No new independent candidates emerge in Albion village elections

Greg Bennett and Jeff Holler will be lone names on ballot for March 19 election

ALBION – No additional candidates have emerged to run for the Albion Village Board. Today was the deadline for candidates to file petitions to run as independent candidates. No one submitted petitions by 5 p.m. today, said Tracy VanSkiver, the village clerk-treasurer.

Two candidates were previously endorsed. Greg Bennett and Jeff Holler both secured the Repulbican endorsement on Jan. 29, and Bennett also was backed by the Democrats on Jan. 23.

Bennett and Holler will appear unopposed on the March 19 ballot.

Bennett works as a locksmith at the Albion Correctional Facility. He has been there nearly five years. Previously, he worked a decade for Baxter Healthcare in Medina. He also has been a long-time youth baseball coach.

Holler worked as an executive chef for 25 years, and then head cook for 13 years at the Orleans Correctional Facility. Since he retired in 2014, he has been a very active member at the Masonic Lodge. He also has been a busy volunteer for the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries, especially with the efforts to cook Thanksgiving meals and also an Easter egg hunt and prize giveaway.

Holler and Bennett are running for four-year terms for positions that are currently filled by Chris Barry and David Buczek, who aren’t running in next month’s election. Barry has been on the board nearly four years while Buczek was appointed in December by Mayor Angel Javier Jr. He is filling the remainder of Zack Burgess’s term.