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County will transition to new EMO director

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 July 2014 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers – Former Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Marcia Tuohey was among the well-wishers today who congratulated Paul Wagner on his retirement as the county’s emergency management director. Wagner retires on Friday after 14 years in the job. He was appointed to the position by Tuohey.

HOLLEY – Paul Wagner was unflappable in a high-pressure job, a person who welcomed suggestions – and criticism – with a goal of keeping residents safe and getting firefighters the resources they need for their jobs.

“Paul has always been around and available,” said Doug Jones Sr., the past fire chief at Kendall. “He can handle stressful situations.”

Wagner, a former Clarendon fire chief, will retire on Friday after 14 years as Orleans County’s emergency management director. He stayed on the job until a new $7.1 million digital radio system was installed. The new system continues to work out some “bugs” but county officials say the system is a vast improvement over the previous one that was implemented in 1992.

Jones was one of many leaders from fire departments throughout the county that attended a retirement party for Wagner at Hickory Ridge Country Club in Holley.

“One of the things I appreciated about Paul is we could have a disagreement and he said it was OK to disagree,” Jones said. “He didn’t hold a grudge.”

Dale Banker, a past Albion fire chief, will succeed Wagner. Banker starts at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday. Banker has worked 36 years for the state Department of Transportation. He has been the DOT’s equipment coordinator and a supervisor out of the Albion office. He will go on leave from the DOT and officially retire from the state in November.

Banker said he will push to recruit more firefighters because fire departments need more active members.

“We’re at an all-time low for volunteers,” Banker said.

Banker would also like to see upgraded and expanded classroom facilities for firefighters at the Emergency Management Office on Countyhouse Road in Albion. He would also like to establish a shooting range for firearms training.

Wagner isn’t fully retiring. He will stay on as a part-time consultant until the end of the year.

Hanlon re-elected BOE president in Kendall

Staff Reports Posted 17 July 2014 at 12:00 am

KENDALL – The five-member Board of Education in Kendall unanimously backed Nadine Hanlon for another term as president.

Hanlon will be starting her third year as board president. With Hanlon as president the board approved a $1 million tax cut about a year ago. The school district is eager to begin work on a $25 million capital project that will tackle a number of improvements at two school buildings.

The district is waiting for the state Education Department to approve final designs for the project.

Hanlon was re-elected last week. A new board member also was sworn in. Chaley Swift replaces Lucille Welch, who didn’t seek re-election in May after 10 years on the board.

The board also re-elected Chris Gerken as vice president.

Albion wants LDC to fix up homes, push economic development

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 July 2014 at 12:00 am

ALBION – A decade ago Albion village officials pushed to create a local development corporation that would focus on economic development and housing renewal.

In 2005, a board of directors was named to the LDC and the group was ready to pursue grant funding and partnerships. Ed Salvatore was the mayor at the time. In March 2006 he lost his re-election bid by 2 votes. The Albion Housing and Economic Development LDC lost steam and never got going.

Dean London was police chief back then and favored the LDC and its push to turn around vacant properties. London is now Albion’s newly elected mayor and he wants to activate the LDC. He met on Wednesday with some of the LDC board’s original members: Salvatore, Richard DeCarlo Sr., John Gavenda and Ron Vendetti.

London said the group needs to pursue 501c3 status to become eligible for more grants. The LDC also needs more board members.

“We’re in the initial stages of organizing the board,” he said after Wednesday evening.

He sees many vacant houses or homes that are in disrepair. Many of the sites require more investment in repairs than the houses could be sold for. The LDC could find housing grants that could be used to help offset some of those renovations, to make repairing houses financially feasible for homeowners.

The village worked with PathStone (the former Rural Opportunities) about a decade ago with some of these projects, where PathStone received the grant and upgraded houses, sometimes spending $20,000 to $40,000 on overhauls. The houses were then sold at a loss for the costs to renovate them.

However those projects resulted in owner-occupied homes and less blight in neighborhoods.

“We want to seek loans and grants and invest in housing,” London said about the LDC. “We could also pursue loans for business start-ups. The possibilities are endless. We just need to get it finalized.”

