WURTSBORO – Bob Hawkes had always found Wurtsboro to be an attractive town. Years ago he would drive up Route 209 on his time off from work, often stopping at Danny's and other local restaurants for a bite to eat. So choosing the Town of Mamakating was an easy decision when he retired in 1999.

"I always thought this was a beautiful area," says Hawkes.

When he first moved to this area, he settled in Summitville, where in 2003 he ran for, and won, the position of fire commissioner. A few years later, Hawkes left Summitville for Wurtsboro. No longer a resident of Summitville Fire District, he had to give up his position as fire commissioner. So, he ran for, and won, the same position in Wurtsboro, one he has held since late 2006.

Now Hawkes, who is running for the position of village trustee as Paul Champagne's running mate, wants to bring his many years of administrative experience to the Village of Wurtsboro. He sees his campaign as an effort to continue to give something back to the village he loves.

"I just want to be a benefit to the community," Hawkes says.

But Hawkes doesn't consider what he's doing to be political. Instead he feels as if his efforts are part of the larger pattern in his life — that of volunteerism. As district chairman with the Greater New York Council of the Boy Scouts of America, for example, Hawkes has spent a great deal of his spare time helping youth, something he says has given him particular satisfaction.

"Scouting will always be closest to my heart," he says.

And it is this dedication to youth that he hopes to bring to the village administration. Hawkes feels that there is very little in the village to help kids stay out of trouble. "There's nothing for them to do," he says.

Hawkes would like to see a concerted effort to find sanctioned activities with which kids can be involved. He would like to see the little league season extended, for example. He also wants to look into starting a football league, if possible. But he also knows that some kids today don't enjoy organized sports.

"Kids are into skateboarding now," he says. Hawkes feels that allowing kids to skateboard all over the village is a problem, and, he claims, it exposes Wurtsboro to a potential liability. He cites the fact that some kids skateboard on the railings of St. Joseph's Church as one example.

"They destroy the railings, and one day someone's going to get hurt," he says.

Hawkes would like to see the village create a designated area for skateboarders, or even go so far as to build a modest skateboard park, so kids who enjoy the sport will have a safe place to do so.

"We should give them a place where they can do it safely," he says.

Hawkes certainly seems to have the kind of credentials that would make him a good administrator. For many years he was the supervisor for mail and messenger services for electronic giant ITT's international headquarters, and he is a benefactor with the National Rifle Association. He also served in the military from 1959-61 as a company clerk.

When it comes to issues currently before the village board, however, Hawkes admits that he has some homework to do. While he doesn't know much in the way of details regarding the new water project, he feels that he is a quick study and can get up to speed in short order.

Hawkes would also like to do more to attract new business to the village, something he intends to focus on if elected.

"All these empty storefronts," he says, "it's a shame. This is a great little village and too many places are closed down."

The village election is being held on Wednesday, March 18, rather than the usual Tuesday, because of a conflict with St. Patrick's Day.

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