Candidates Drawing Pensions Attract Interest

By Dave Lucas

Chester, NY – Several candidates on the ballot for Tuesday's upcoming elections already collect state pensions - which they will continue to draw in addition to their salaries as elected officials - a practice now coming under increased scrutiny as a result of the weak economy ... Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.

Public workers who retire and then return to work later often draw pensions in addition to collecting paychecks. The Times Herald-Record newspaper printed a list of 16 Hudson Valley region candidates in local elections who receive public pensions.

Topping that list: David Bell, the Superintendent of Highways in Chester, Orange County, who receives a salary of 86-thousand dollars a year while collecting a pension of around 54-thousand dollars a year.

State Senator Bill Larkin and Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun, were heavily criticized for drawing their pensions just after winning their elections in November 2010. But, under New York State Law, elected officials who joined the pension system prior to 1995 , can collect full pensions, as well as their public salaries, once they've reached age 65.

Tim Hoefer is Director of the Empire Center for New York State Policy says the practice known as "double-dipping" has been around for years. David Bell believes there are other like him: salaried elected officials also collecting pensions, who are in reality helping municipalities save taxpayers money. Political Observers say that as long as the public is aware of a candidate's pension, it's up to the people to decide... they'll do that on election day.