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District 7 race: Joe Perrello

Patricio Robayo - Staff Writer
Posted 10/17/19

Joe Perrello is seeking re-election as District 7 legislator, which covers the parts of Fallsburg, including the Village of Woodridge.

Born in Brooklyn and raised in Staten Island, Joe Perello …

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District 7 race: Joe Perrello

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Joe Perrello is seeking re-election as District 7 legislator, which covers the parts of Fallsburg, including the Village of Woodridge.

Born in Brooklyn and raised in Staten Island, Joe Perello moved to Sullivan County in 1983 and at 23 years old, got married to his wife, Karen. He now has four children Jennifer, Nicole, Karen, and Joseph Jr.

After moving to the Sullivan Catskills, he opened an auto body shop in South Fallsburg with his brother George, Brother's II Auto Body, where he has worked for the last 36 years.

During that time, he also built around 60 homes in Sullivan County as J and G Home Developers and also had a limousine business for 20 years along with a car rental service.

Even though he is from Brooklyn, Perrello spent many summers and weekends in the Catskills tending to his parent's camp, Lazy G Campground, in Woodridge.

Perrello has been very active with the Fallsburg Fire Department and thought he should get into politics after running for fire commissioner.

“I wasn't happy with the direction the town [Fallsburg] was going, so I thought I could help,” said Perello.

He ran for Fallsburg Town Council and won, a position he held for two terms.

After finishing his terms with Fallsburg, he decided to run for County Legislator and won in 2016 for District 7.

During his time as a legislator, Perrello feels he has made people accountable.

“What I feel like I've done is make people more responsible,” said Perrello. “Let them know that somebody's watching you and expects you to do the best to your ability.”

One thing that Perrello most proud of is settling the solid waste fees owed to the county.

“There was around $3 million owed to us,” said Perrello. “We revamped that whole law and now everybody's current today. It's running like a business now.”

Another accomplishment Perrello said was in the past three years, the current legislator has paved the most roads in the county with the least amount of bonding.

On the sales tax revenue, Perrello said they are reinvesting it back into the county into places like the Care Center at Sunset Lake. “That's because we care. We gave it a complete facelift, and it recently received the highest rating ever,” said Perrello.

He also said legislators had made improvements to the Social Services building and the nearby roads.

Furthermore, they have improved the Sullivan County Government Center's parking lots and began upgrades to HVAC system.

“Things are becoming antiquated; if you don't upgrade and keep up with times and progress, you get left behind,” said Perrello.

The new public transportation system Perrello said has been a significant improvement to the county.

“It's getting people to move through the county,” said Perrello. “The kids in the college can get out and support the economy by going to Walmart or McDonald's.”

The anti-welfare fraud task force is another intuitive that Perrello feels has had an impact.

“We're trying to help people get off the system,” said Perrello.” [Have them] supporting their family and being part of society and being a good citizen. That's happening now.

“We've changed the attitude of Sullivan County to be uplifting, positive and proactive,” said Perrello, citing the county's historic low unemployment rate.

“People are looking to move here now. The prices of real estate are right,” said Perrello.

Perrello says he wants companies to come here and invest in the county, and he is doing whatever it takes.

“I am pro-building and pro-company. Bring all the people you want; our doors are open for business,” said Perrello.

Perrello says he makes it a point to spend his money in the county, from purchasing gas to dining at the many restaurants the county has.

“This is where I make my money, and this is where I want to spend my money,” said Perrello.

When asked why people should vote for him over his opponent Gene Benson, Perrello said, “Gene had an opportunity to prove himself as a legislator, and in my opinion, he didn't. He was more of a thorn in their a** then a positive influence.

“He was more involved in being difficult and flip-flopping on his decisions and never had a real definite answer,” said Perrello. “You could tell by his by his record that he did nothing.”

Perrello said he is a people person and that being a business owner in the county for so long, he knows first hand the issues.

“I work with the public every day,” said Perrello.

While being in office as a legislator, Perrello said he chairs the Public Works Committee and sits on the board of the County of Sullivan Industrial Development Agency.

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