted that the Tusten town board and the highway department have developed a great working relationship with nearby towns, which has helped with borrowing of equipment back and forth and assistance when manpower is needed, which helps in keeping costs down at budget time.
“Under my [leadership] the town has had a budget that has been steady,” he noted. “There are costs we can not control such as insurance and fuel costs and they do affect the budget, but the board and I do the best we can with it and we always have a fair budget.
“I will admit the budget with my first year was high but it has been steady ever since,” he added. “The issue with some of the rise in cost with the budget is that we have a highway department maintenance plan and we have to allow for that in each budget year. However, the budget, in my opinion has always been fair.”
Johnson also wants to retain his open door policy and to be there for the people.
“I am here for the community and I always will be. I live and work and enjoy being a part of the community,” he said. “As supervisor, I see the future of Tusten and it looks great [with] a lot of progress ahead. We are constantly working on funding and grants and through that effort we have accomplished many positive things for the town.
“I am also proud to say that I am available six days a week for the community and I am reachable to hear anyone’s concerns or questions,” he added. “I further have the experience of running the town, preparing the budget and working on keeping taxes as low as possible. We do have costs and I won’t say that we don’t, but myself along with the board have done a great job for Tusten and I look forward to serving another four years.”

Challenger Fears For Town's Future

By Susan Hallock
NARROWSBURG — Nancy Dos Santos is eager to serve her community as she seeks the Town of Tusten supervisor position on the Democratic line.
Dos Santos feels that changes are needed in the near future, or the Town of Tusten may not have a future.
Topping her platform is changing the town’s tax situation, which she noted is not what it could be or what it should be.
If she wins the office she pledged to work with Sullivan County Treasurer Ira Cohen to review the tax situation and that positive results can be achieved for the town.
Dos Santos promised to work closely with the Sullivan West School Board regarding the fate of the former Narrowsburg School.
Dos Santos said her platform is for the people.
“I would like to have the [property] taxes re-evaluated and to make sure the taxes are fair across the board,” she said. “I further would like to ensure that the Narrowsburg School building will remain as a educational facility, such as a college campus continued educational building and so on.”
Dos Santos is the past President of the Tusten Ambulance Corps.