Editor:

As the campaign season is winding down and people prepare to cast their vote on Tuesday, I wanted to wrap up my campaign for sheriff by making a few comments.

First and foremost I want to thank all of the supporters that stood by me throughout this long campaign season. I have met many wonderful people over the past several months. Many of you have been out there in the community working hard while giving up your time to support me and what I believe we need to do to make Orleans County a better place.

Some of you have chosen to quietly support me from behind the scenes because of who you are, positions you hold, fear of threats, repercussions or simply that is the how you wanted to be involved. Many friends and family have been in the trenches with me. All of you, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

My family has enjoyed many happy times and great memories have been created. They have also felt some pain and hurt that politics brings. For that I am sorry. No one should have to be subjected to some of the nonsense we have all seen.

I know there are many people out there that have had enough and feel as though Election Day can’t get here soon enough. In some ways I agree. You have been inundated by political signs, advertisements, mailers, letters to the editor and social media posts.

I have tried to balance getting the name, facial recognition and message out to you without overstepping those boundaries and feeling as though I am forcing politics on you to the point of making you nauseous. That was never my intent and if I have done that I apologize.

I have said from the beginning I am a cop and not a politician. Some will say when you are running for office that is not a good thing to say. I say but it is true. I am not going to tell you about any unattainable goals or impossible dreams.

I have been serving this community for over 40 years starting as a little kid hanging out at the fire station with my father – later on as a junior firefighter and on to an adult firefighter. I then became a deputy sheriff and started a career that I believe is the greatest job in the world. I would not change a thing.

Tens of thousands of your tax dollars have already been invested in me so I can better serve the people of Orleans County. Countless numbers of hours in classes and trainings so I could come back and apply it to my profession. I have worked my way up through the ranks and been involved in some of the most menial tasks to the most horrific scenes imaginable. I don’t take those experiences lightly.

I have not been standing around with my hands in my pockets I have been up to my elbows in police work as a front liner, supervisor and administrator. I have been the first through the door on a drug warrant as well as the last one to leave a death scene and just about everything in between.

I have held the hand of a grieving mother and shared a tear while telling them their child would not be coming home. My family has made many sacrifices to allow me to be a cop, firefighter and public servant. I believe it is these real experiences and not a number that has prepared me to take that next step in my career.

Throughout this campaign I have said I am running on my qualifications, training and experience. I have taken the high road and made every effort to run a clean campaign talking about me. I want to tell you what I can bring to the position of sheriff.

I am not interested in talking about the other candidates, taking any shots at anyone or even mentioning their name. Let them tell you about their qualifications. I have been around a long time and have seen what has been going on for years behind the walls at the Sheriff’s Office as well as on the streets of Orleans County.

There needs to be a change of identity at the Sheriff’s Office. Change is hard for some people. It scares them. There are those that will not support someone that wants to make that change. People believe cops and corrections officers should be held to a higher standard.

First, I want to hold them to a standard. Then I want to progress to a higher standard. Accountability scares some people. As public servants it shouldn’t.

I have picked an undersheriff candidate in Brett Sobieraski that knows about leadership, supervision, higher standards and accountability. He also brings in a tremendous amount of experience teaching everyone from beginners to seasoned veterans. Brett’s police knowledge and people skills along with his fresh eyes and fresh ideas are the perfect compliment to lead the department to a brighter future.

After the last vote is counted and all the yard signs, banners and balloons are taken down the politicking will be over and it will be time to get down to the business at hand serving and protecting you the people of Orleans County.

I have prepared myself for this job. I have eliminated as much of that learning curve as possible. From day one I will be the sheriff, your sheriff, truly the people’s sheriff. Working and serving you as I have been for more than 40 years.

Thank you for this wonderful opportunity. Please make your voice be heard and VOTE on Nov. 3.

Tom Drennan
Kendall
Candidate for sheriff

Editor:

As a resident of the Town of Yates, I support Wesley Bradley for town councilman and John Belson for town supervisor in the election on Tuesday.

