Republican voters will take to the polls Tuesday to determine the Republican candidate who will run for Cayuga County's District 5 legislative seat, which has been held by Raymond Lockwood since 1996.
The two Republican candidates, neither a stranger to local politics, will both appear on the November ballot regardless of Tuesday's outcome because of endorsements by the other parties. Paul W. Pinckney, a 12-year member of the Aurelius Town Board, is supported by the Conservative Party. Paul D. Schenck, former town supervisor of Aurelius, is backed by the Independence Party.
The winner of Tuesday's race will be deemed the official candidate of the Republican Party, an advantage heading into the district election race against Democratic candidate Philip J. Dellostritto Jr.
Both candidates are lifetime residents of Cayuga County. Schenck, originally from Union Springs, moved in 1970 to Aurelius, where he has run his farm tractor repair business for 30 years. Schenck said he hoped to approach legislative issues from a business perspective.
Schenck has served as town supervisor of Aurelius and as a member of the Aurelius town board. He left his post at town supervisor in 1999 and has not been involved in local politics since then, he said.
But now is the time for him to get back in the game said Schenck, who described himself as “dedicated, honest, motivated and hard-working.”
“I don't like the way things are going,” Schenck said. “The economy, the country, the whole thing right from Washington down.”
Pinckney also has a history with Aurelius government. A 12-year member of the town board, Pinckney said he has always had his eye on a county seat. “I've just always had a strong interest in local politics and our government here,” he said.
Pinckney is the third-generation owner of his farm on Pinckney Road, where he was born and raised. He also runs a painting contracting business and is a partner in a golf cart rental business.
“I'm a common sense person,” Pinckney said. “I research all sides of a situation to try to make a determination and not make knee-jerk decisions.”
If elected, Pinckney said he hopes to be assigned to the Ways and Means committee, where he will be able to learn more about how the Legislature operates. He said he would like to bring more commercial development to the area and take a closer look at consolidating highway department services.
District 5, which includes the towns of Aurelius and Fleming, has been represented for the last 13 years by Legislator Raymond Lockwood, who has defined his term in Legislature as proponent of minimizing spending, an opponent to the Cayuga Indian Nation land deal, which he said is one of the most pressing issues concerning District 5.
Both Schenck and Pinckney said they would follow Lockwood's tradition of opposing settlements with the Nation and would aim to keep a watchful eye on the county's budget.
Staff writer Sarah Gantz can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or sarah.gantz@lee.net
The winner of Tuesday's race will be deemed the official candidate of the Republican Party, an advantage heading into the district election race against Democratic candidate Philip J. Dellostritto Jr.
Both candidates are lifetime residents of Cayuga County. Schenck, originally from Union Springs, moved in 1970 to Aurelius, where he has run his farm tractor repair business for 30 years. Schenck said he hoped to approach legislative issues from a business perspective.
Schenck has served as town supervisor of Aurelius and as a member of the Aurelius town board. He left his post at town supervisor in 1999 and has not been involved in local politics since then, he said.
But now is the time for him to get back in the game said Schenck, who described himself as “dedicated, honest, motivated and hard-working.”
“I don't like the way things are going,” Schenck said. “The economy, the country, the whole thing right from Washington down.”
Pinckney also has a history with Aurelius government. A 12-year member of the town board, Pinckney said he has always had his eye on a county seat. “I've just always had a strong interest in local politics and our government here,” he said.
Pinckney is the third-generation owner of his farm on Pinckney Road, where he was born and raised. He also runs a painting contracting business and is a partner in a golf cart rental business.
“I'm a common sense person,” Pinckney said. “I research all sides of a situation to try to make a determination and not make knee-jerk decisions.”
If elected, Pinckney said he hopes to be assigned to the Ways and Means committee, where he will be able to learn more about how the Legislature operates. He said he would like to bring more commercial development to the area and take a closer look at consolidating highway department services.
District 5, which includes the towns of Aurelius and Fleming, has been represented for the last 13 years by Legislator Raymond Lockwood, who has defined his term in Legislature as proponent of minimizing spending, an opponent to the Cayuga Indian Nation land deal, which he said is one of the most pressing issues concerning District 5.
Both Schenck and Pinckney said they would follow Lockwood's tradition of opposing settlements with the Nation and would aim to keep a watchful eye on the county's budget.
Staff writer Sarah Gantz can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or sarah.gantz@lee.net
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