Voters in Putnam County's 8th Legislative District, which includes Mahopac, will choose between Democrat Gwen Burke, who is also running on the independent Putnam Party line, and Republican/Conservative Tanner McCracken in the general election Tuesday, Nov. 3.
The candidates recently responded to questions from Mahopac News about their backgrounds, priorities and positions on issues facing the county. Here is a closer look at the candidates.
Gwen Burke, a longtime Mahopac resident with a background in engineering, finance and education, says she wants to bring greater financial oversight and a more comprehensive approach to economic development to the Putnam County Legislature.
Burke grew up in Yorktown Heights and moved to Mahopac more than 34 years ago. Her three children attended Mahopac schools.
She holds degrees in chemical engineering, environmental engineering, and finance, along with a teaching certificate in secondary education.
Her professional experience includes working as a senior engineer for MTA Bridges and Tunnels, overseeing roadway and bridge construction, and teaching public high school for 14 years. She currently works as an environmental engineer in the private sector, helping municipalities address waste management and environmental issues.
Burke also volunteered for 13 years as a Girl Scout leader and served as the Mahopac Girl Scouts community treasurer and cookie chair.
Burke said her professional background and experience raising a family in Putnam have given her insight into the challenges facing residents.
"As a hard-working, tax-paying resident of this county for over 30 years, I have seen how poorly this county serves many of its residents," she said.
Burke said she believes the county should provide greater value for taxpayers and said she would use her engineering and financial experience to develop practical solutions.
"I now have more time to devote to giving back to my community, leaning on my experience as a businesswoman and problem solver to help be the voice for all of our residents," she said.
On the county's stalled mental health stabilization center project, Burke supports establishing a facility like the one operating in Dutchess County, where residents can voluntarily seek counseling and crisis assistance.
"We need accessible, 24/7 professionally staffed centers to guide individuals through the crisis and connect them with the longer-term support they need," she said.
Burke said mental health emergencies affect people from all backgrounds, including young people, seniors, veterans, and first responders.
"Individuals who face moments of crisis are not strangers. They are our neighbors, sometimes our family members," she said.
She said she would work with the Department of Social Services to evaluate service needs and examine successful programs in other municipalities. She also supports a staffed Mobile Crisis Unit and expanded community paramedicine services.
Burke emphasized that public education and community involvement should help determine where and how mental health services are provided.
Economic development, infrastructure and workforce housing are closely connected, Burke said, and addressing them requires comprehensive planning.
Her first-year priority would be developing a countywide plan that inventories existing infrastructure, including water, sewer, stormwater systems, electricity, telecommunications and available properties.
The assessment would identify the condition and capacity of those resources and help guide future development.
"From there we can develop a strategic plan for economic development throughout the county and find partners for growth," she said.
Burke also wants a stronger county economic development council that works with municipalities to attract businesses and projects compatible with surrounding communities. She would consult officials in Westchester and Dutchess counties about their economic development programs.
However, Burke said her greatest concern with the current Legislature is its oversight of county finances, particularly the substantial fund balance.
She criticized what she described as mismanagement of approximately $200 million in reserves, saying she initially understood the amount to be about $93 million.
"The legislature controls the purse strings of the county," she said. "They absolutely must know how much money is available for funding and carefully plan for providing funding to services that are in desperate need."
She cited food assistance, senior services, domestic violence programs, mental health care, law enforcement, and infrastructure among potential priorities.
"The reserve balance must be reviewed regularly, and no one should be surprised by excesses," Burke said. "I promise to be the person who keeps an eye on the money."
Tanner McCracken, a former Mahopac School Board member and state Senate staffer, says reducing the tax burden on homeowners, improving government transparency and revitalizing downtown Mahopac would be his top priorities if elected to the Putnam County Legislature.
McCracken has lived in Mahopac for more than 20 years after moving here from Queens with his family in 2006. His father is a longtime union elevator mechanic, and his mother works at Austin Road Elementary School.
A Mahopac High School graduate, McCracken earned a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in public administration and public policy from SUNY Albany.
He has worked in the New York State Senate for more than five years and currently serves as a senior staff member to Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt.
McCracken was elected to the Mahopac Board of Education in 2020 and served six years. He said his accomplishments included providing tax relief, improving transparency and parental rights, and spearheading an initiative making personal financial literacy a graduation requirement.
McCracken said he is seeking a legislative seat because residents are struggling with rising expenses and a government he believes has become disconnected from their needs.
"Too many families are being taxed out of their homes, too many seniors are struggling to afford to stay in the communities they spent their lives building, and too many young people are finding that the American Dream is slipping out of reach," he said.
He said his school board experience demonstrated his ability to make changes in government.
"We need fresh leadership to end the dysfunction, complacency, and lack of transparency in county government," McCracken said. "I'm running to make Mahopac affordable again and put everyday people ahead of political insiders."
On the county's stalled mental health stabilization center project, McCracken acknowledged the need for expanded access to mental health care but said he would not support moving forward with a new facility without first reviewing existing programs and expenditures.
"We are facing a mental health crisis in Putnam County, particularly among young people in my generation," he said. "This is a serious issue, and we must ensure those who are struggling have access to the care and support they need."
However, McCracken said the county should first evaluate the effectiveness of money already being spent on mental health services, Youth Bureau initiatives and community-based programs.
"Before committing to additional spending, we need to evaluate existing programs, identify gaps in services, and determine the most effective, cost-efficient ways to help people," he said.
Affordability would dominate his agenda during his first year in office, particularly the impact of property assessments on homeowners.
McCracken contends that annual increases in assessments are placing an unfair burden on residents and wants to change the way properties are assessed.
"These annual assessment increases have become a backdoor tax hike on Mahopac homeowners, and putting an end to them will be my top priority," he said.
He supports establishing a countywide assessor's office, standardizing the assessment process, conducting assessments less frequently, and strengthening protections for property owners.
McCracken also identified the revitalization of downtown Mahopac as an important economic development priority.
He said he would work with town officials to encourage private investment, support small businesses, and make infrastructure improvements while preserving the community's character.
"My focus in my first year will be 100 percent affordability," he said.
McCracken also criticized the current Legislature for what he described as a lack of transparency and accountability, including legislators approving salary increases while residents face rising living expenses.
"Too many politicians have looked after themselves and forgotten that public service is about helping people," he said.
He pointed to his tenure on the Mahopac School Board as evidence of his willingness to challenge established practices and push for government reforms.
"I'm ready to shake things up, challenge the status quo, and be a fighter for the people I represent," McCracken said.
He emphasized that his responsibility as a legislator would be to the residents of the district rather than political leaders or organizations.
"When I take an oath to the Constitution, it means everything to me," he said. "The only people I answer to are the great, hard-working people of District 8."
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