They have done a superb job serving our town in the past and have earned the right to be re-elected. Their decisions have been for the best interest of our town.

SOS (Save Ontario Shores) members do not like the decisions the board has made. They sued the very Town Board board they are seeking to be elected to because they didn’t like one of the decisions made.

The following are working on a survey for all town residents: Wes Bradley, Councilman; Taylor Quarles, representing Apex; and Richard Pucher, representing SOS.

On Oct. 8, I received a survey from SOS. This survey had to be postmarked by Oct. 9. Since I am for the wind project, I found this survey were clearly biased and against the project that I support. It led me to believe that this was an attempt to undermine the survey the town committee is working on. That survey is fair for all residents, both for and against the wind project.

I personally know of homeowners and business owners who did not receive a survey. How does that make the SOS survey fair?

Our Town Board has not made a stance for or against the wind project. I will find out their decision, along with everyone else, when they make it public.

I vote for the person who will do the best job for our town. It is my right to put a sign showing my support based on the job they have done and how they handle themselves as board members.

The conduct the SOS members have shown at board meetings is not the conduct I would like to see if they get a seat on our board.

I urge the Town of Yates votes to cast their ballot to re-elect Wesley Bradley for councilman and John Belson for town supervisor. Let these men continue make their decisions, based on facts, not false statements.

I have every confidence that their decisions will be in the best interest of our town.

Donna Bane
Lyndonville

Editor:

As many “Albion-ites” know, over 20 years ago (in 1991) the solid-waste behemoth, Waste Management, approached the Albion Town Board with interest in constructing a new solid-waste landfill in the Town.

While there are several key players that fought Waste Management’s efforts, no one is more responsible for keeping the proposed landfill out of Albion than my mother, Susan “Kim” Remley. She and Patricia Wood brought SPOC (Stop Polluting Orleans County) back to life, and as part of their effort the small group of conservationists and activists successfully encouraged and enticed numerous candidates to run for town office on a single, anti-landfill platform. Just to name a few of the winners: former Supervisors Ted Sharping, Dr. John Fernandez, former Council members Scott Tilden, Dale Davis, Nancy Ebbs, and others not intentionally left out.

What many “Albion-ites” do not know is that the final word on Waste Management’s attempts to construct a new landfill rested, ultimately, with the New York State Uniform Court System. I encourage the people of this community to Google Waste Management of N.Y., LLC v. Town of Albion (legal citation: 859 N.Y.S.2d 900 (Supreme Court of New York, 2005)).

Read the factual record and the Judge’s decision. Because if you do, you will understand that the only reason why there is no 500-foot landfill just north of Route 31 is because the Albion Town Board, under the learned stewardship of Dr. John Fernandez, passed an ordinance requiring a special permit be issued by the Board itself before any landfill construction or expansion could take place.

The legal doctrine the N.Y. Supreme Court, and ultimately the highest court in the State, the Court of Appeals, affirmed is called “home rule.” Quoting directly from the opinion: “There is no threshold or unit of measure that reflects the residents perceptions or level of irritation and we therefore defer to localities on such quality of life issues based on home rule.” And with that, the Court dismissed Waste Management’s petition to compel the Town of Albion to approve a solid-waste landfill permit.

I write today because the Town of Albion is once again faced with an overzealous “landfiller,” who wishes to make millions at the expense of our Town’s future. As any academic or economist will tell you, landfills do not benefit the towns they are located in.

Landfills lower property values, erode the tax base, and contaminate groundwater and soil. Now, some will assuredly proclaim that SPOC’s argument is an example of the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) movement. Unfortunately for those naysayers, Albion has already been tasked with dealing with the fallout of two existing landfills, and we should not be forced to spend the next century cleaning up after another one.

To this end, there is only one candidate for the Albion Town Board that will fight with every ounce of her being to keep the landfill out and to keep the local “home rule” ordinance on the books. That candidate is Ms. Darlene Benton. With Ms. Benton on the Town Board, three of the five votes, a majority, will be locked-in against any new or expanded landfilling in the Town.

Without Ms. Benton on the Board, it is uncertain that a majority of the Board would vote to block further landfilling in the Town. The choice is clear, but surprisingly, many Albion voters thought the landfill issue had been resolved years ago. Unfortunately, this is not the case, as a new proprietor has been investigating and pursuing the possibility of re-opening and expanding Orleans Sanitary Landfill (OSL).

The good voters of the Town of Albion have risen to the occasion before and have repeatedly and resoundingly rejected additional landfilling. We must rise to the occasion again on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and vote for Ms. Darlene Benton for Albion Town Board.

Go Vote!

Andrew “Drew” Remley
SPOC Member (1995 – Present)
Albion

Editor:

You have heard from two of the candidates on all the experience they have as “cops.”

That doesn’t mean they have the ability to be a team leader. There is no “I” in team.
You need to vote for a leader that already has the support from the men and women of the Sheriff’s Department. That leader is Randy Bower. He has the endorsement of all the unions – local and state.

Randy will make the Sheriff’s Department a more cohesive and effective place to work for the members of the department. This will ultimately result in safer community for all the men, women and children that live in Orleans County.

Join me and vote for Randy Bower as the People’s Sheriff.

Rick Harmer
Yates
Retired Investigator, OCSD

Editor:

During this 2015 race for sheriff, much has been said about our father Dave Green, former sheriff of Orleans County, and his having no experience in police work prior to running for sheriff in 1978. Knowing how hard our father worked to achieve the credentials to run for sheriff, we feel compelled to set the record straight.

From 1966 to 1972, Dad was the fire chief for the East Shelby Volunteer Fire Department. In 1970 he was appointed Orleans County Emergency Manager and in 1972 was given the additional duties of Orleans County Fire Coordinator. Dad ran this department and oversaw its budget until 1978. In that capacity, he attained the following experience:

Attended the NYS Fire Academy for arson investigation
Attended several arson courses at Niagara County Community College
Over a two -year period, spent two to three days a week working with the City of Rochester arson squad
Worked closely with various police departments on arson investigations
Testified as an expert witness on arson cases
Was in charge of 40 to 50 auxiliary police officers
As Orleans County Fire Coordinator, worked alongside 1600 volunteer firefighters
After the Blizzard of ’77, one of the most devastating natural disasters in Orleans County history, Dad received much-deserved praise for his handling of crisis situations

When Dave Green ran for sheriff, although he was not a police officer, he was an accomplished and experienced administrator, as well as an arson investigator.

We are very proud of our father. To say he had no experience is just not true. Dave Green had experience, and we believe experience matters.

Respectfully,

Jeff and Bronwyn Green
Lisa (Green) Russo
Scott and Meaghan Green

Editor:

We need a leader, a leader who will obey the laws. The definition of a leader is an individual who has the clarity to know the right things to do. This defines Don Organisciak.

He has the experience, has no personal agenda and can lead the Sheriff’s office.

There will be no fear of reprisal from the staff. Make the right choice and on Nov. 3 vote for Don Organisciak for Sheriff.

Jeanne Crane
Carlton
Orleans County Democratic Chairwoman

Editor:

As I have campaigned, attended events and listened to the concerns of many voters there is one common theme that I keep hearing: “It is time for a fresh face.”

I am exactly that: a 21-year-old with a fresh perspective on the issues and a unique ability to work well with people of all different political ideologies. I am not your seasoned politician.

I am not someone who is controlled by a party. I am not someone who owes people political favors. I am a passionate person who has been raised in this great county and wants nothing more than to make a difference.

This past week, I saw two articles that my opponent (Don Allport) was quoted in. One of the articles he was quoted in dealt with him condemning the Article X process set forth by the Power New York Act of 2011 in regards to the Apex Wind Project.

