Pine Plains justice race pits appointee against banker
Residents on Nov. 6 will choose between appointed Democratic incumbent Justice Peter Salerno and Republican candidate Ibis Guzman.
Salerno, 72, of 221 Schultz Hill Road, is a first-time candidate after being appointed to the position in January to fill the final year of the four-year term previously held by Judge Christi Acker, who was elected to the state Supreme Court last year.
Salerno, an attorney in private practice, and wife Amy Rothstein have lived in the town part-time since 2002 and full-time since 2011. He was an alternate on the town Planning Board until appointed as town justice.
Salerno graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire in 1964, earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Harvard in 1968, and earned a law degree from Columbia Law School in 1971.
“Town justice has to be completely fair, impartial, also knowledgeable, have a good demeanor, be respectful of all parties appearing in front of him or her, and completely neutral,” he said.
“Every case in front of him or her is important by definition,” Salerno said. “It’s extremely important to the parties. Every case has two sides, so it’s important to both sides.”
Guzman, 39, of 304 Woodward Hill Road, is an assistant vice president with the Bank of Millbrook. He ran unsuccessfully for town justice in 2008 as a write-in candidate. He will be on the Republican line. He is a registered Democrat but says he has filed to change to a nonenrolled designation.
Guzman has lived in the town since 1994 and, with wife Sarah, has two children.
Guzman graduated from Stissing Mountain Junior Senior High School in 1998, earned an associate’s degree from Dutchess County Community College in Poughkeepsie in 2002, and received a bachelor’s degree in history from Binghamton University in 2002.
Guzman is a member of the Milan Fire Company, Milan Rescue Squad, Pine Plains Lions Club, Pine Plains Business Association, and Pine Plains Hose Company.
“As a candidate for the town justice position I cannot really make any promises, I cannot speak on the issues,” he said.