Jack Cunningham’s introduction to politics came in his Bethlehem High School years when he worked on Michael Breslin’s first campaign for Bethlehem town judge. Breslin is now running for another term as Albany County executive, and Cunningham, after a three-year run as Albany County legislator, will attempt to win election to his first full two-year term as Bethlehem supervisor on the Democratic and Independence party lines.
It had been my intention at some point to run for this office, said Cunningham, who was appointed to the position by the Bethlehem Town Board in April. Cunningham replaced Theresa Egan, who accepted a position as deputy commissioner in the state Department of Motor Vehicles.
`I considered running in 2003 for supervisor and spoke with Terri and (town board member) Dan Plummer before deciding Terri should run,` said Cunningham.
A lifelong Bethlehem resident who grew up in a farmhouse on Elsmere Avenue and attended St. Thomas the Apostle school, Cunningham said he entered the job with no preconceived notions as to what to expect.
`It’s an incredibly busy office,` said Cunningham, who has now served close to seven months.
`I am amazed at the number of people that come in and talk to the supervisor,` he said.
With 32 years of banking and information technology experience under his belt as an employee of several banks, including First American, Trustco, Cohoes Savings Bank and Key Bank, Cunningham said he feels he can help improve the town’s current technology infrastructure.
`One of our technology initiatives is the improved online assessment system, where we now interface with the statewide assessment system to access information,` Cunningham said.
Another area being addressed in next year’s budget is the new online registration process in the town parks department.
`We will be able to accept credit cards over the Internet for payment for parks and recreation programs,` said Cunningham.
Embracing a new town comprehensive plan, proposed technology park corridor, Route 85 road work and local waterfront revitalization work are just a few of the ongoing projects Cunningham inherited from his predecessor. Vista Technology Park is a town-board-endorsed project expected to bring thousands of new jobs to 440 acres of land in the towns of New Scotland and Bethlehem. Vista currently has no announced tenants, but Cunningham said he believes the project will help `balance the town tax base` by encouraging commercial growth.
`The commercial growth adds to the town tax base,` said Cunningham, who said he agrees that the direct revenues from Vista to the town are not substantial.
`If Vista is a fast build-out, the school district will receive more revenue,` said Cunningham, who said construction on the tech park is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2008.
Although the first tenants will most likely be retail, Cunningham said Vista is being built to attract high-tech facilities.
`The tech park is zoned to encourage tech companies to come in with the belief this whole area will be a technology corridor,` he said.
Cunningham said he believes town property values will also be enhanced because of Vista. When asked about residents’ concerns of Vista becoming another big box retail region similar to the Glenmont 9W corridor, Cunningham said any retail development within the Vista Park is there to `support the office workers.`
As for Route 9W, Cunningham calls the area a `region in transition.`
`Wal-Mart was built prior to any comprehensive plan,` said Cunningham, who considers 9W in Glenmont a `good` commercial district.
`Some residents in that area don’t like it at all and others don’t mind it being a retail commercial area,` he said.
Sidewalks, not town finances are the No. 1 concern of residents Cunningham has heard from this year.
`People want sidewalks,` he said.
Another top concern he has heard is that people in South Bethlehem and Selkirk feel they do not receive the same level of services as residents in the rest of the town.
`I try and talk to them about where they see that and try to address their issues,` Cunningham said.
Lower sales and mortgage tax revenue is forcing the town board to dip into the healthy fund balance reserves that stood at 20 percent or more. However, a $2.5 million dollar appropriation in the 2008 budget has dropped the four main fund reserves to around 15 percent.
`This year, we have had some challenges, but we have a strong fund balance, and we are using that to manage tax growth,` said Cunningham, who believes the town’s current fiscal plight will turn around in the next 18 months.
Cunningham’s opponent is Jim Grady, who was endorsed by the Republican and Conservative parties. The two squared off for the Independence Party line in September, with Cunningham winning the coveted spot.
`I am getting positive feedback from people,` said Cunningham, who is running the traditional door-to-door campaign along with holding house parties to get his word out.
Managing employee growth and addressing the town’s aging infrastructure needs are two areas Cunningham said he would tackle if elected. Cunningham said if the town had an extra $100 million to spend, he would `repair all sewer pipes leaking in the town and build a new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility and new court facility.`
Cunningham is married with two children, one a student at Bethlehem high school. In 2008, the town supervisor’s salary is scheduled to be set at $102,779.“
