The Cayuga County Legislature could see some big changes this year as eight of its 15 seats come up for re-election.

Some incumbents will definitely not run, others have said they definitely will, and some remain undecided whether to seek re-election in November.

Two of the three seats currently held by Democrats expire Dec. 31.

Democratic Auburn Legislator Mike Lepak has reached his 12-year term limit and will leave his seat vacant while Legislator Michele Sedor, D-Sennett, said she is still undecided whether to run for re-election after completing her first term as a legislator this year.

On the majority side of the Legislature, six of 12

Republican seats are in the running for election this November.

Two Republican legislators, Paul Dudley, R-Cato, and David Pappert, R-Auburn, have said they will not run for re-election.

The year 2008 marks an even district year, meaning all even numbered district's legislative seats automatically expire and become open to election.

Dudley, who represents District 2, including the towns Cato, Ira and Conquest, announced in February that he will not run for re-election. Dudley will leave the legislative seat just short of serving the maximum 12 years he would have reached in March 2008.

Former Cayuga County Republican Chairman Michael Chapman, of Cato, has already announced that he will run for the seat in Dudley's place.

“Mr. Dudley is retiring and I think my schedule allows me to give proper attention to the post,” Chapman said. “I'm looking to make government more transparent and user-friendly.”

Chapman, a former Syracuse police officer and insurance investigator said that his experience will be an attribute.

“My background experience lends a lot of pluses to the position. I've dealt with a lot of types of people over the years,” Chapman said. “You have to be accountable and communication must be crystal clear.”

In the town of Brutus, long-time Democratic challenger Ray Masterman said if he receives his party's endorsement this year he will run against incumbent Republican legislator Ann Petrus, who has indicated she will run again.

Petrus defeated Masterman in last year's election and one election prior. Petrus' District 4 seat was placed on the ballot for the 2007 election to complete an unfinished four-year term left vacant when Petrus resigned from the Legislature in 2005 for four days so she could receive retirement benefits from her other position as executive director of the Water and Sewer Authority.

This year the seat is on the ballot as an even-numbered district, with its four-year term expiring at the end of the year.

Just south of Brutus, District 6, the towns of Sennett and Owasco will also elect a legislative representative this year.

Democratic minority leader Michele Sedor, who currently represents District 6, said Saturday that she has still not decided whether she will run for re-election or not. Sedor is currently finishing her first four-year term.

“I still haven't made a decision. But when I do I'll be sure to let everyone know,” Sedor said.

Fellow Democrat legislator Mike Lepak, representing District 14, the southern portion of the city of Auburn, will reach his 12-year term limit at the end of this year. Lepak's seat is also up for re-election.

John Chick, a suspended Buildings and Grounds employee for the county, declared in March that he is thinking of running on the ballot for the Conservative party in Lepak's district. He said at the time that he was unaware of any Democratic challengers. Chick was involved in the illegal removal of asbestos from the county Board of Elections building and has thus far been the only person charged in the case.

Also vacating his legislative seat is Republican David Pappert, representing District 12, the southeastern area of Auburn.

Pappert announced in early March that he will not seek re-election for what would have been his second four-year term.

“I am proud of the accomplishments that the Legislature has had over the last three years, particularly the improvement of the county's financial position and establishment of our new county manager position,” Pappert wrote in a letter to the editor to The Citizen.

Republican Francis Mitchell said he has not decided if he will seek re-election. Mitchell began serving the Legislature, representing Genoa and Venice, in 2005 when former District 8 seat-holder Richard Harrison resigned.

Mitchell had earlier declared that he was not going to run but is now reconsidering that position.

“I was catching a little static on it from both sides,” Mitchell said. “I'm leaning toward no but am still giving it some consideration.”

Republican Peter Tortorici, representing District 10 in the northwestern part of Auburn, said he has not heard of any Democrats interested in running against him in this year's election. Tortorici plans to run for a second four-year term.

“I'm going to focus on cooperation and working together. Together we can save taxpayers a lot of money,” Tortorici said. “The cooperation that we've shown this year with the water-steward position is the direction we should be heading.”

The only odd district in the upcoming election is the District 7 seat currently held by Legislature Chairman George Fearon.

Fearon resigned from his position earlier this year to receive retirement benefits from his librarian job in Union Springs. Although he was appointed back by the Legislature, it's required for an election to be held so Fearon can complete his district's four-year term that will expire Dec. 31, 2008.

“I'm running to fill the second half of my second term,” Fearon said.

Fearon has served on the Legislature for six years.

Staff writer Kristina Martino can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kristina.martino@lee.net