Orleans tourism director named to Canal Commission

Posted 16 July 2014 at 12:00 am

Press release, State Sen. George Maziarz

Wayne Hale of Medina has been appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to serve as a member of the New York State Canal Recreationway Commission.

Hale has worked as Director of the Orleans County Planning and Development Department since 1986, Tourism Project Director for Orleans County’s I Love NY Program since 1992, and Manager of the Orleans County Marine Park since 1998.

“Wayne is a consummate professional who is widely respected across the state for his experience and wisdom relating to tourism and planning matters,” said State Sen. George Maziarz. “He will be a great Orleans County voice and I was proud to recommend him for appointment to this important panel.”

The Canal Recreationway Commission maintains and revises the Canal Recreationway Plan and makes recommendations to the Thruway Authority, Canal Corporation, and state leaders concerning the future of the canal system.

“I’m deeply gratified that Sen. Maziarz considered me for nomination as a Commission member,” Hale said. “This is a capstone event in my 31-year career at the Orleans County Planning Department. We’ve lead sizable efforts in planning, development and promotion of the Erie Canal, locally and regionally, and my appointment brings the prospect of applying that experience to a new and greater challenge.”

Passionate as he is about canal and tourism matters, Hale has been active with the Genesee/Finger Lakes Region Erie Canal Corridor Plan, Seaway Trail National Scenic Byway, the New York State Heritage Areas Advisory Council, Western New York Canal Coalition, Canal New York Marketing and Business Alliance, and several other groups.

Hale’s term as Canal Recreationway Commission member expires on March 23, 2017. For more information about the commission, click here.

Medina village could tackle $2 million in energy-savings projects

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 July 2014 at 12:00 am

MEDINA – Village officials could replace street lights with energy-efficient bulbs, swap out aging water meters, and install new HVAC systems in municipal buildings, about $2 million worth of projects that would more than pay for themselves in reduced energy costs.

That was the message from Wendel Energy in Buffalo. Company representatives discussed a series of projects with the Village Board on Monday.

The most costly initiative would be replacing about 2,200 water meters with new automatic read units. The new meters wouldn’t need a dedicated DPW worker to take readings. The meters, because they are new, would also give a much more accurate recording of water being used by residents and businesses, Gerald Summe of Wendel told the Village Board.

Water meters lose their effectiveness with each passing year, tracking less and less water, he said. Wendel is estimating the village would gain $159,000 in annual water revenues through more accurate meters. That revenue could be used to pay for the new meters, which would cost about $1.2 million.

That added revenue doesn’t include the benefit of freeing up the DPW worker who currently reads the meters. That employee could be assigned to other duties, Mayor Andrew Meier said.

Wendel also suggested the village replace high-intensity street lights with LED units that use far less power. Replacing the street lights would cost an estimated $425,000.

The village should also upgrade HVAC units in municipal buildings, Wendel said. The new street lights and HVAC systems would reduce the village’s energy costs by about $65,000 a year, said Keith Krug, a project manager with Wendel.

The village would likely receive NYSERDA grants to help with the energy-savings projects, he said.

Wendel projected the village would gain about $1 million in 15 years through the projects through increased water revenues and reduced energy bills. Over 25 years, Medina would see a $3.8 million net benefit, the company said.

Krug said the village should have an energy audit done of its buildings to identify the most pressing projects and ones that would yield the best return on investment. He estimated it would cost $20,000 to $30,000 for the audit, with NYSERDA helping to cover those costs.

Meier and the Village Board said they want to discuss the project further, and see a final proposal from Wendel.

“It sounds like it makes a lot of sense and holds a lot of promise,” Meier said at Monday’s meeting.

Wendel worked with Orleans County on about $1.5 million of energy-savings projects in 2012 and 2013, including about $1 million in work at the county jail.

Shelby, Ridgeway won’t discuss dissolution with Medina

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 July 2014 at 12:00 am

MEDINA – The public has pleaded with leaders of the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway, and the village of Medina to meet and have civil discussions and look for ways to reduce taxes.

