Former Clarendon candidate asks board member to hold off accepting new term after wife’s arrest

CLARENDON – Fred Seeman is due to take the oath of office for a new term as Clarendon town councilman on Friday.

Cecelia Pacheco Stevens

Seeman’s wife, Melissa Ierlan, serves as the town’s code enforcement officer. She is also administrator of the Hillside Cemetery, and a leader of the Clarendon Historical Society.

She was charged by State Police on Tuesday with two felonies – falsifying business records in the first degree and second-degree grand larceny with property value exceeding $50,000.

State Police haven’t released more information about the case and Clarendon Town Supervisor Marc Major has declined any comment.

Cecelia Pacheco Stevens ran for the Clarendon Town Board in November and lost to Seeman and Chris Caufield. Stevens, a Democrat, received 125 votes to 311 for Caufield and 310 for Seeman.

Stevens issued a statement on Wednesday evening asking Seeman to resign and not be sworn in for a new term.

This is the statement released by the campaign of Cecelia Pacheco Stevens:

The campaign of Cecelia Pacheco Stevens wishes to address recent developments affecting the Town Board with care, respect, and a continued focus on the best interests of our community.

Recent news reports have indicated that Melissa Ierlan, a valued and longtime member of our community, has been arrested by New York State Police on felony theft charges. As with all legal matters, it is essential to state clearly and unequivocally that Melissa is innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. We recognize the many contributions she has made to our town and hope that due process proceeds fairly and justly.

Fred Seeman, her husband and a current member of the Town Board, has not been accused of any wrongdoing. There is no allegation that he was involved in or aware of the matters currently before the courts. However, the Town Board is entrusted with significant responsibility, including oversight of public funds and financial decision-making on behalf of residents.

At moments like this, community trust is paramount. While difficult, residents reasonably expect their elected officials to consider whether their continued service supports that trust. With this in mind, we respectfully urge Fred Seeman to consider resigning from the Town Board in the interest of transparency and public confidence.

The upcoming organizational meeting on January 2 at 9:00 a.m., when Fred is scheduled to be sworn into a new term, presents an appropriate opportunity for him to do so.

Should a vacancy occur, we strongly encourage the Town Board to appoint Cecelia Pacheco Stevens to serve our community. Ms. Stevens ran a positive, Clarendon-focused campaign, conducted herself with integrity, and continued to advocate for residents even after the November election. Appointing her would bring a new voice to the Board. A voice grounded in civic engagement, accountability, and respect for the public trust.

Our town deserves leadership that reflects both competence and confidence from the community it serves. We believe Cecelia Pacheco Stevens embodies those values and stands ready to serve.

Respectfully,

The Campaign of Cecelia Pacheco Stevens