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:

As we approach Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3, I would like to take this opportunity to ask the people of Orleans County to join me in supporting Randy Bower for sheriff.

My name is Christopher M. Bourke and Randy Bower has asked me to serve as his Undersheriff, should he be so privileged to win this election.

I began my career at the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office in 1984. I was hired as a part-time correction officer in the Orleans County Jail. In 1985 I was promoted to corporal.

In January 1986 I was appointed to be a deputy sheriff in the criminal division of the Sheriff’s Office. I was then an acting sergeant in the late 1980’s due to the absence of a shift supervisor on the midnight shift.

In 1997 I was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. I successfully completed Police Supervision and Command School, FBI Hostage and Crisis Negotiators Certification and Criminal Investigator School. In 1997 I researched and created the first full-time K-9 unit in the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

More recently I was appointed by Sheriff Hess as the commander of the sheriff’s marine division and supervisor to the Stone Garden grant project. This grant consists of hundreds of thousands of dollars in Homeland Security money secured to protect the citizens of Orleans County and its infrastructure.

It has been an amazing experience working with Randy Bower for the last 30 years. I have witnessed the knowledge, passion and kindness Randy demonstrates in his job on a daily basis. Everyday, Randy Bower brings his leadership skills and problem solving abilities to work to keep the citizens and first responders of Orleans County safe.

I can say, with absolute certainty, that Randy Bower is a leader and person that can bring people together to get the job done. Randy and I have traveled across Orleans County for the last several months meeting people and listening to their concerns.

We reached out to people without regard of their political affiliation or social economic status. We had a message that I believe resonated with people. We want to make the Office of Sheriff as “The People’s Sheriff,” which is unique in Orleans County.

Our message isn’t about serving a political party, special interest group, or a few powerbrokers. It is about the people of Orleans County.

Together Randy and I will train and equip our men and women so they can serve the public in the best way possible. We will treat all employees with respect and dignity and demand professionalism every day. We will move the Sheriff’s Office forward, always keeping the citizens and taxpayers’ best interest in mind.

I ask you to join me in voting for Randy Bower, your sheriff, on Tuesday Nov. 3rd.

Thank you and God bless the people of Orleans County and the United States of America.

Christopher M. Bourke
Waterport

Editor:

Recently, it has come to the attention of several SOS members that an APEX Wind Turbine supporter has been passing around a comment that was made on a Buffalo News article in August.

This person is supposedly attributing this comment to SOS. He claims because it was posted on their Facebook page it represents their position. He contends that SOS is saying that people should shun the farmers who have signed a contract with APEX, that you should run them out of your businesses and set up protest lines in front of their homes while continuing to pressure them to rescind their contracts from APEX.

Actually, it is far more toxic than I am writing here it is downright disgusting. But wait a second, let’s not let the truth or fact get in the way of a good story!

Fact: This was never a quote by SOS. It was a comment by an unknown person with no ties to SOS.

Fact: This was posted on the SOS Facebook page by a visitor, not by a member of SOS and does not represent the position of SOS in any way. (In fact, this visitor is pro-Apex. Was this post intentionally done to create these untruths about SOS?). This post has been removed.

Fact: No one from SOS ever said or wrote those words to anyone!

Please know that cryptic emails, quotes and asking for residents to rise up and malign the farmers of this community does not represent what the members of SOS are about. They are our neighbors, friends and family.

If anything they would like to keep the lines of communication open so that they can continue dialogue with our farm community as to what they perceive as the “downside” of wind turbines for them and us.

When you see assertions go too far and overstated together with what seems a little far from the truth, it probably is.

Tanis C. Bolick
Lyndonville

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