• auburn city council
Smith, Graney have earned another term
While it was disappointing not to have more candidates running for the two Auburn City Council seats up for election this year, Auburn voters are blessed to have three candidates who are truly committed to making the city a great place to live and work. In a sense, city voters can't lose with whomever they choose.
The newcomer on the scene is Democratic candidate Jack Hardy, a man who grew up in Auburn and always stayed connected to his hometown even when a career in corporate America had him living in other places. Hardy and his wife returned as full-time residents in 2006, and he has quickly become active in many community organizations and causes. Hardy's campaign focused on a broad vision of restoring city pride and establishing a new spirit of cooperation between government and residents to bring about positive change. What we failed to hear from Hardy was concrete plans and proposals for many of the key issues city government is facing. Auburn is fortunate to have a resident like Hardy, and we urge him to become more versed in the policy issues city council faces if he wants to become a more viable candidate.
Democratic, Independence and Conservative candidate William Graney is seeking a second four-year term on the council. Graney's greatest strength the past four years was his willingness to vote on issues based on their merits instead of following the party line. That's a major reason why he has the endorsements of the Conservative and Democratic parties, two groups that don't typically back the same candidates. Beyond that, Graney has been a tireless behind-the-scenes worker on projects that simply add to quality of life in Auburn. He helped get the YMCA-WEIU involved in the swimming program at Casey Park, a huge collaborative success, and he played a major role in upgrades to the Casey Park indoor recreation facility. Graney's campaign itself could have been more focused, but voters need to look at him more for his record as a councilor than at his ability to tout himself during campaign seasons.
Republican, Independence and Conservative candidate Matthew Smith, like Graney, is running for re-election after winning for the first time four years ago. From his first days in office, Smith has made spending control a priority, and while he certainly needed a lot of partners over the past four years to get things done, Smith has every right to point to the city's fiscal turnaround as a personal accomplishment. Smith's campaign goals in 2005 included reducing city fees and creating incentives for housing improvements, something that's been achieved. But he's not satisfied. Smith is campaigning for an expansion of residential improvement incentives, and he has good ideas about a more focused approach to city parks and playgrounds. His energy and fiscally conservative approach make him an ideal candidate.
The Citizen endorses William Graney and Matt Smith for Auburn City Council.
• county Legislature District 11
Murphy has better command of county issues
In the battle for Cayuga County Legislature District 11, Linda Murphy is running for a second term in this city of Auburn district against political newcomer Stephen Barski.
Barski, running on the Conservative, Independence and Democratic party lines, is a long-time local business owner who certainly has a personal stake in the economic future of the area. He wants the county to cut spending - and thus taxes - as a way to help keep people from moving out of the area. He'd like to see more resources put into retaining local jobs than trying to attract new businesses to the area. One of his primary motivations for running appears to be that he felt slighted after going to his county representative - Murphy - for help with a neighborhood issue and being left with the impression that she didn't care. Murphy disputes that contention, but at the end of the day, we're concerned that Barski is less interested in serving on the Legislature than he is in simply defeating Murphy. We say this because to a large degree, Barski doesn't seem well-informed on many county issues.
We had hoped Murphy, the Republican candidate, would have made more noise during her first term on the Legislature, but she has kept a rather low profile. With an even temperament and a willingness to listen more, perhaps, than be heard, she has learned the ropes of county government. She said that her priorities are the things she's been hearing from the constituency: economic planning in terms of job retention and creation, and making sure that investments in culture, arts and tourism remain in the county budget. She also has some solid ideas about places to look for spending cuts in the county budget, such as the county vehicle fleet. And while we would have hoped to see it happen sooner, Murphy still deserves credit for chairing a committee that now has a plan to create a more unified economic development approach through a new first-stop agency that will be unveiled this week.If elected, we would like to see Murphy speak up more often - and make waves, if necessary - rather than let others steer the conversation, and thus the public policy.
The Citizen endorses Linda Murphy for Cayuga County Legislature District 11.
• county Legislature District 5
Pinckney best option to fill Lockwood's seat
The race for Cayuga County Legislature District 5 features three men seeking first terms, Phil Dello Stritto, Paul Pinckney and Paul Schenck. They seek to fill the seat held by Ray Lockwood, who is not running for re-election after 14 years representing the district that includes the towns of Fleming and Aurelius.
Dello Stritto, running on the Democratic line, ran a clean campaign that was focused mainly on the goal of bringing more unity to the county Legislature. He's a staunch opponent of any privatization of the county home health agency, and advocates getting more help for private businesses that are struggling. But Dello Stritto largely seems disengaged from the major issues facing the county, saying he needs more time to form opinions. He points out that it takes two years to truly learn the job, and while there's some truth to that statement, it's not an excuse to be overly vague as a candidate.
