AUBURN - Candidates for Cayuga County Legislature District 3 talked water and land during a televised forum Thursday.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Thomas Weed, Democratic candidate for Cayuga County Legislature District 3, and his Republican opponent, David Axton, participate in a candidate forum in the television studio of Cayuga Community College on Thursday afternoon.
Thomas Weed, Democratic candidate for Cayuga County Legislature District 3, and his Republican opponent, David Axton, participate in a candidate forum in the television studio of Cayuga Community College on Thursday afternoon.
Both Republican David Axton and Democrat Thomas Weed were selected by their parties to run for the seat left vacant by Bernard Smith, who died in August.
Axton identified municipal water as one of the key issues facing the district, which covers the towns of Throop, Mentz and Montezuma.
Water originating from Owasco Lake and distributed by the city of Auburn does not reach into all parts of the district.
“I think there definitely are some alternatives to getting water to my district,” the Port Byron resident said, naming Cayuga Lake as one resource.
Weed put some priority on a five-acre parcel of land in the town of Throop that Auburn has expressed an interest in buying from the county.
Some town officials worry it could eventually be used to expand the nearby city landfill.
“I think the town of Throop should have the first shot at that plot of land before the city,” Weed said.
Both opposed negotiating a larger share of sales tax for Auburn in exchange for improved water coverage.
“Owasco Lake belongs to the people,” Weed said. “It shouldn't be used as a bargaining chip.”
Though both supported consolidation between the county and towns on some services, the candidates took opposite views on the Haiti Bridge situation in Mentz. The bridge off of Route 38 was closed for weeks after a portion of it fell into the Seneca River this summer.
It was installed as a temporary solution to another breach 17 years ago. The county put another bridge project on hold to get funding for a replacement in August even though the structure is the town's responsibility.
“The town should have planned for this years ago,” Axton said. “The county did a great service to come up with that money.
“But, we put a Band Aid on a situation and now we've got to fix another,” he said, referring to the High Bridge project that will now be delayed.
Weed argued better representation at the county level could've nailed down state grants well in advance of the closure this summer. Legislators should be constantly attending town meetings in the district and looking for funding, he said.
Both said they will count on their experience to guide them in office.
“I'm kind of new to politics and I don't have all the answers,” said Weed, an Air Force veteran and 37-year member of the Auburn Police Department. “I think my experience over the years has given me some insight.”
Axton focused on his lifelong roots in the district that reach back generations.
“I think I know the ins and outs of our district,” he said. “I know the people.”
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
Axton identified municipal water as one of the key issues facing the district, which covers the towns of Throop, Mentz and Montezuma.
Water originating from Owasco Lake and distributed by the city of Auburn does not reach into all parts of the district.
“I think there definitely are some alternatives to getting water to my district,” the Port Byron resident said, naming Cayuga Lake as one resource.
Weed put some priority on a five-acre parcel of land in the town of Throop that Auburn has expressed an interest in buying from the county.
Some town officials worry it could eventually be used to expand the nearby city landfill.
“I think the town of Throop should have the first shot at that plot of land before the city,” Weed said.
Both opposed negotiating a larger share of sales tax for Auburn in exchange for improved water coverage.
“Owasco Lake belongs to the people,” Weed said. “It shouldn't be used as a bargaining chip.”
Though both supported consolidation between the county and towns on some services, the candidates took opposite views on the Haiti Bridge situation in Mentz. The bridge off of Route 38 was closed for weeks after a portion of it fell into the Seneca River this summer.
It was installed as a temporary solution to another breach 17 years ago. The county put another bridge project on hold to get funding for a replacement in August even though the structure is the town's responsibility.
“The town should have planned for this years ago,” Axton said. “The county did a great service to come up with that money.
“But, we put a Band Aid on a situation and now we've got to fix another,” he said, referring to the High Bridge project that will now be delayed.
Weed argued better representation at the county level could've nailed down state grants well in advance of the closure this summer. Legislators should be constantly attending town meetings in the district and looking for funding, he said.
Both said they will count on their experience to guide them in office.
“I'm kind of new to politics and I don't have all the answers,” said Weed, an Air Force veteran and 37-year member of the Auburn Police Department. “I think my experience over the years has given me some insight.”
Axton focused on his lifelong roots in the district that reach back generations.
“I think I know the ins and outs of our district,” he said. “I know the people.”
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
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AJ wrote on Oct 12, 2007 4:46 PM: