Candidates file petitions to run in Albion, Medina village elections
Both villages have contested races for mayor, trustee
ALBION/MEDINA – The candidates are set for the March 18 village elections in Albion and Medina with the two communities having races for mayor and trustee.
In Medina, Marguerite Sherman is seeking re-election to a two-year term as mayor. She is running under the “Village Party.”
Deborah Padoleski, a current trustee and retired Medina village clerk/treasurer, is challenging Sherman, a retired special education teacher. Padoleski and Sherman have often been at odds with each other the past two years over the purchase of a new ladder truck for the fire department and a one-bay addition to house the vehicle.
Padoleski said Sherman and the previous board didn’t properly plan for the new truck and addition. Padoleski led the effort to have the new truck declared surplus at Monday’s Village Board meeting, saying that $1.7 million expense plus at least another $1 million for the fire hall addition are unaffordable for the community.
Sherman said the ladder truck is needed and the costs will only rise if the village has to sell this one and eventually pursue another one. The fire hall from the 1930s is in need of upgrades and is too small for the new truck. Sherman has tried to get Padoleski and the majority of the board to back grant applications for the fire hall addition but has been unable to get a consensus so far.
Padoleski is running under the “People’s Party” and is joined by Trustee candidates – Mark Prawel, a current trustee, retired Medina police officer and car mechanic; and Jeffrey Wagner, the owner of the former Apple Grove restaurant in Medina.
Dean Bellack, an active volunteer for the YMCA, United Way and Lions Club, also is running as a trustee under the “Connect Orleans Party.” Bellack has been vocal about the village’s high taxes and need to expand housing options in the community.
In Albion, the Democrats and Republicans held their party caucuses last month. The Democrats picked Joyce Riley, a current village trustee, to run for mayor.
The Republicans backed Tim McMurray, a current trustee for mayor, and also supported Kevin Sheehan and Jami Allport for village trustee.
Sheehan was on the Village Board for many years until 2020. He also worked as Albion’s code enforcement officer and is retired an a union plumber and pipe fitter. He is currently a commissioner for the Albion Joint Fire District.
Allport is the executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern and the cheerleading coach at Albion.
Tuesday at 5 p.m. was the deadline to file independent petitions signed by at least 100 registered voters in the village. Riley submitted petitions for mayor for the “Vote for Albion” party. Issac Robinson also submitted petitions as trustee for “Vote for Albion.” Robinson is a former Army medic who used to own the Robinson’s Redemption business in Albion near Walmart.