Schenck, the Independence Party candidate, speaks passionately about better spending controls for the county, and accurately points to a need for legislators to get a highly qualified county manager hired. Like Dello Stritto, he opposes any privatization efforts of the county home health agency, and he's pushing for a settlement with the Cayuga Indian Nation regarding the land-into-trust issue. Schenck's past history as supervisor in Aurelius does include at least one major concern - his decision to essentially walk off the job and stop attending meetings for the last half of his final year in office. He now says he was treated poorly by others on the board, including Pinckney, but we don't accept that excuse. Voters need to know they can count on a candidate to stay on the job, even when the politics of the time make them uncomfortable.
Pinckney, the Republican, Conservative and Green Field candidate, has had some of his own issues with meeting attendance as an Aurelius Town Board member, but most of it involved having to be late on several occasions because of professional obligations. Unlike Schenck, he has not deliberately avoided his elected office duties. Pinckney no longer has any such commitments, so he vows being at meetings and on time will not be a concern. On the issues, Pinckney is the most well-versed of the three candidates, and his stances are the most in line with what is best for the county. He opposes negotiated settlements with the Cayugas, pointing to the failure of past negotiations and the strong indications that the county is on the right legal side of many of these disputes. He wisely calls for an end to the micromanagement practices employed by county legislators in the past, and wants a better job description created for county manager.
The Citizen endorses Paul Pinckney for county Legislature District 5.
• county Legislature District 13
Hutchinson brings a common-sense approach
Voters in Cayuga County Legislature District 13 in the city of Auburn will choose between James Hutchinson and Timothy Lattimore. Both candidates have city government experience, with Hutchinson having served one term on the Auburn City Council in the early 1990s and Lattimore serving as a city councilor before becoming mayor.
Lattimore, the Republican, Independence and Conservative party candidate, continues to state his desire to try to reach a settlement with Indian tribes over sovereignty issues, and he pushes for a local casino as a possible means to make it happen. He sees the need for the county to find creative ways to cut spending. We appreciate the fact that Lattimore, the city's mayor from 2004 to 2007 is Auburn's biggest cheerleader. He's a prolific networker who will sing the area's praises with anyone who will listen. But it will take more than being a good-will ambassador to make a real impact on the most pressing issues facing the county.
Hutchinson, on the Democratic line, recognizes that Democrats can have difficulty getting a lot accomplished in the Republican-controlled Legislature, but sees the potential to align himself with representatives from districts just outside the city of Auburn, who might also feel overlooked at times. He is a strong advocate for aggressively marketing Emerson Park as an event center and eliminating the entrance fee because it's a barrier, he believes, to local people who might use the park more often for shorter visits. Hutchinson may be over-reaching when he talks about the need to change what he calls the archaic committee system currently utilized by the county Legislature, but we appreciate his candor - and he might just be onto something in regard to potential reforms. He also is wise to understand that a casino is not a realistic economic development goal for this county.
The Citizen endorses James Hutchinson for Cayuga County Legislature District 13.
• county Legislature District 7
Experience makes Fearon the right choice
The race for Cayuga County Legislature District 7 features long-time incumbent George Fearon and relative political newcomer Barbara Abbott King in a district that covers Springport, Scipio and Ledyard.
Prior to this campaign, Abbott King, running on the Democratic and Independence party lines, took two consecutive tries at ousting state Assemblyman Gary Finch. Her current campaign, however, still reflects a stronger desire to affect statewide issues than those more specific to Cayuga County. Among her top priorities would be to pressure Albany, through the association of counties, to change the state's tax structure. She says she doesn't believe in putting resources into pitching the county as a place to do business, but would rather allow enterprises to flourish on their own. Abbott King is correct when she says that legislative bodies need to work together, but focusing too much on statewide issues rather than the day-to-day operations of the county make her the wrong candidate for the job she's asking for. We also strongly disagree with her stance that the county should eliminate the manager's office, and return to its former system of day-to-day leadership under the county chairman.
Fearon, on the Republican line this year, disappointed us earlier in his tenure. He was chairman of the Legislature when the illegal removal of asbestos from a county building came to light, and he clammed up for too long when asked what he knew and when. But he is well-versed on local issues, and he falls on the side of common sense more often than not. He refuses to consider negotiating with the Cayuga Indian Nation, insisting that the court system is poised to back the state on the issue of tax collection. He is carefully weighing both sides in the option of selling the county home health care agency. He wants to make further spending cuts to the county budget in anticipation of the state's economic woes further impacting local coffers. He understands the need for the county to hire a full-time county manager.
The Citizen endorses George Fearon for Cayuga County Legislature District 7.
