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:

Nine weeks?

This is apparently how long it takes for a committee to work on a survey and process regarding the proposed wind project in the Town of Yates.

Resolution No. 72-8/15 was approved on Aug. 13 to, in part, survey town residents on the proposed wind project. Town Councilman Wes Bradley made comments about the survey at the Sept. 9 Town Board meeting.

Councilman Bradley was also quoted in an Oct. 9 article on Orleans Hub that there was no timetable to complete the survey because of the uncertainties of reaching consensus with the three parties.

What? This can’t be the first time a survey for proposed wind turbines has been developed. Even accounting for survey questions specific to the Town of Yates, there should be no need to re-invent the survey “wheel.” And what consensus needs to be reached? Funding? Question format and content? They are not developing the American Community Survey from the Census Bureau.

This indeed is a Town of Yates matter regarding completing the survey. But what is decided could affect residents in positive/negative ways in the towns of Carlton, Gaines and Ridgeway. It’s reasonable that a fair amount of people are waiting to see what the survey results yield.

A survey/process should not being taking nine-plus weeks to complete. If it means extra hours for all involved to get a survey in front of town residents, that is not an unreasonable expectation.

Tom Klotzbach
Waterport

Editor:

Chris Bourke and I have the knowledge, experience, and desire to serve the people of Orleans County. The time is now to give the Office of Sheriff back to the people.

For those of you who have witnessed our campaign over the past ten months, I pledge to you that we will have the same work ethic, drive, and accessibility as your sheriff and undersheriff that has been present in our campaign efforts.

It is a team approach I am bringing to the Office of Sheriff, and you are a part of the team. As the People’s Sheriff, I will focus my service on the people and be an effective advocate for Orleans County. When necessary, I will lobby Albany and our local governments for our public safety needs. We don’t work for the State of New York or any special interests; we work for you, the people of Orleans County. We are a team opposed to the SAFE Act.

Chris and I will work as hard for you as we have with this campaign for sheriff. As lifelong Orleans County residents, coupled with our 60 years of experience, we have a keen awareness of your public safety needs. It is that awareness along with our transparency, availability, and responsiveness that set us apart from my opponents.
There are two unions that comprise the department’s workforce, and I am proud to have garnered the endorsements of both. It means a lot to me that those hard working men and women, with their boots on the ground daily, have put their faith in me. The team is in place to execute our comprehensive plan featuring attainable objectives that will improve all five divisions of the department, at no additional cost to the taxpayers.

I have absolutely loved the entire process of this campaign and meeting all of the great people of Orleans County. Over the past 10 months you have inspired me, motivated me, and encouraged me that change for the best is possible.

In closing, I am truly blessed to live a life with great family, friends, and co-workers. I am running for sheriff to serve you, the people of Orleans County, and together we can make our public safety great.

Sincerely,

Randy Bower
Holley
Candidate for Orleans County Sheriff

Editor:

Tuesday is an extremely important day that will determine the future of the Town of Yates. My name is John Riggi and I am the endorsed Republican Candidate for Yates Town Council. As the endorsed candidate, I urge every registered voter to vote on Election Day, Nov. 3. Your vote is critical!

As you may also know, I am opposed to the Apex Lighthouse Wind project. The Apex Lighthouse Wind issue has expanded into every fiber that is life in this wonderful town. Fact remains, this proposed Industrial Wind Turbine Emplacement Project will forever scar this wonderful place visually, environmentally and socially in ways that will never heal.

However, we have options.

Meaningful economic development is critical to the future of Yates and turbines do not fit the definition of meaningful development. Especially when meaningful development is defined as long term improvement in the quality of life of all residents and a growing tax base.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Thursday, October 7th that 1366 Technologies, a manufacturer of technologies for the solar energy industry, will establish its first large commercial Direct Wafer„¢ production plant and significantly grow its workforce at the high-tech Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park in Alabama, Genesee County. Construction of the manufacturing facility will require two phases during which the company will create at least 1,000 new jobs within a 30 minutes commute Yates.

STAMP project final growth vector indicates 10,000 local jobs to be created at the site from numerous hi-tech business anchors.

