Voters in the Cayuga County Legislative District 8 will have a choice between continuity and change Nov. 6.
“I have a proven track record on where I stand on key issues,” incumbent Republican George Fearon said.
The sitting legislature chairman has a decades-long history in politics at the village, town and county level. The Springport resident became a legislator in 2002 and was appointed chairman in 2006.
In addition to his experience, Fearon counts his free time as an asset.
“I'm going to be able to devote whatever time and commitment is necessary for the task,” Fearon said.
Furthermore, Fearon insists he will not seek a third term at legislature chairman so he can spend more time and vote in committees.
His Democratic opponent, Lon Fricano, who is also
running on the Conservative and Independence Party lines, believes his long history in business and management position him well for the political arena. After years of disagreeing with county policy, Fricano decided to run for his first public office.
“I think I have the ability to bring a coalition of people together,” said Fricano, who formed a multi-party committee to advise him during the campaign and after the election if he's successful. “I've got a lot of experience with problem solving and bringing the people together.”
He said he would like to transfer that concept to the 6th floor of the county office building.
“My committee is committed to stay together. We're going to take on these issues, discuss these issue and make some noise,” said Fricano, who is not registered with a particular party.
What Fricano advertises as strength, Fearon counters that he is stronger. As a longtime Republican, he is better equipped to reach out to higher level representatives in Albany and Washington, D.C., he said.
Both candidates place a high priority on water as a natural resource and tourism tool.
“We need to be proactive about dealing with it,” Fearon said. “Owasco Lake gets a lot of attention, but Cayuga Lake has a lot of the same problems.
“The ideal situation is to get back to the time when we didn't have to cut weeds in the lakes, which is theoretically possible,” he said.
Taking a stand again the state Department of Environmental Conservation's proposal to allow more weed-inducing phosphorous to come out of the Groton and increasing awareness of similar problems in Cayuga Lake are two steps.
Though the county recently defeated a proposed settlement with the Cayuga Indian Nation, the land claim issue is still a concern for both candidates, if for different reasons.
“I have a huge problem with the state not collecting sales tax from Native American businesses,” Fearon said. “I'm a proponent of a level playing field.”
The failure to collect sales tax is a problem for every district in the county. Less sales tax means a hike for property owners, particularly in a place like Union Springs where about 12 percent of land - including a tax-free gas station - is Indian-owned, Fearon said.
In addition to the tax exemption issue, Fricano wants to challenge the entire reservation system, arguing it perpetuates unfair treatment of Indians and illegal profiting of gambling interests.
“I want a Justice Department investigation of where the money's coming from and where it's been going,” he said.
Both candidates seek a more unified approach to tourism and development, which is scattered among several agencies.
“When you're trying to create development, you're trying to create in relation to the assets you already have,” Fearon said.
The lakes are one, agriculture another and, more recently, boon of retail near the city of Auburn, he said.
“Property taxes is spinning out of control and offsetting the advantage of owning a home,” Fricano said, pointing out the so-called brain drain of bright Cayuga County natives who are moving to other parts of the country. “There's very little to hold them here.
“You've got to bring in the right kind of economic development and recreational opportunities,” he said. “Nobody's connecting the dots.”
He cites Owasco Lake as an example of a neglected resource for both economic and recreation objectives.
“If somebody came here, they couldn't access it, not very easily anyway,” Fricano said. “We keep hearing a lot of talk about developing tourism as a green industry.”
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
The sitting legislature chairman has a decades-long history in politics at the village, town and county level. The Springport resident became a legislator in 2002 and was appointed chairman in 2006.
In addition to his experience, Fearon counts his free time as an asset.
“I'm going to be able to devote whatever time and commitment is necessary for the task,” Fearon said.
Furthermore, Fearon insists he will not seek a third term at legislature chairman so he can spend more time and vote in committees.
His Democratic opponent, Lon Fricano, who is also
running on the Conservative and Independence Party lines, believes his long history in business and management position him well for the political arena. After years of disagreeing with county policy, Fricano decided to run for his first public office.
“I think I have the ability to bring a coalition of people together,” said Fricano, who formed a multi-party committee to advise him during the campaign and after the election if he's successful. “I've got a lot of experience with problem solving and bringing the people together.”
He said he would like to transfer that concept to the 6th floor of the county office building.
“My committee is committed to stay together. We're going to take on these issues, discuss these issue and make some noise,” said Fricano, who is not registered with a particular party.
What Fricano advertises as strength, Fearon counters that he is stronger. As a longtime Republican, he is better equipped to reach out to higher level representatives in Albany and Washington, D.C., he said.
Both candidates place a high priority on water as a natural resource and tourism tool.
“We need to be proactive about dealing with it,” Fearon said. “Owasco Lake gets a lot of attention, but Cayuga Lake has a lot of the same problems.
“The ideal situation is to get back to the time when we didn't have to cut weeds in the lakes, which is theoretically possible,” he said.
Taking a stand again the state Department of Environmental Conservation's proposal to allow more weed-inducing phosphorous to come out of the Groton and increasing awareness of similar problems in Cayuga Lake are two steps.
Though the county recently defeated a proposed settlement with the Cayuga Indian Nation, the land claim issue is still a concern for both candidates, if for different reasons.
“I have a huge problem with the state not collecting sales tax from Native American businesses,” Fearon said. “I'm a proponent of a level playing field.”
The failure to collect sales tax is a problem for every district in the county. Less sales tax means a hike for property owners, particularly in a place like Union Springs where about 12 percent of land - including a tax-free gas station - is Indian-owned, Fearon said.
In addition to the tax exemption issue, Fricano wants to challenge the entire reservation system, arguing it perpetuates unfair treatment of Indians and illegal profiting of gambling interests.
“I want a Justice Department investigation of where the money's coming from and where it's been going,” he said.
Both candidates seek a more unified approach to tourism and development, which is scattered among several agencies.
“When you're trying to create development, you're trying to create in relation to the assets you already have,” Fearon said.
The lakes are one, agriculture another and, more recently, boon of retail near the city of Auburn, he said.
“Property taxes is spinning out of control and offsetting the advantage of owning a home,” Fricano said, pointing out the so-called brain drain of bright Cayuga County natives who are moving to other parts of the country. “There's very little to hold them here.
“You've got to bring in the right kind of economic development and recreational opportunities,” he said. “Nobody's connecting the dots.”
He cites Owasco Lake as an example of a neglected resource for both economic and recreation objectives.
“If somebody came here, they couldn't access it, not very easily anyway,” Fricano said. “We keep hearing a lot of talk about developing tourism as a green industry.”
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
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