Now, I want to be very clear, not only did I condemn the Article X process several months ago, but I did something that my opponent hasn’t done, I took a stance on the issue and I stated that I unequivocally oppose the project.

The other article that he was quoted in was in regards to higher gas prices in Orleans Countyand Mr. Allport is right, it’s wrong for us to be paying more in our county due to unfair zone-pricing. He chooses issues that almost no one can disagree withstate overreach and gas prices.

I mention these articles because, for the past several months, Mr. Allport has not appeared to be a leader in our county. He has not been heard from in months and hasn’t campaigned much.

Now, with just a couple of days left before the election, he is speaking out to be a leader, in a last ditch effort to gain publicity before Election Day. In other words, he is playing a political game and in turn playing you, the voters.

Lastly, I want to express my most sincere gratitude to all of my supporters for their support in this long campaign process. With just a couple of days left before we cast our ballots, I want urge and ask everyoneDemocrats, Republicans, Conservatives, independentsto vote for me on Nov. 3.

Respectfully,

James White
Gaines
Candidate for Orleans County Legislature

Editor:

It has been a long, at times contentious, election season.

Living in a country which promotes the tenets of democracy, people are free to choose, which includes voting for elected officials. In spite of all the rhetoric, it still remains paramount that our opportunity to choose should not be demeaned.

Regardless of one’s party affiliation, no one should be locked into supporting the choice of the party, especially if a voter has done his/her due diligence and researched a candidate’s credentials.

An informed voter must be satisfied that the vote cast will be for a candidate who can best meet the needs of the office and those being served. Not everyone endorsed by a particular party is, in my research, the most competent and experienced candidate to be favored with my vote.

Through 50-plus years of voting, I have voted for the person most capable of fulfilling the duties of an office, regardless of party affiliation.

Vote, rise above party politics and expensive ads. Candidates should be vetted and selected by the voter.

“Experience Matters” is much more than a catchy phrase. It is the essence of a person’s ability to come prepared to do a job. Regardless of party affiliation or allegiance, a voter is free to choose. Isn’t that what the democratic process should be all about?

Chief Deputy Tom Drennan’s experience and ability to serve trumps party loyalty for this Republican voter.

Maureen Blackburn
Ridgeway

Editor:

This is regarding Susan Campbell’s letter posted in the Hub on Oct. 28, “SOS accused of undermining wishes of majority of full-time Yates residents.”

The law is the law. You can not vote with just a post office box – you have to have a residential address. The regulations are clear and stated on the NY voter registration website. Ms. Campbell needs to do better research.

If the people of Yates and Somerset don’t understand that this wind turbine project is the BIGGEST & MOST IMPORTANT issue in these two towns right now, they are living in Fantasy Land. The outcome of this potential project, if it continues, will have a negative effect that will last for years.

I sincerely hope that Simon, Riggi and Maid are elected. The town of Yates needs new leadership with new ideas. These men have them and are willing to work with ALL citizens.

I have heard NO ideas from the other candidates.

As to the “wishes of the majority,” the SOS survey clearly showed a majority AGAINST the wind turbine project. The survey promised by the Town of Yates board has yet to materialize and clearly will not be put out before the election.

Susan Dudley
Lyndonville

Editor:

After reading my opponents’ statements in last week’s Pennysaver, I was not happy. I filled out a ‘Freedom of Information Law’ (FOIL) form to collect the numbers. I looked at tax bills on different properties in Barre over three years, tax information and the bond issue in water district #1.

There is a 7.8% tax increase. There is a rise in state retirement and health insurance for town employees, courtroom equipment, contractual costs and maps for the water districts.

Remember last winter? Added salt purchases alone totaled $43,480 plus overtime, maintenance and fuel. Now if you compare your 2014 tax bill to your 2015 bill there is only a change of a few cents. The reason is that the reassessment for National Grid’s power line increased and offset our tax increase.

The water district #1 bond issue is a 23-year bond that started in 1994 and will be paid off in 2016.

The Town of Barre has a website (click here) that posts the minutes of all board meetings. Anyone can view the minutes, see the issues and who was present.

I encourage all to check the web site regularly, attend board meetings on the first and second Wednesday of every month and exercise our right for information.

I want to know the facts, not just half-truths, as I am sure you want. I believe in an open door policy and will work for you as your next Barre Town Councilman.

You want someone that will work for you and not just make promises then vote for Sean Pogue on the Republican line.

Sean Pogue
Barre

Editor:

When it comes to the race for sheriff we keep hearing hearing experience this and experience that. What about your rights to keep and bear arms?

A violation of the constitution Is TREASON! The Democratic candidate by his own admission has stated not only will he violate his OATH of office but commit treason as well.

The people’s sheriff will follow what the people want. Since an amendment would be needed, would he be willing to do the same?

Keeping this in mind, along with experience, Drennan is the best person for our next sheriff and has my vote.

Craig Wilston
Albion

Editor:

I would like to remind the voters of Orleans County that back on May 7, 2015, Tom Drennan was endorsed by the Republican Party Committee as their candidate for sheriff.

The same committee members that have been elected to represent the ten towns of Orleans County and look out for our best interest chose Tom Drennan.

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand that this committee has the knowledge and information needed to make unbiased choices for their constituents without fear or favor. The reason they hold that position is because we, as voters, trusted them with making important decisions for us.

Many have been quoted as saying, “Vote Republican, be loyal to your party.” As far as I am concerned, the Republican choice WAS Tom Drennan.

Forcing a primary and winning by 21 votes is not representative of what the Republican Party truly wanted, or he would have been overwhelmingly endorsed as such. Out of more than 10,000 active registered Republican voters, only one-third showed up on Sept. 10.

I am honored to have two DRENNAN for SHERIFF signs in my front yard. They are not fancy or showy. They are practical, down to earth and humble signs, which exactly represent the man that they endorse. It could not be more clear that Tom Drennan is absolutely meant to be (and deserves to be) the next sheriff of this County.

Tom Drennan may not have been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but he was born with a sterling character, and that is something that can never be taken away from him. It’s who he is, always has been and always will be.

Pamela Geraci
Murray

Editor:

This is an open letter to the people of the Town of Yates. I am writing this letter to ask for your support in the upcoming election, Nov. 3 in the town of Yates.

Many of you have known me for years but, for those of you who don’t, let me tell you a little about myself. My wife of 41 years and I grew up in this community and two of our children are raising their families in Yates.

I have been a Town Board member since 2004 and have had the privilege of serving as your Town Supervisor since 2010. Being active in the Lions Club and sponsoring the Little League in the town has kept me actively involved with many of the residents here.

Needless to say, I LOVE THIS TOWN. I want to see it prosper.

During my time on the board I have worked beside the other board members to protect our town and improve it. We were instrumental in helping new businesses establish themselves here. Two examples would be Medina Window and Millers General Store. We have always done everything we could to support the farming community in our town.

Unfortunately, we have also had businesses that have closed due to retirement as well as family and financial issues. As unwelcome as these closings have been for all of us, the circumstances are beyond the control of the board.

Just like you, I want this town to blossom and regenerate. We, (the Town Board and I) will continue to do everything we can to keep existing businesses here while also providing new businesses tools to open and succeed.

I have always worked hard to support the whole town and the majority wishes. I believe that together we can bring back the vibrant, thriving Main Street that so many of us grew up with.

I am asking for your vote on Nov. 3. Again, thank you for your support to ensure that our children and grandchildren will be able to grow and succeed without having to leave our beautiful town.

Thank you,

John Belson
Yates Town Supervisor

Editor:

I am writing to encourage the voters of the Town of Yates to support Jim Simon for Town Supervisor and John Riggi & Glenn Maid for Town Board.