The New York State incentive package includes up to $56.3 million and up to 8.5 megawatts of low-cost hydropower. As we have always known, there is significant hydropower capacity in Western New York and it is proven by the use of low cost hydropower to drive this largest economic development project in Genesee County history.

The approval of the STAMP project and its use of low-cost hydropower is of significant interest to the Town of Yates. 1366 Technologies will utilize this low-cost power to recruit and employ high tech, engineering personnel at a $100,000 average annual salary.

They will be spending that $100,000 average wage on homes, schools, goods and services. The competition for those people and dollars will be fierce and Yates needs to be prepared to compete for those people and dollars.

The STAMP Project illustrates one of those options available to the Town of Yates as an option much more suited to our, very unique area of New York State. And there are others as well. However, we need to resolve the turbine issue once and for all in order to move forward into the future.

The Town of Yates needs a plan to take advantage of the economic development opportunities such as the STAMP project. Otherwise, a wind turbine wasteland is our future.

The future of Yates is at stake and will be decided on Nov. 3, 2015.
There is much work to do, but we have a tremendous set of resources at our disposal to drive Yates into a successful future. I promise the constituents of the Town of Yates that I will work diligently to make use of our resources and town laws to guarantee an ever-improving Town of Yates.

John Riggi
Yates
President of Save Ontario Shores and candidate for Yates Town Board

Editor:

As I “sit, sipping coffee over the lake” this morning, I still ponder the sentiments of people like Patrick McKenna, a man I have never met, but understand is the son-in-law of Mr. Belson.

Wasn’t it fortuitous of Mr. McKenna to post that letter to the editor just before mine? Doesn’t his letter reinforce my supposition that “lake people” are resented in Lyndonville? Don’t you think it is time to act on the current state of affairs?

With all due respect to the “sitting” town supervisor and councilman running for re-election, I believe it is time to get out of your seat and address the issues. It is unconscionable that you rest on your laurels that you “love this town,” and that makes you the best candidate for office.

Isn’t it ironic that the two businesses that are your claim to fame are Amish, the very group of people who are shunned by so many of your people? Did you encourage tax breaks for those businesses, like you seem to be willing to do for an out-of-state multimillion dollar company?

Can you even begin to compare the impact Apex would have on the Town of Yates to the two Amish businesses, which, by the way, are owned by residents of this community?

I realize the positions of town supervisor and councilman are thankless jobs. It amazes me that the very busy people who are running for these positions are willing to take on even more responsibility.

They all have extremely important full-time jobs, and yet they are willing to donate countless hours to what appears to be an unappreciative town. But then, we all know that busy, talented, aggressive, forward-thinking individuals are the ones that can and do get the job done.

You have my vote and thanks, Jim Simon, Glenn Maid, and John Riggi. I have every confidence that you are the men who will do just that: Get the job done.

Cynthia Hellert
Town of Yates

Editor:

Let me start by saying that I don’t live in Orleans County. However, I have many family and friends that still do live there so I have a right to care about this sheriff’s race.

I’d just like to shed some light on some skewed information presented by people supporting Randy Bower.

In a recent letter to the Orleans Hub, writer Margo Passerell compared candidate Randy Bower’s lack of experience to retired Sheriff Dave Green and the late great former Monroe County Sheriff Andrew Meloni.

For the record, Sheriff Green was the Orleans County Coordinator of Civil Defense, Natural Disaster and Fire Investigation prior to being elected. He has also been quoted as saying Tom Drennan is the right man for the job and fully supports Drennan as the next sheriff. Comparing Bower to Green makes no sense. Not even Sheriff Green thinks Bower is the right choice.

Furthermore, Randy Bower cannot hold a candle to the Honorable Andrew Meloni, God rest his soul. Ms. Passerell said Sheriff Meloni was a part time clerk for the Sheriff’s Office before being elected Sheriff. That’s true, but it’s only part of the story.

He also served his country in the United States Army, served as Monroe County Undersheriff from 1968-1974, was named Monroe County Public Safety Administrator until 1977, and was the Director of Public Safety and Traffic at the University of Rochester. Sheriff Meloni also earned a Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice from Empire State College in 1977. (Information courtesy of the Democrat and Chronicle)

He was THEN elected Sheriff in 1979. To say that Sheriff Meloni had no experience is shameful and disrespectful to the man and his family.

