Maxwell to Challenge Carmel Supervisor Schmitt in November

A former career law enforcement professional who worked side-by-side for more than two decades with the current chief executive of Putnam's largest town on the Carmel Police Department has announced his intention of challenging Supervisor Kenneth Schmitt this fall.

William Maxwell, a 45-year-old lifelong resident of Mahopac, sat down with the Courier last weekend to express what he described as "shock and outrage" over the behavior of his former colleague.

Maxwell criticized the incumbent for failing to rollback a 3.5 percent salary hike he objected to during a series of debates with former Supervisor Connie Munday when first running for office two years ago. "Once he took office, Mr. Schmitt should have refused to accept the additional dollars. Instead he and his cronies on the Town Board have stifled public comment during meetings," said Maxwell.

The challenger also condemned the supervisor and town board members for demanding that department heads reduce their budgets by from 5 percent to 7 percent while "giving away taxpayer dollars at unprecedented levels. A salary freeze should have been imposed except for existing contracts."

The Carmel Town Board recently approved a new four year police contract. Maxwell blasted the administration for failing to negotiate the pact in good faith: "The board handed out 16-percent raises as well as allowing for two top salaried administrative positions on the force to earn overtime. In the worst economy since the Great Depression, it's business as usual in Carmel-Mahopac. Many of our neighbors throughout the Hudson Valley demanded concessions from unions to avoid layoffs and loss of services. Carmel gave away raises instead."

Maxwell has tabbed his campaign "actions speak louder than words. Mr. Schmitt repeatedly tells the public about the poor economy yet he gives away the store."

Maxwell has also demanded that the town create a civilian complaint review board to handle police complaints. The supervisor hopeful admitted that complaints were scarce against police in Carmel yet a "small police department cannot be trusted to investigate complaints against its own personnel without civilian oversight. The process must have integrity. Civilian eyeballs are needed on civilian complaints. My suggestion for a civilian review board will protect our hard working officers from the one or two bad apples. Unless complaints are properly investigated and reviewed the reputation of all cops becomes tainted."

Maxwell was also critical of the current administration for its plans to build a $12 million recreation center: "The town cannot afford nor do we need a new building at Sycamore Park. The recreation center is sufficient and serves residents of Carmel and Mahopac well. There have been no public comments. I have been told that the roof leaks on the current building. Why can't we repair it? Why expend millions of dollars unnecessarily?"

Maxwell charged a lack of open government fostered by the current administration and its refusal to allow for public debate had stymied many projects during the first two years of the Schmitt administration including developer Paul Camarda's plans for Union Place, operations of the highway department, road maintenance, parking in downtown Mahopac and the creation of new parks throughout the town.

Supervisor Schmitt promised to address his challenger's accusations "in the proper forum at the right time and right place. I will not answer his rubbish in the newspaper. This is America. We live in a democracy and William Maxwell has every right to seek the supervisor's post. I welcome him to the race but will prove to the residents of greater Carmel and Mahopac that his charges are all politically motivated."

The Carmel Republican Town Committee meets next month to decide its slate of candidates for November. Maxwell said he will run as a Republican. When asked if he would primary the incumbent should Schmitt receive the endorsement, Maxwell said he hadn't yet decided.