The much-anticipated meeting is set for 7 p.m. on July 28 at the Shelby Town Hall. However, the town supervisors in Shelby and Ridgeway don’t like the agenda presented by Medina Mayor Andrew Meier.

He was told by the town leaders to prepare the agenda and listed village dissolution with discussion and feedback from the towns on the plan. Meier also put consolidation of Shelby and Ridgeway towns into one entity on the agenda, and a discussion of shared services among the three entities for water/sewer and street maintenance. Meier created the agenda following discussion with village trustees on Monday.

In emails today (Orleans Hub is included in the chain emails), Ridgeway Town Supervisor Brian Napoli said the joint meeting should only include shared services.

“Town consolidation is an issue for the two Towns, not the village,” Napoli wrote in response to Meier. “We were not included in your dissolution plan. Therefore, you are not included in a discussion of Town consolidation. The Towns will decide if, and when, that happens.”

Napoli chided Meier for setting the agenda.

“This is supposed to be a mutually cooperative effort, not dictated by you,” Napoli said.

Dissolution was supposed to be put on the “back burner,” Napoli said, referencing a transcript for last month’s Village Board meeting that included comments from officials from Shelby and Ridgeway.

If Meier insists on dissolution as a topic at the July 28 meeting, Napoli said Ridgeway town officials won’t attend the session.

Meier responded by email that the village wants “open dialogue on a range of matters.” He said he has sought clarification on the agenda the past two weeks from Ridgeway or Shelby.

Shelby Town Supervisor Skip Draper, in his response, said town consolidation should be struck from the agenda.

“If this discussion were to take place it would be appropriate for it to be held between the two towns,” he said.

As for dissolution, Draper said, “it may be appropriate for the towns to make some type of statement regarding the plan.” But Meier’s request for discussion about the plan was rebuffed.

“(Discussion) should have happened as the plan was prepared (not after the fact),” Draper said.

The Shelby town supervisor said shared services is a good starting point to work to bring down taxes in the community.

“If we focus on Shared Services with open minds and not allow the discussion to get bogged down, we may be able to do some good and produce favorable outcomes for all,” he said. “I believe this is what people in general want and we owe it to them to have that discussion. Further, I feel we should be willing to have a discussion regarding Shared Services in general and not limit it to street maintenance and water/sewer.”

He asked if Meier and the Village Board would be open to a shared services discussion.

Orleans sees a jump in sales tax

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 July 2014 at 12:00 am

Many other counties see a drop in dollars

ALBION – Orleans County’s sales tax revenues jumped 5.3 percent or by nearly $400,000 the first six months of 2014, compared to the same time a year ago.

That increase defies a downward trend for many other counties in the state. In fact, 16 of the 62 counties have a drop in sales tax revenue and state-wide the county sales tax revenue has only increased 0.14 percent, according to the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.

Orleans County officials budgeted for a $25,000 increase in sales tax for the year. The county typically takes in about $15 million for the year.

It’s up by $386,597 for the first six months, $7,741,592 for the first half of 2014 compared to $7,354,995 during the same time frame in 2013.

Neighboring Genesee County saw a steep drop the first half of 2014, a decrease of 4.1 percent or $767,399 to $17,891,433. Wyoming County is down 0.8 percent and Livingston is behind the 2013 pace by 0.7 percent.

Orleans didn’t experience the growth in sales tax like the three other GLOW counties prior to this year. The county came in $363,831 below its budget for sales tax in 2013, said Chuck Nesbitt, the county’s chief administrative officer.

The county’s tracking shows a $183,099 increase for the first half of 2014, Nesbitt said.

“My hope at this time is that we will make the budgeted number,” he said.

With so many counties trailing last year’s numbers, the New York State Association of Counties is worried about “significant pockets of weakness across the state.” The sales tax revenue is a key indicator of economic health of a community, said Stephen J. Acquario, NYSAC executive director.

“Sales tax revenue is crucial to counties, as it is one of only a handful of revenue sources available,” he said. “The state must make an ongoing commitment to targeted Mandate Relief in health and human programs and relieve the burden on local taxpayers.”

Extension will share plan at fair for building with commercial kitchen

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 July 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers – The Cornell Cooperative extension in Orleans County is considering a 70-by-120-foot building in this green space south of the Trolley Building.

Courtesy of Cornell Cooperative Extension

KNOWLESVILLE – Next week’s Orleans County 4-H Fair will give fair-goers a chance to look into what the future could hold for the fairgrounds.

The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County is in the early stages of investigating the feasibility of a 70-by-120 foot commercial kitchen/conference center for the fairgrounds. It would be south of the Trolley Building on what is now a grass field.

Extension wants to hear from the public if they would use the building, and if they see it as an asset for the fairgrounds. Some initial renderings of the building will be on display. The building would be bigger than the Trolley Building.

“We want to start the conversation,” said Jennifer Wagester, Extension executive director. “Is this something we want? Is this something we need?”

She sees the site as a draw for many events and conferences, and also as a business incubator for chefs, restaurants and food businesses that could rent the commercial kitchen.

The Trolley Building’s kitchen isn’t big enough to be used as a commercial kitchen, and the building doesn’t quite seat enough for many potential conferences and events, she said. That building also is often used for 4-H events, including rabbit shows.

“It’s a good space and the kids use it,” she said. “But we don’t want to mix it with food.”

The new building would also have room for several organizations to move out of cramped food booths. The Senior Council Stand, pie stand, French fry stand and milkshake booth all need upgrades. They also are short on storage space, requiring daily deliveries during the fair.

The new building would replace the need for this series of food booths that lack storage space and need upgrades.

The new building would have more space to store food, and the site could be used year-round, Wagester said.

She would like the site to be energy efficient. That could help secure grant funding from NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority).
The building would be low profile and modest, and would blend in with the neighboring Education Center, Wagester said.

The Extension doesn’t have bids or quotes for the 8,400-square-foot building. She and other Extension leaders will pursue those numbers soon.

The Extension board asked Wagester to look for projects that would bring more resources into the county, and also position the organization for the future. She sees many potential partnerships if the project goes forward. The commercial kitchen could be linked with GCC’s food processing program. Chefs and food businesses could partner with the local ag community, which would produce the food that would be prepared in the kitchen.

“This would reposition us in our place with nutrition and food science,” Wagester said. “In Orleans County we’re an agricultural economy. It would make sense to capitalize on what we have here because food is our biggest resource.”

Medina sets July 28 for meeting with Shelby, Ridgeway

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 July 2014 at 12:00 am

MEDINA – After months of discord over a possible dissolution of the village of Medina, elected officials from two towns and the village are scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. on July 28.

Ridgeway Town Supervisor Brian Napoli and Shelby Town Supervisor Skip Draper wanted the meeting to be focused on shared services and cooperation among the three entities. They wanted dissolution off the table.

But Medina Mayor Andrew Meier has persisted, saying dissolution should be on the agenda.

The two town leaders told Meier to set an agenda for the meeting and they would respond.

During Monday’s Village Board meeting, village officials agreed to have dissolution and shared services on the agenda that would be sent to the towns.

The Village Board will have its regular meeting at 6 p.m. in the Shelby Town Hall with the joint meeting to follow at 7 p.m. The Town Hall is located on Salt Works Road.

Before balers, loading hay was a lot of work

Posted 15 July 2014 at 12:00 am

By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian

BARRE – It is believed this photo was taken in the Town of Barre in the late 1920s or early 1930s.

It shows two men on a horse-drawn hay wagon pitching around loose hay to level the load. What is of particular interest is the mechanical hay loader being pulled in the rear. This greatly saved on manpower and eliminated having men on the ground to pitch hay onto the wagon.

All this kind of work was done before hay was commonly baled.

OONA kicks off 5th annual concert series

Posted 15 July 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Sue Cook – Acoustically Sound members Tom Zangerle (left), Tim McPherson (center) and Jack Cardone rock out.

