3 will be on ballot in Tuesday’s Holley village election
HOLLEY – The Village of Holley will hold its election Tuesday from noon to 9 p.m. at the Village Clerk’s Office, 72 Public Square.
Voters will select two trustees for 2-year terms from a field of three candidates.
Current Trustee James DeFilipps was appointed to the board following the election last year of former trustee Brian Sorochty as mayor.
DeFilipps is an Orleans County Deputy Sheriff and received the New York State Sheriffs Association Deputy of the Year award in 2016. He has lived in Holley for most of his life.
“I worked for the village years ago in the police department,” he said. “I have a lot of family and friends in the village, and the village has always meant a lot to me. I hope to be able to keep taxes down while we keep services up and get our infrastructure more up to date. Holley is a wonderful small village that I am, and will be, proud to serve as a trustee.”
DeFilipps is running on the Peoples Party line.
Rochelle Moroz moved to the village four years ago to be closer to family. She and her husband have one daughter and two granddaughters.
“We love the quiet, friendly charm of the village and have met many wonderful people since moving here,” she said. “And, we really enjoy the canal – walking around it and kayaking on it.”
Moroz holds a bachelor’s degree from Saint Leo College in Florida and is a Vietnam Era military veteran. She formerly served as a church secretary/treasurer and said she understands the importance of maintaining a balanced budget and spending frugally.
“I am excited about the revival of the old school and the possibility of brining other businesses and services to this village,” Moroz said. “I was encouraged to run for trustee by a few village residents who think I would be a positive addition to the board. I want to continue the good work already started, with the desire to even better enhance the community experience.”
Moroz is running on the Common Sense Party line.
Kurt Wannenwetsch has lived in the village for close to ten years, “and I grew up just two miles outside the village. As a life-long resident of the area, I have seen first hand the decline of the village,” he said. “I would truly like to see Holley become a better community.”
Wannenwetsch says there are many important issues facing the village including the need for more control over spending; lack of businesses in the village; lack of communication back to residents; more accessible public board meetings and better communication to the residents as to when they take place; the need of a more proactive approach to curbing the known drug use and illegal activities in and around the Holley Hotel; and degradation of the old buildings in the Public Square.
He enjoys living in the village because, “It is a great little historic country town (and), with exception (of) a few specific areas, a quiet town,” Wannenwetsch said.
He is running on the Citizens Voice Party line.
Current Trustee Skip Carpenter decided not to run for re-election due to ongoing health issues in his family.