I have been a resident of the Town of Yates for 33 years, a member and past president of the Lyndonville Lions Club, a past member & president of the Lyndonville Area Foundation, past chairman of the Lions 4th of July and former Superintendent of Schools. I started attending the Town Board meetings in January 2015, and I was dismayed at the way our Town Board conducts its business.

First of all there was a lack of professionalism among the board. Several members dress as if they are going to a summer picnic. On several occasions, members of the audience who were speaking were belittled and disrespected by the board members. There is a lack of understanding of parliamentary procedure and there is no discussion on the issues. Everything seems to be rubber-stamped. To the public, there is a lack of transparency.

The upcoming election is not a vote on the Lighthouse Wind Project, but on the ineptness of the Town Board to represent its citizens. The Lighthouse Wind Project will be worked out by the process set up by the State of New York. The Town Board is a different story.

Our Town Supervisor has been aware of this project since July 2014. Yet the town has not sent out any informational letters or newsletters to the residents. There is very little information on the Town of Yates website. Most of the information provided to citizens has come from SOS in the form of presentations, workshops and their website. Where are our leaders?

The Town Board has not responded to the many questions and presentations made to the board about this project. They have not discussed the issues in public and in some cases they have not even read the materials presented to them.

The issue this Tuesday is not if you are in favor or oppose to the Lighthouse Wind Project, the real issue is the ability of this board to represent all the citizens of Yates, to be leaders on this and other issues, to keep the public informed and stop burying there heads in the sand and saying we have no part in the decision.

As a major steakholder in the project they have a great deal of input. As County Legislator Lynne Johnson stated, “The role of government should not be to harm the very citizens it is charged to protect.”

It is time for change.

Richard P. Pucher
Lyndonville

Editor:

Years ago, I worked at a community college that was trying to meet the needs of disabled students. Accessibility was just becoming mandatory, and whether the students were capable or not, the college had to accept them. Our task was to make sure they were able to get through their courses.

All these students knew they had to work three times as hard to get half as far, and they all knew by the time they graduated that they would have a difficult time getting jobs. The interviewer would see the white cane, the hearing aids, the walker, or the wheelchair before he would see the person’s capabilities.

One profoundly deaf student was enrolled in Automotive Technology, and his teachers had misgivings that he would be able to get through because he couldn’t diagnose engine noises. One day a car came in with an engine tick. All the students took turns using an automotive stethoscope in the attempt to figure out, unsuccessfully, which lifter was bad.

As a joke, the last one handed the deaf student the ‘scope.’ He waved it aside and placed his fingers on the exposed rocker arms. Within 30 seconds, he had pinpointed the problem. Nobody else even considered tactile sense as an option.

Because accessibility is not 100 percent anywhere, disabled people have to think outside of the box. This is Mr. Bower’s trademark. Mr. Drennan has a tag line of “Experience Matters,” meaning on-the-road, behind-the-badge experience. Both he and Mr. Organisciak have insisted that physical experience is most important, because Mr. Bower can never achieve that. This is why, whether he anticipated or it was in response to this, Mr. Bower has had an undersheriff from the very start. It was never really about the undersheriff. It was about having an answer to his opponents’ claims.

It is also not about “having the undersheriff do all the work for the sheriff.” The sheriff’s job is to coordinate the different aspects of his office (jail, animal control, etc.) and to keep everything moving smoothly. It is the undersheriff’s job to do the daily assignments and to manage the road patrol. So while it is not necessary to pick an undersheriff before an election, it has been a bonus for the public to know exactly with whom they will be dealing directly.

As for me, I would like to have a sheriff who can anticipate and be pro-active, rather than reactive. I would like a sheriff who can postulate all the contingencies and be prepared, with a solid plan in place.

Before this race, I never imagined any county could have a sheriff who happens to have his own personal wheels, but after having watched and having talked to many people, I can’t imagine anyone better than Randy Bower to meet the needs of the people of this county.

Judith Larkin
Ridgeway