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

POINT BREEZE – The Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association welcomed about 250 people to the Orleans County Marine Park on Route 98 on Tuesday night. This is the fifth year the organization has held concerts featuring local bands.

The crowd looks on during “My Best Friend’s Girl” by The Cars.

The Marine Park overlooks the Oak Orchard River. Boat docks are filled for the season.

Acoustically Sound performed tonight. The band features the trio of Tom Zangerle, Tim McPherson and Jack Cardone.

The group plays acoustic rock along with a mix of other music. The members of the band are veteran musicians, but the band is only a little over a year old. This is their first time as an OONA concert performer.

“We play some Beatles, old Tom Petty and old Crosby, Stills, Nash &Young. Our twist is we play “Fly Me to the Moon” and some jazz tunes thrown in there with the classic ’60s rock,” said McPherson of their variety style.

Tim McPherson sings Darius Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel.”

The series was off to a rocky start last week when inclement weather caused the first concert cancellation the organization has ever had to authorize. The Who Dats have been rescheduled for the final Tuesday of August, along with the vendors.

“We couldn’t do it without our sponsors,” said Lynne Menz, concert coordinator. “We want to extend a big thank you to all of them, as well as the Clarendon Lions Club, the Black North Inn and Barbara Ann Concessions for serving food during the concerts.”

Concerts take place every Tuesday at 6 p.m. Admission is $2 per person or $5 per family. Admission is free for OONA members and Marine Park seasonal dock renters.

Below is the updated schedule of concerts.

July 22: Julie Dunlap & High Maintenance
July 29: The Dave Viterna Group
Aug. 5: Blind Leading the Blind
Aug. 12: Jive Street Five
Aug. 19: The Sophisticats
Aug. 26: The Who Dats

Race organizers share record proceeds from Albion run

Staff Reports Posted 15 July 2014 at 12:00 am

Provided photos – Albion Running Club leaders present a check for $1,000 to The Care Net Pregnancy and Family Center of Greater Orleans. Pictured, from left, includes Running Club leaders Brian Krieger, Jack Burris, Care Net nurse Sara Moore, and her husband Mark Moore, who is also one of the race organizers for the Strawberry Festival.

ALBION – Leaders of the Albion Running Club passed out checks to several local organizations, money that was raised from the June 14 Strawberry Festival 5k/8k.

The race had a record number of participants – nearly 300 – and that resulted in more money to give away.

Brian Krieger and Jack Burris present a check for $750 to the Rev. Randy LeBaron, pastor of the Free Methodist Church and Mike Neidert, who is going on the mission trip to Peru.

The Running club wrote five checks for $2,360 collectively. That topped the $2,100 given away last year when 274 runners and walkers completed the course.

The Running Club gave $1,000 to The Care Net Pregnancy and Family Center of Greater Orleans; $750 to support a mission team from the Albion Free Methodist Church that is heading to Peru for humanitarian work; $400 to the Community Kitchen at Christ Church; $160 to Hospice of Orleans; and $50 to Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance.

The race was dedicated to the late Wayne Burlison and Judy Christopher. Burlison was one of the Running Club founders and an Albion music teacher. He died from cancer on March 26 at age 36.

Christopher, former owner of Phoenix Fitness, organized the race for about two decades. She died from cancer at age 70 on Aug. 3, 2013.

Mark Moore presents a check for $400 to Faith Smith, manager of the Community Kitchen. Brian Krieger and Jack Burris join Moore for the presentation.

North Tonawanda mayor will seek Maziarz’s position

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 July 2014 at 12:00 am

Robert G. Ortt

NORTH TONAWANDA – The mayor of North Tonawanda announced today he will seek to fill George Maziarz’s position in the State Senate.

Robert G. Ortt, 35, has been North Tonawanda mayor since Jan. 1, 2010. Prior to that he served as the city’s treasurer and then clerk-treasurer.

Ortt enlisted in the National Guard on October 2001 after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He served a tour in Afghanistan from March to December 2008. Prior to working in city hall, Ortt was a personal financial analyst with Primerica Financial Services.

