Mike Plochocki, Onondaga County’s newest legislator, has been on the job for less than two weeks. After guiding the town of Marcellus as mayor for four years (2006-10), Plochocki decided it was time to follow his dream of moving up the political chain. In November, he defeated Toby Shelley in the race for legislative district 6, which includes Marcellus, Skaneateles, Spafford, Otisco and a small southern portion of Camillus.
He has been involved in politics since he was a teenager, serving on multiple boards on his way to his current position. His past experience includes being a White House Staff Member during the first Bush Administration and being a staff attorney for the New York State Supreme Court. He’s an endorsed Republican with a law school degree and a certificate in Environmental Law.
Though he’s still brand new to the legislature, Plochocki took some time for a candid interview with the Eagle Observer to share his thoughts on his goals and how his first few days as legislator have gone.
Tell me a little about your past and what led you to go into politics.
I could give a really long answer because there are many facets as to why, but frankly what it all boils down to is I watch the news and have done so for many years. [I’m] of the opinion our system is broken. It’s broken in Washington and it’s broken in Albany and it’s broken on a local level. Everybody has opinions as to how to fix it, but nobody wants to step into the arena and do anything about it, or at least very few want to.
Can you elaborate on “into the arena”? On a local level, what do you hope to accomplish?
On the local legislature, there are several things. But first, it’s vital that in the double-dip recession we’re in that we keep property taxes as low as possible. I am willing to make the cuts necessary in order to make sure taxes do not rise.
Can you elaborate on what kinds of cuts you’re talking about?
We’re too early, but it’s a fair question. People wanted me to commit either way. Or to promise I won’t cut. My response: I believe everything should be on the table. I made no commitments either way. Haven’t promised anything to either side. Very important that we keep tax rate stable.
That is first and foremost. Dovetailing with that, I want to help create a local economy that thrives where there are jobs produced. Also, the third major aspect – I campaigned on these things to be clear – I want to propose that a study of sorts be done looking into all the ways local and county government can be consolidated, and/or that services can be shared.
Anything in the works right now that can be consolidated?
As mayor, I learned that consolidation isn’t as simple as people think. Many think that just getting rid of all villages will lower the tax bill and make government work more efficiently. I’m not convinced that wholesale dissolution is the answer. To me, it’s more complex. We need to take this problem more seriously, and look at all the complexities. There is no one specific thing I have an agenda on. Not this or that service. Rather it’s much more broad and strategic. I want the right questions asked. I don’t want those in politics or those in the public thinking we can take an axe to the problem and chop things away and that’s all it is. I want to go about this in a sane and informed way.
Can you comment on your time as mayor of Marcellus? What have you taken from those four years?
When you’re a mayor in a village, or frankly any kind of local elected official, you get a firsthand experience of the problems and issues that people face, As mayor, I very much understood the problems people faced with the tax burden, understand the infrastructure problems – the problems with roads, sidewalks, water and wastewater piping – all kinds of issues important to people. Having that knowledge, and the ways local government tries to fix those problems, is vital. When I make decisions as a legislator as to how things should be consolidated or how best taxes should be distributed, or how much support county should give local governments for infrastructure repair, I have a totally different perspective having served on the local level.
If you had to say something to school districts trying to make everyone happy during these difficult times, what might you say?
We don’t have involvement with educational system in New York. A lot of tough decisions need to be made in regard to cuts. In addition, local governments are choked by unfunded state mandates. One of the important things for me to do as a new legislature is to be the legislator that leads the effort in fighting the state in scaling back the unfunded mandates. I would encourage the districts to do the same thing.
You’ve been on this job for very little time. How do you feel about the job so far?
It’s been wonderful. Everyone has been supportive and I’ve really enjoyed it so far. I have met many new constituents and talked things over with them.
You followed your dream. It’s 2012, and you are on the career path you wanted. How does it feel to know you’ve done what you wanted?
Feels great. I’m honored to be doing such things. To me, one of the things I hope to change if I’m fortunate to continue is that being in public service is somehow a bad thing. If everyone agrees our system is broken from federal on down, we shouldn’t sit back and complain and mock everyone who enters. It’s to enter it yourself and to really try and bring back honor and respect when voters start treating it with respect.
For me, I consider public service a lifetime commitment; not something to be ashamed [of]. In the recent election, my opponent sent out a negative mailer where he criticized me for being a career politician. That’s funny because the only other elected position I’ve held was as mayor of Marcellus. What was being attacked that for 20 years or more I’ve been interested in public service, whether on the Onondaga County Youth Board, or as a staffer in the White House. If we want change, we have to encourage people to be involved.
Neil Benjamin Jr. can be reached at [email protected].
