Support Bob Cox for Village Trustee

May 1, 2003

Dear Saltarian;

I hope this letter finds you and your family healthy and eagerly awaiting the start of another wonderful summer at Saltaire.  All of us at the Cox house are happily anticipating the summer of 2003 and look forward to the new memories that we will create with our family and friends.

I have been in the village as a homeowner since 1986 and have gradually become more and more involved.  I find I have more time- and certainly more energy- to commit to our village. As such, after much thought, I have decided to run for Village Trustee in the May 23rd Election.  I realize the time and commitment required to undertake this task -it is a decision I did not come to lightly.

I am sure you have received letters regarding potential candidates, and from the letters I have read, the usual course includes a recounting of professional and personal accomplishments. I gave that approach serious thought, because it is certainly important that you know that my experience would support the requirements of a Trustee candidacy.  What I decided, however, is that you can read about my credentials and accomplishments for yourself on the attached resume.  What I thought might be of greater relevance to the voters of the Saltaire community is the character of the person who is seeking office.

In my experience, character is not understood through a resume, but rather through interactions with a person when he or she is not running for office or asking for your support.  It is my hope that over my fifteen years as a homeowner at Saltaire I have been able to demonstrate my character in the way in which I have interacted with you as fellow neighbors. Whether we have met as I sat beside you in the Village meetings or in the Village Court, on the ball fields or on tennis courts, on the beach or on the boardwalk, as I strapped a lifejacket onto one of your children in the sailing class or skinned a fish along the pier, in any of these situations you have gotten to know Bob Cox. 

I have been fortunate to meet so many Saltairians in so many different ways, and as such many of you have “seen me in action.”  It is my hope that having had this relationship over the years, you might feel comfortable with who I am as a person, and therefore are confident that supporting my quest for Village Trustee feels right.

As I look to the needs of Saltaire over the next few years, I know that we face critical decisions and challenges that will test the fabric of this village.  I believe that we can face these challenges while maintaining the essence of the village we have grown to love.  These are not easy economic times, and the many divergent needs of Saltaire must be identified and handled with perspective, balance and focus.  My training and experience has prepared me to deal with complex decisions, and it is my nature to find the basis for people to find their common ground and build consensus.  In a small community such as Saltaire, there absolutely needs to be a commitment to finding strength based on what brings us together, and to work through our differences with respect..

And so, I ask you to support my bid for Village Trustee. For those of you who are new to the process, I urge you to register at least one member of your household to vote.  Registration Days will be held in the Village on Sunday May 11^th and Tuesday May 13^th If you cannot make these events you can register by mail by May 13^th.  Registration forms are available from the village office.

If you are registered, you can either vote in person on May 23rd  or request an absentee ballot from Village Office by May.16^th.  These ballots must be returned by May 23^rd.for your vote to be counted.

It is my hope that you and members of your family would feel comfortable entrusting me to be Trustee, regardless of whether you are a voter or not.  Of course, if you are registered, I would appreciate your making that support known by casting a ballot.

Regardless of the outcome of the election, you can be sure that I will continue to be as committed to the Saltaire community as I have been for many years.  This is a very special place, which I enjoyed as a teenager, as a parent, as a friend, and hopefully some day as a grandparent. Let’s work together to preserve the unique character and beautiful of our community.

Thank you for your support.

Key Dates:

• In Person Voter Registration 11^th and May 13^th
• Mail in Registration Forms due by May 13^th
• Absentee Ballot can be mailed out until May 16^th
• Absentee ballots can be requested in person until May 22nd
• All votes due May 23^rd.

Robert L. Cox

Candidate for Village Trustee

Background:

Education and Training:

·        Colgate University, BA, 1974

·        New York Law School, J.D. 1979

·        Harvard Studies Certificate, Negotiation and Mediation

·        NYSBA Certificate – Divorce and Child Custody Mediation

Community Service:

·        Saltaire resident since 1986

·        Member Saltaire Yacht Club Board of Governors 1999- present

o       Fleet Captain, Sailing Program Director

·        Saltaire Assistant Village Prosecutor - 1999-present

·        Village of Garden City -Director of Village Property Owners Association 1992-2000

·        Vice President and Director, Garden City Student Aid and Scholarship Fund 1996- present

Professional experience:

·        25 years Corporate law and business counselor

·        Managed Staff of 125 professionals and operating budget of $45MM

·        Managed complex, class action litigation

·        Managed complex business re-engineering efforts

·        Negotiated major business acquisitions and divestitures

·        Negotiated extensively with state and federal regulators

·        Member of business strategic planning and development team.

·        Action oriented, strategic thinker. 

·        Rely on fact-based decision-making.

·        Comfortable facing tough choices and making difficult decisions

·        Consensus builder, team player