He issued this statement today:

“Public service has always been a duty I’ve been proud to fulfill. As a veteran, I was proud to serve my country in Operation Enduring Freedom, mentoring the Afghan National Police in Kandahar City. As a civilian, I have the great privilege of serving my community as the chief executive of the City of North Tonawanda. What New York State needs most are leaders who will put service to others first and foremost.

“After serious considerations with my wife Meghan, I have decided to announce my candidacy to serve the people of the 62nd district in the New York State Senate. I plan to bring the values and leadership of a veteran and chief executive with me to Albany, to represent the people of Niagara, Orleans and Monroe counties.”

A committee to fill vacancies will name a candidate for the Republican line after Maziarz announced on Sunday he wouldn’t be seeking re-election.

Medina FD seeks additional full-time firefighters

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 July 2014 at 12:00 am

Mayor, Village Board may add part-time EMTs

MEDINA – The Medina Fire Department once again is pressing the Village Board to add additional full-time staff for the Fire Department, which continues to see an increase in calls.

Those calls are taxing the department’s 13 full-time firefighters who are trained in both fire and ambulance calls, captains Mike Maak and Jonathan Higgins told the board on Monday.

“We’re running bare bones,” Higgins told the board.

The increase in calls also results in higher-than budgeted revenue for the department. Maak and Higgins said that revenue should be used to help add more personnel, which would reduce overtime costs, and could lead to more calls and faster response times.

“The calls are increasing and I don’t see that changing,” Maak told the Village Board.

As of Monday, Medina FD responded to 1,535 calls in 2014, which was up from 1,420 a year ago at the same time, Maak said.

When Medina voted to start the full-time ambulance service in 2007, fire department leaders anticipated anywhere from 1,500 to 1,700 calls for the entire year. The department exceeded that, pushing 1,800 to 1,900 calls in its first year.

In 2012, the Medina FD handled 2,209 ambulance calls and 311 fire calls for 2,520 total, the most ever for the department – until 2013 when it responded to 2,755 calls.

Village Board members want to add staffing for the department to help with the workload, but they aren’t convinced full-time staff is the best choice. Mayor Andrew Meier said the call volumes could drop, and so could the revenue. He doesn’t want village taxpayers to see a jolt in their taxes to help pay for more full-time staff.

He would like the FD to supplement the full-time staff with part-time emergency medical technicians. The EMTs would have regularly scheduled shifts. They wouldn’t respond to fire calls.

“I want as much extra help as you need,” Meier said. “We just need a cost-effective plan.”

Higgins and Maak said it would be difficult to find reliable part-time EMTs. The firefighters’ contract also gives the full-time personnel the first choice for any overtime before the village would turn to part-time staff, Higgins said.

An additional full-time firefighter would cost the village $45,000 to $71,000 a year for salary and benefits. Fire Chief Todd Zinkievich submitted a written report, saying an additional firefighter would reduce overtime by $7,000 to $15,000. Two additional firefighters from the current staff of 13 could cut overtime by $25,000, he said.

The department’s call volume is resulting in revenues that are on pace to exceed the 2014 budget by about $100,000, Higgins and Maak said. The department’s budget could accommodate the added staff without an increase in taxes to the village, they said.

“This would be a wash,” Higgins said.

Meier, however, wants more assurances for the long-term. The board will continue to look at the issue and see if the firefighter contract can accommodate regularly scheduled EMTs.

The department is the primary responder for ambulance calls in western Orleans, and also goes to many calls in Albion and Niagara County. Maak said the village should approach the towns of Shelby, Ridgeway and Yates about a contribution for the ambulance service, perhaps $10,000 a year from each town. That would help with the staffing, and help ensure there are enough personnel for calls in western Orleans and also for the many hospital transfers.

Maak said Medina firefighters often have an ambulance tied up for about two hours while they transfer patients from Medina Memorial Hospital to sites in Buffalo and Rochester.

The Fire Department has been asking for added staff for the past three years. When the ambulance service started in 2007, a consultant forecast $600,000 in revenue from the service. The village has budgeted $1 million in revenue for 2014-15, but is on pace to reach $1.1 million.