Also, according to another Bower enthusiast, Republican voters have no choice but to vote for Randy Bower because he is the Republican candidate. In a letter to the Orleans Hub, David Wells of Medina wrote that it is “blatant disloyalty to their party,” if any registered Republican supports a different candidate. He goes on to say that you should not be displaying any signage other than a Bower sign if you are a registered Republican.

Residents do not deserve to be bullied, or told what they can or can’t do. Voters are human first, and party affiliated second. They are allowed to cast their ballot of their own free will. Regardless of what your party says, you can still vote for whomever you feel is the right choice.

Bower supporters are adamant that Republicans vote the party line without doing research. Is that why Randy Bower was so excited the night he won the primary? Did he feel that voters would just flock like sheep, vote Republican and ensure him a win in November? I don’t know the answer to that, but it makes sense now that we see what Mr. Wells is ordering voters to do.

The Orleans County Republican Committee didn’t even consider Randy Bower as their candidate from the beginning. Why is that? Is it because they feel experience matters? Maybe. Is it because they have worked with an elected Bower in the past and didn’t care to do so again? Maybe. The fact remains, people can vote for whom they want, and shouldn’t be pressured to do otherwise.

Mr. Wells continues in his letter to cite the “New York State Sheriff’s Association” and the “New York State Corrections” unions support Randy Bower, and that both are “state wide law enforcement organizations.”

Again, this is only partially true. The New York State Sheriff’s Association does not support Randy Bower for Sheriff. It is a not for profit organization comprised of all sheriffs of New York State. It isn’t a union.

Mr. Wells should have said the “New York State Deputy’s Association,” which is the local union representing the Road Patrol Deputies in Orleans County. The same goes for the “New York State Corrections” union. It’s actually the Orleans County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, which represents the Jailors in Orleans County. Neither is a statewide endorsement.

The Bower campaign fiercely defends the fact that experience is not necessary to become the sheriff. When there is no experience to speak of, I guess it’s worth defending. But wouldn’t it be nice if the elected sheriff did have experience, I can’t imagine how that could be seen as anything but positive.

Voters have an important decision to make on Tuesday. I just hope they do themselves a favor and really consider what they’ll get with each candidate.

Tom Drennan will not skew the truth or bully people to vote for him. Experience does and should matter. The real New York State Sheriff’s Association thinks so, and so do we.

My family has done its research, and fully supports Chief Deputy Tom Drennan for Orleans County Sheriff.

Todd Smith
Formerly of Holley
Proud Son of current Undersheriff Steven D. Smith

Editor:

My name is Paul Blajszczak and I am the independent incumbent candidate running for re-election to the position of councilman in the Town of Ridgeway.

I am asking Ridgeway voters to look for the badger’s paw print on the ballot and fill in the circle next to my name. I have been, am presently and will be responsible to every taxpayer in the Town of Ridgeway.

I read with interest an editorial by a man I admire for both his insights and community service. He asked the question, “Where is the party loyalty?” That is a very good question.

Does the groupthink of an organization necessarily negate independent thought? Do local committees of the party of Lincoln have a deeper understanding of the needs of a community than the common sense of the taxpaying members of that community?

What recourse do members of that group have? Is it a punishable act of defiance to display a political sign for the candidate they feel best qualified to hold that office?

In 1962, Ronald Reagan, an FDR, New Deal Democrat, switched parties. When asked why he left the party, he famously replied “I didn’t leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left me.” I have thought about that quote often the past few weeks.

Established political parties are, in general, having a rough time at the moment. One seems to be saddled with an apparent unpopular dowager queen succession scenario while the other is faced with nonpolitical (therefore uncontrollable) yet very popular candidates. The voters, who always end up paying the freight, seem restless. Where is party loyalty indeed.

The Reformation of the 14th and 15th centuries turned the known world upside down. The predominant religion of most nations, because of abuses of power, was displaced and it affected everyone and everything. The effects can still be felt today. Can we be witnessing the onset of a political reformation?

I hope that party loyalty will still allow the voters in Ridgeway to consider a vote for me on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

I am Paul Blajszczak and I would appreciate your vote for re-election to the position of councilman in the Town of Ridgeway.

Paul Blajszczak
Ridgeway

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:

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