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Thom Kleiner announced Sunday that he will run as the Democratic candidate in November's race for Orangetown town supervisor. Video by Gabriel Rom/lohud. Wochit

Thom Kleiner announced Sunday that he will run as the Democratic candidate in November for Orangetown supervisor.(Photo: Gabriel Rom/The Journal News)Buy Photo

ORANGETOWN - Thom Kleinerannounced Sunday that he will run as the Democratic candidate in November's race for Orangetown town supervisor.

Kleinerserved in the position from 1996 to 2009.

"Town problems will not be solved by rigid political ideologies," Kleiner tolda crowd of over 100 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Blauvelt.

ORANGETOWN: Supervisor won't seek re-election in 2017

Republican Chris Day enters Orangetown supervisor race

Kleiner will face off againstChris Day, son of Rockland County Executive Ed Day, who announced his candidacy for supervisor in January.

Thom Kleiner announced Sunday that he will run as the Democratic candidate in November for Orangetown supervisor.(Photo: Gabriel Rom/The Journal News)

The current Democratic supervisor, Andy Stewart,leads aboard with a majority ofRepublicans: Councilmen Paul Valentine, Thomas Diviny and Denis Troy. Councilman Gerald "Gerry" Bottari is the only other Democrat on the board.

Kleiner pledged that he would continue the policies of Stewart, who announced in Augustthat he would not run for re-election.

"As we begin this journey,Orangetownis thriving and wehave Andy Stewart to thank for that," Kleiner said.

Kleiner said that keeping the town under the state property tax capand protecting the town from over-development would be two focal points of his administration. He also highlighted rapid developmentin neighboring communities as a challenge facing Orangetown.

"Just because there is no state of emergencyin Orangetown doesn't mean there aren't any threats," he said. "Those living outside the town of Ramapo can't have any security thatwhat is happening there will not spill over into other communities. This issue unites all of us, Democrats, Republicans and Independents."

A slew of local and state officials attended the announcement, including state AssemblywomanEllen Jaffee, D-Suffern; AssemblymanDavid Buchwald, D-White Plains;and AssemblymanKen Zebrowski, D-New City, among others.

Kleiner connected a rise of national grassroots activism after the election of President Donald Trump to his campaign and said he would fight to restore "common decency and common sense".

Before becoming supervisor, Kleiner worked inconsumer protection positions for New York City. In 2009 he unsuccessfully ran for Rockland County executive. Over the last eight years, he has served in senior roles at the state Department of Labor and the Mid-Hudson Regional Economical Development Council.

Twitter: @GabrielRom1

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