Higgins was clearly frustrated at Monday’s meeting, saying the 13 firefighters are exceeding expectations.

“You told us before to come up with money and we did,” Higgins said.

Gia Arnold believes she has earned an interview from GOP committee

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 July 2014 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers – Gia Arnold of Holley, a candidate for State Senate, speaks from the Orleans County Courthouse front steps with some of her supporters this afternoon. Arnold wants a five-person committee to interview her as the committee looks for another endorsed Republican candidate.

ALBION – Gia Arnold is only asking for an interview from a five-person committee that will fill a vacancy for the 62nd Senate District’s endorsed Republican candidate.

George Maziarz had the party’s endorsement but he has declined the nomination. Today was the deadline to accept or decline.

Arnold had already worked to force a Republican primary after she submitted petitions signed by about 1,500 registered voters last week. But she hasn’t been interviewed by key Republican Party leaders in the 62nd Senate District, which includes most of Niagara, all of Orleans and a western portion of Monroe.

She said today during news conferences in Albion and North Tonawanda that she doesn’t want the party leaders to use “backroom politics” to select a candidate.

Arnold, 24, is a mother of three young children. She and her husband Jeremy own a tree trimming business.

She became active in politics last year after the SAFE Act was passed by the State Legislature and Gov. Cuomo. Although Maziarz opposed the SAFE Act, Arnold says the senator could have done more to work towards its repeal.

She fully expected to square off against him in a September Primary.

“I was shocked because he has been out campaigning,” Arnold said about Maziarz’s announcement. The two both attended and spoke at a rally Saturday in Albion about Second Amendment rights.

Arnold said she sought an interview with Republican Party leaders in the three counties in the spring, but they told her they had already picked Maziarz back in February.

She was interviewed by Orleans County Conservative Party leaders and they endorsed her. However, State Conservative Party leaders gave the endorsement to Maziarz. She is now trying to get that endorsement. She fears the five-person Republican committee to fill vacancies will pick someone in “the club” and the Conservatives will then rubber stamp that endorsement.

“I believe I deserve a chance based on all the work I’ve been doing in the district,” she said today.

She would like to see the committee, which will include three people from Niagara, interview candidates from Orleans and Monroe counties, and not just “anoint” someone from Niagara County. (Many media outlets have listed North Tonawanda Mayor Robert Ortt as the likely Republican favorite.)

“Isn’t it time we break-up the good ole boys club?” Arnold said at her stop in Albion this afternoon.

Ed Morgan, chairman of the Orleans County Republican Party, told the Orleans Hub on Sunday night that a Niagara County candidate would likely get the committee’s endorsement because Niagara has three of the five votes.

“Would a candidate from one county with a lesser population not effectively serve a constituency from another with a greater population?” Arnold said. “How about endorsing a home-grown not hand-picked candidate that has been working hard to gain support the past several months in his own backyard.”

If Arnold isn’t the choice of the committee, she believes she has enough signatures to be on the ballot for primaries in September. She also is working to run under the Libertarian line in November.

The Republican candidate will likely face Johnny Destino, a Niagara Falls attorney. He has the Democratic Party line. He ran as a Republican in a primary against Maziarz in 2012. He switched parties this election.

Arnold said she wasn’t impressed by Destino for changing and running as a Democrat this time.

“That says a lot about his morals that he’ll do anything to get elected,” she said.

Arnold was joined in Albion by Paul Lauricella, vice chairman of the Orleans County Conservative Committee. He said the group is in strong support of Arnold, who said she wouldn’t serve more than 8 years. Maziarz has been in office as a state senator since 1995.

She has shown a willingness to speak out on issues and fight, Lauricella said.

“She could handle those boys downstate,” Lauricella said. “She’s an independent thinker and she wouldn’t sell out on Day 1 like all of the others once they are elected.”

Lauricella said Maziarz leaves with a lot of fans in Orleans County.

“I like George,” Lauricella said. “He’s a very personable man. He’s just been there too long.”