While it was disappointing not to have more candidates running for the two Auburn City Council seats up for election this year, Auburn voters are blessed to have three candidates who are truly committed to making the city a great place to live and work. In a sense, city voters can't lose with whomever they choose.
The newcomer on the scene is Democratic candidate Jack Hardy, a man who grew up in Auburn and always stayed connected to his hometown even when a career in corporate America had him living in other places. Hardy and his wife returned as full-time residents in 2006, and he has quickly become active in many community organizations and causes. Hardy's campaign focused on a broad vision of restoring city pride and establishing a new spirit of cooperation between government and residents to bring about positive change. What we failed to hear from Hardy was concrete plans and proposals for many of the key issues city government is facing. Auburn is fortunate to have a resident like Hardy, and we urge him to become more versed in the policy issues city council faces if he wants to become a more viable candidate.
Democratic, Independence and Conservative candidate William Graney is seeking a second four-year term on the council. Graney's greatest strength the past four years was his willingness to vote on issues based on their merits instead of following the party line. That's a major reason why he has the endorsements of the Conservative and Democratic parties, two groups that don't typically back the same candidates. Beyond that, Graney has been a tireless behind-the-scenes worker on projects that simply add to quality of life in Auburn. He helped get the YMCA-WEIU involved in the swimming program at Casey Park, a huge collaborative success, and he played a major role in upgrades to the Casey Park indoor recreation facility. Graney's campaign itself could have been more focused, but voters need to look at him more for his record as a councilor than at his ability to tout himself during campaign seasons.
Republican, Independence and Conservative candidate Matthew Smith, like Graney, is running for re-election after winning for the first time four years ago. From his first days in office, Smith has made spending control a priority, and while he certainly needed a lot of partners over the past four years to get things done, Smith has every right to point to the city's fiscal turnaround as a personal accomplishment. Smith's campaign goals in 2005 included reducing city fees and creating incentives for housing improvements, something that's been achieved. But he's not satisfied. Smith is campaigning for an expansion of residential improvement incentives, and he has good ideas about a more focused approach to city parks and playgrounds. His energy and fiscally conservative approach make him an ideal candidate.
The Citizen endorses William Graney and Matt Smith for Auburn City Council.
• county Legislature District 11
Murphy has better command of county issues
In the battle for Cayuga County Legislature District 11, Linda Murphy is running for a second term in this city of Auburn district against political newcomer Stephen Barski.
Barski, running on the Conservative, Independence and Democratic party lines, is a long-time local business owner who certainly has a personal stake in the economic future of the area. He wants the county to cut spending - and thus taxes - as a way to help keep people from moving out of the area. He'd like to see more resources put into retaining local jobs than trying to attract new businesses to the area. One of his primary motivations for running appears to be that he felt slighted after going to his county representative - Murphy - for help with a neighborhood issue and being left with the impression that she didn't care. Murphy disputes that contention, but at the end of the day, we're concerned that Barski is less interested in serving on the Legislature than he is in simply defeating Murphy. We say this because to a large degree, Barski doesn't seem well-informed on many county issues.
We had hoped Murphy, the Republican candidate, would have made more noise during her first term on the Legislature, but she has kept a rather low profile. With an even temperament and a willingness to listen more, perhaps, than be heard, she has learned the ropes of county government. She said that her priorities are the things she's been hearing from the constituency: economic planning in terms of job retention and creation, and making sure that investments in culture, arts and tourism remain in the county budget. She also has some solid ideas about places to look for spending cuts in the county budget, such as the county vehicle fleet. And while we would have hoped to see it happen sooner, Murphy still deserves credit for chairing a committee that now has a plan to create a more unified economic development approach through a new first-stop agency that will be unveiled this week.If elected, we would like to see Murphy speak up more often - and make waves, if necessary - rather than let others steer the conversation, and thus the public policy.
The Citizen endorses Linda Murphy for Cayuga County Legislature District 11.
• county Legislature District 5
Pinckney best option to fill Lockwood's seat
The race for Cayuga County Legislature District 5 features three men seeking first terms, Phil Dello Stritto, Paul Pinckney and Paul Schenck. They seek to fill the seat held by Ray Lockwood, who is not running for re-election after 14 years representing the district that includes the towns of Fleming and Aurelius.
Dello Stritto, running on the Democratic line, ran a clean campaign that was focused mainly on the goal of bringing more unity to the county Legislature. He's a staunch opponent of any privatization of the county home health agency, and advocates getting more help for private businesses that are struggling. But Dello Stritto largely seems disengaged from the major issues facing the county, saying he needs more time to form opinions. He points out that it takes two years to truly learn the job, and while there's some truth to that statement, it's not an excuse to be overly vague as a candidate.
