A special election in Cayuga County's Legislative District 3 will feature two political newcomers with starkly different backgrounds.
Democrat Thomas Weed, of Throop, is facing off against Republican David Axton, of Port Byron, to fill the seat of Bernard Smith, a Republican Legislator who died Aug. 18. The term expires in 2010.
Weed is a 37-year veteran of the Auburn Police Department. Axton has been alive for just as long and works in retail development.
Axton has little political experience outside of showing up at meetings when he feels government isn't acting in the public interest. While the town was dealing with a crumbling Haiti Island bridge that left several residents stranded and the school board was staying quiet on a school bus incident, Axton was in the crowd.
“What's right is right,” he said.
Axton believes he can bring his strong moral sense to the county Legislature.
“I have no agenda,” the 37-year-old said. “There's a lot of issues I think can be looked at from a different point of view.”
Water service to all parts of District 3 is a big priority. As a basic necessity that's been available via treatment plants for decades, it should be available to everyone in 2007, Axton said. The candidate is advocating looking at alternative sources - including Cayuga Lake and the Seneca River - to make that happen if the city and county aren't willing to cooperate.
“I don't think it's necessary,” Weed said. “The lines could be extended.”
And less visible state grants are one way to make that happen.
“The state tells you there's no money for anything, but if you need something and you really want it, the money's out there,” said Weed, who's applied for several grants at the police department. “It's amazing what's out there.
“You might find that you can't do it, but you've at least got to try,” he said.
Legislators could do more to facilitate projects if they made themselves more available to constituents. Weed said the likelihood of his retirement will give him the time necessary for the job.
“I'm seriously considering retiring soon and if I do, I'll have the time,” he said. “I truly think government has lost touch with the people.
“The Legislator should be attending board meetings for all three of the towns,” he said. “You should be able to call your Legislator up or write a letter and say, 'This in the problem I'm having, can you help me deal with it?'”
Both candidates feel communication between the towns and the city of Auburn needs to improve. The city's request for five acres of county land near the dump in the town of Throop is one recent example of poor diplomacy.
“I think we really need to improve communication between the town and the city,” Axton said. “I don't think it's something that can happen overnight, I just think a committee from both areas can get together and talk about problems they might have.”
Throop officials want to buy the land so that the city cannot expand its dump, even though city officials claim they just want the land for green space.
“This is a big concern, there are some nice homes down there and that would seriously drop property values,” Weed said of the city's proposal.
The bigger concern is opening the doors of communication to take care of larger issues, like rising property taxes.
“We really need to sit down with the city and county and talk about consolidation of services,” Weed said, naming planning, civil services and emergency services as a few examples. “We should be sitting down and talking instead of fighting all the time.
“The bottom line is cutting taxes is hard to do, but you can bring spending under control,” he said.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
Weed is a 37-year veteran of the Auburn Police Department. Axton has been alive for just as long and works in retail development.
Axton has little political experience outside of showing up at meetings when he feels government isn't acting in the public interest. While the town was dealing with a crumbling Haiti Island bridge that left several residents stranded and the school board was staying quiet on a school bus incident, Axton was in the crowd.
“What's right is right,” he said.
Axton believes he can bring his strong moral sense to the county Legislature.
“I have no agenda,” the 37-year-old said. “There's a lot of issues I think can be looked at from a different point of view.”
Water service to all parts of District 3 is a big priority. As a basic necessity that's been available via treatment plants for decades, it should be available to everyone in 2007, Axton said. The candidate is advocating looking at alternative sources - including Cayuga Lake and the Seneca River - to make that happen if the city and county aren't willing to cooperate.
“I don't think it's necessary,” Weed said. “The lines could be extended.”
And less visible state grants are one way to make that happen.
“The state tells you there's no money for anything, but if you need something and you really want it, the money's out there,” said Weed, who's applied for several grants at the police department. “It's amazing what's out there.
“You might find that you can't do it, but you've at least got to try,” he said.
Legislators could do more to facilitate projects if they made themselves more available to constituents. Weed said the likelihood of his retirement will give him the time necessary for the job.
“I'm seriously considering retiring soon and if I do, I'll have the time,” he said. “I truly think government has lost touch with the people.
“The Legislator should be attending board meetings for all three of the towns,” he said. “You should be able to call your Legislator up or write a letter and say, 'This in the problem I'm having, can you help me deal with it?'”
Both candidates feel communication between the towns and the city of Auburn needs to improve. The city's request for five acres of county land near the dump in the town of Throop is one recent example of poor diplomacy.
“I think we really need to improve communication between the town and the city,” Axton said. “I don't think it's something that can happen overnight, I just think a committee from both areas can get together and talk about problems they might have.”
Throop officials want to buy the land so that the city cannot expand its dump, even though city officials claim they just want the land for green space.
“This is a big concern, there are some nice homes down there and that would seriously drop property values,” Weed said of the city's proposal.
The bigger concern is opening the doors of communication to take care of larger issues, like rising property taxes.
“We really need to sit down with the city and county and talk about consolidation of services,” Weed said, naming planning, civil services and emergency services as a few examples. “We should be sitting down and talking instead of fighting all the time.
“The bottom line is cutting taxes is hard to do, but you can bring spending under control,” he said.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
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