“I’m very proud of what’s happening here in Shandaken, and I am eager to continue on as supervisor,” DiSclafani said, praising the leadership of the current town board.
Born in Saugerties, DiSclafani has lived in Shandaken for more than 30 years. He and his wife ran the Catskill Rose restaurant on Route 212 in Mt. Tremper until her recent retirement. He has served the town as both a council member and supervisor.
DiSclafani said he first entered politics about 20 years ago, when there were few Democrats in local government. He joined efforts to form a Democratic Club and shift the political balance. After one term on the town board, he served a term as supervisor before losing re-election to Republican Rob Stanley, who held the seat for 12 years. DiSclafani returned to the board in 2016 and reclaimed the supervisor role in 2021.
“I’m still never fully comfortable speaking publicly, but as a restaurateur, I was used to meeting and speaking with strangers,” he said. “And I am good at paying attention to a lot of things at once—especially all that goes into a balanced budget and administering grants.”
One of the town’s biggest upcoming decisions, he said, involves the possible acquisition of the now-closed Phoenicia Elementary School. The building could be transferred to the town for as little as $1, but long-term maintenance would require creative partnerships and sustainable revenue plans.
“Going from our 3,000-square-foot space to 30,000 square feet could be amazing,” he said. “But as a board, we are trying to keep it from costing our taxpayers. We’re looking at different ways of making the purchase and what kinds of rentals and revenue could make it financially viable.” The school includes a gymnasium, auditorium, commercial kitchen, and numerous rooms for programming.
DiSclafani is working with the Mountain Jam music festival—previously held at Hunter Mountain—to ensure the transition to Belleayre Mountain is as smooth as possible. He is now focused on determining the capacity limits and which permits will be required for the event.
“We want to be responsive to residents’ concerns and conscious of the space being smaller and different than Hunter,” he said.
Flood mitigation has long been a top priority, DiSclafani said. He highlighted the town’s work with the Shandaken Area Flood Assessment and Remediation Initiative (SAFARI) and the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program (AWSMP), which have helped secure technical support and grant funding, including for bridge repairs in Phoenicia.
DiSclafani also pointed to the creation of a conservation advisory council and the development of Shandaken’s first comprehensive plan in two decades, which helped unlock funding for parks and infrastructure.
“We are a small town with fewer than 3,000 people, and we maintain our own police and ambulance services,” he said. “It’s a real challenge to offer these services and keep taxes low.”
While he said being supervisor requires many skills, DiSclafani emphasized the importance of financial stewardship.
“The most important part of the job is being the chief financial officer,” he said. “That means paying attention to a lot of things at once—and that’s something I do well.”
He added: “I’m not doing it all myself. We have great leadership on all our boards. I love being a conduit—managing the finances and helping to inspire and support additional creativity.”
This profile is part of The Overlook’s ongoing series covering all candidates running for Shandaken town supervisor.