Schenck, the Independence Party candidate, speaks passionately about better spending controls for the county, and accurately points to a need for legislators to get a highly qualified county manager hired. Like Dello Stritto, he opposes any privatization efforts of the county home health agency, and he's pushing for a settlement with the Cayuga Indian Nation regarding the land-into-trust issue. Schenck's past history as supervisor in Aurelius does include at least one major concern - his decision to essentially walk off the job and stop attending meetings for the last half of his final year in office. He now says he was treated poorly by others on the board, including Pinckney, but we don't accept that excuse. Voters need to know they can count on a candidate to stay on the job, even when the politics of the time make them uncomfortable.
Pinckney, the Republican, Conservative and Green Field candidate, has had some of his own issues with meeting attendance as an Aurelius Town Board member, but most of it involved having to be late on several occasions because of professional obligations. Unlike Schenck, he has not deliberately avoided his elected office duties. Pinckney no longer has any such commitments, so he vows being at meetings and on time will not be a concern. On the issues, Pinckney is the most well-versed of the three candidates, and his stances are the most in line with what is best for the county. He opposes negotiated settlements with the Cayugas, pointing to the failure of past negotiations and the strong indications that the county is on the right legal side of many of these disputes. He wisely calls for an end to the micromanagement practices employed by county legislators in the past, and wants a better job description created for county manager.
The Citizen endorses Paul Pinckney for county Legislature District 5.
• county Legislature District 13
Hutchinson brings a common-sense approach
Voters in Cayuga County Legislature District 13 in the city of Auburn will choose between James Hutchinson and Timothy Lattimore. Both candidates have city government experience, with Hutchinson having served one term on the Auburn City Council in the early 1990s and Lattimore serving as a city councilor before becoming mayor.
Lattimore, the Republican, Independence and Conservative party candidate, continues to state his desire to try to reach a settlement with Indian tribes over sovereignty issues, and he pushes for a local casino as a possible means to make it happen. He sees the need for the county to find creative ways to cut spending. We appreciate the fact that Lattimore, the city's mayor from 2004 to 2007 is Auburn's biggest cheerleader. He's a prolific networker who will sing the area's praises with anyone who will listen. But it will take more than being a good-will ambassador to make a real impact on the most pressing issues facing the county.
Hutchinson, on the Democratic line, recognizes that Democrats can have difficulty getting a lot accomplished in the Republican-controlled Legislature, but sees the potential to align himself with representatives from districts just outside the city of Auburn, who might also feel overlooked at times. He is a strong advocate for aggressively marketing Emerson Park as an event center and eliminating the entrance fee because it's a barrier, he believes, to local people who might use the park more often for shorter visits. Hutchinson may be over-reaching when he talks about the need to change what he calls the archaic committee system currently utilized by the county Legislature, but we appreciate his candor - and he might just be onto something in regard to potential reforms. He also is wise to understand that a casino is not a realistic economic development goal for this county.
The Citizen endorses James Hutchinson for Cayuga County Legislature District 13.
• county Legislature District 7
Experience makes Fearon the right choice
The race for Cayuga County Legislature District 7 features long-time incumbent George Fearon and relative political newcomer Barbara Abbott King in a district that covers Springport, Scipio and Ledyard.
Prior to this campaign, Abbott King, running on the Democratic and Independence party lines, took two consecutive tries at ousting state Assemblyman Gary Finch. Her current campaign, however, still reflects a stronger desire to affect statewide issues than those more specific to Cayuga County. Among her top priorities would be to pressure Albany, through the association of counties, to change the state's tax structure. She says she doesn't believe in putting resources into pitching the county as a place to do business, but would rather allow enterprises to flourish on their own. Abbott King is correct when she says that legislative bodies need to work together, but focusing too much on statewide issues rather than the day-to-day operations of the county make her the wrong candidate for the job she's asking for. We also strongly disagree with her stance that the county should eliminate the manager's office, and return to its former system of day-to-day leadership under the county chairman.
Fearon, on the Republican line this year, disappointed us earlier in his tenure. He was chairman of the Legislature when the illegal removal of asbestos from a county building came to light, and he clammed up for too long when asked what he knew and when. But he is well-versed on local issues, and he falls on the side of common sense more often than not. He refuses to consider negotiating with the Cayuga Indian Nation, insisting that the court system is poised to back the state on the issue of tax collection. He is carefully weighing both sides in the option of selling the county home health care agency. He wants to make further spending cuts to the county budget in anticipation of the state's economic woes further impacting local coffers. He understands the need for the county to hire a full-time county manager.
The Citizen endorses George Fearon for Cayuga County Legislature District 7.
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OMG wrote on Nov 1, 2009 7:59 PM:
cheeko wrote on Nov 1, 2009 5:51 PM: