Write-in candidate running for Clarendon town supervisor

Photo by Tom Rivers: Kathy Harnischfeger speaks during Tuesday’s Clarendon Town Board meeting. She challenged Councilman Fred Seeman to a debate for town supervisor. Seeman told her he would think about it.

CLARENDON – A Clarendon resident has announced a write-in campaign for town supervisor.

Kathy Harnischfeger wants to give people an option besides Fred Seeman, who won the Republican primary over incumbent Marc Major. Seeman won’t have any challengers with their names on the ballot because the deadline has passed for independent candidates or other political parties to nominate a candidate.

Seeman is currently a town councilman. His wife, Melissa Ierlan, was the town’s code enforcement officer, historian and cemetery administrator. On June 26, three days after the Republican primary, she pleaded guilty to grand larceny in the fourth degree in Orleans County Court, admitting to taking $62,000 without authorization from the Clarendon Historical Society when she was the group’s president.

She is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 26. Ierlan won’t have to go to jail, but will need to pay full restitution and will be on probation for five years as part of a plea agreement.

Harnischfeger said Seeman shouldn’t have pursued the higher office given the case against his wife.

“There has been a very dark cloud over our town now,” Harnischfeger said. “The respect for our town has been diminished around the county.”

Harnischfeger is a semi-retired school teacher. She worked at the Rochester City School District but continues as a sub at Spencerport. She also is a home health aide and an animal rescuer.

She described herself as a moderate Democrat who would insist on integrity in the Clarendon Town Hall and push for lower taxes for residents.

“Why not me?” she said. “I’m a leader naturally and I will fight for all.”