C. Scott Vanderhoef has been Rockland’s County Executive for more than 15 years, and he’s looking to add four more to that number. Throughout his tenure as the county’s top official, Vanderhoef, a Republican, has continued to stay in office despite Democratic voters outnumbering Republicans in Rockland by a margin of more than 2 to 1. In an interview with The Advocate, Vanderhoef explained the challenges facing the county, and how he plans to tackle them.

Vanderhoef was born and raised in Rockland, and began his political career as a member of the Ramapo Central School Board, where he served for six years. In 1993, he was elected County Executive, Rockland’s second in history.

Scott Vanderhoef is running on his experiences as County Executive and seeks to expand on them. He is touting a record of increasing jobs in Rockland, as well as the number of affordable housing units, as he travels the county meeting with voters.

Vanderhoef has unfinished business to attend to over the next four years, he said. He mentioned several major projects he wants to continue working on and see to completion. They include creating a comprehensive plan for the county, attracting more businesses, and working to see the Tappan Zee project move forward.

“There are many challenges before us,” he said of the current state of affairs in county government. The national economy has hurt all governments, and the financial meltdown has severely impacted New York State government. That, in turn, has impacted local governments which rely on a great deal of state aid, which has been cut.

“This is the most challenging time for this county and others,” said Vanderhoef. That’s why he believes it’s important he stay in office, and has argued that his experience will help guide the county to better times.

With the economy at the forefront of everyone’s mind these days, the county executive has said that the tough financial climate has “carved the budget to shreds.” He worked to make many cuts in the budget to balance it, and much of those savings have come from early retirement programs the county instituted. In the first phase of the early retirement program, $4 million was saved from the budget. A second phase, which will involve the early retirement of about 60 people, will save about $2.5 million.

Perhaps the most talked about issue of late has been the proposed chicken slaughterhouse, which will be operated by the village of New Square. The village announced plans to build the slaughterhouse several weeks ago, but no full proposal has been put together as of yet. That has not stopped many from preemptively attacking it, and even putting together a protest.

The issue has seeped into the campaigns of many local officials, including Vanderhoef’s. Being as how there is no concrete proposal for it, Scott Vanderhoef has urged everyone to use caution at this point when discussing it. He has suggested that those involved in creating the slaughterhouse work with others to put together this project in a way that will please everyone.

“They will have to explain to people how it will not negatively affect them,” he said of the people proposing the slaughterhouse. However, he warned against those who would use this issue, not even developed as of yet, for political means. “My opponent is using this issue as a divisive force,” Vanderhoef said. “He is trying to divide our communities.”

On the issue of the Tappan Zee Bridge, Vanderhoef believes there will need to be a brand new bridge built with a mass transportation aspect to the project, including direct busses and a commuter rail line that will help bring people across the Hudson.

However, he noted, “The project is subject to financing, but there is none.” The multi-billion dollar project has no source of funding, he says, because of the state’s financial situation. As a result, he would like to see a private-public partnership be created to find the funds to complete the project.

In this campaign, Vanderhoef believes that what sets him apart from his opponent is “experience and leadership.” His opponent, Thom Kleiner, is the Town Supervisor in Orangetown. Under him, said Vanderhoef, “The town property tax has increased by 65%, and there has been an increase of 132% in the amount of debt the town has taken on.”

Scott Vanderhoef is optimistic about the prognosis of the county’s financial health, and believes the county can move forward under his continued leadership. “I really enjoy the county,” he said, “and I enjoy the challenges of being County Executive, and I can meet them as well.”