Three councilor seats are open on the town of Van Buren board for the upcoming election.
Councilors Wendy Van Der Water, Dan Quackenbush and Arie “Piels” Scholten terms will expire at the end of the year. Van Der Water will not be running in the upcoming election. Incumbents Quackenbush and Scholten will be running, along with Wade Marvin, Mary Frances Sabin, Derek Shephard and former village trustee Howard Tupper.
The Baldwinsville Messenger recently interviewed the six candidates and received the following responses:
Name: Dan Quackenbush
Address: 792 Fairway Circle Baldwinsville
Age: 60
Political affiliation: Conservative Party endorsed by the Democratic Party.
Professional experience: 24 years as a software engineer / consulting firm owner; 11 years as professional SCUBA diver/Dive shop manager; Nine+ years combined service in the Army/Reserves/National Guard; Vietnam Vet, two tours of duty.
Political experience: 16 years town councilor, 12 years as deputy supervisor
Community involvement: One year school board budget committee; Eight years Pop Warner football coach. Six years president of the Pop Warner Association; Nine years B’ville football Assistant Coach.
Family: One son and three granddaughters.
Why are you running for office?
I am running for office because I have been a councilor for going on 16 years. I have a lot of experience to offer to the voters of Van Buren and right now, with a new supervisor coming in, it is important that he has an experienced town board around him, not four new people who have to learn the job.
What is the number one issue/problem you feel is facing town residents?
In my view the number one problem/issue facing the town residents is the possibility that control of the town will be turned over to the Republican Committee. Let me explain: if the slate of candidates nominated by the Republicans is elected, six of the seven positions on the town board will be committee members. Remember, nobody elected the committee and that is why I am running — to keep the two-party system alive in our town. I was a Republican for most of my adult life, and left the local party this past year because I could not let the committee control me in my discharge of duties for the town. Rather, I based my decisions on years of experience and doing what is right for the town, not what is right for the Republican Committee and it’s members. There needs to be checks and balances on the town board.
Other issues/problems?
We need to be able to continue building the climate for expansion in our town while maintaining our rural environment, the balance of which is key to our life style in Van Buren. Also, we need to continue to develop a comprehensive emergency management plan. We have been working on it for a while, but we need to keep building on what we have.
What goals do you hope to accomplish, if elected?
If re-elected I hope to bring balance and fairness to the town board, and to continue working on public safety issues for the town. Maintain a stable tax rate for our residents, improve and maintain infrastructure.
Consolidation is a popular idea and could save taxpayers money. What do you think the town can do to consolidate services?
Consolidation is a hot button issue right now as well it should be. In the past I chaired the committee to established a consolidated cable franchise for the towns of Van Buren and Lysander and the village of Baldwinsville. That took over three years to accomplish but we did it, proving that cooperation between our respective governments can work. While each possibility for consolidation must be viewed on it’s own merits, these projects must be studied. We should be looking at the following areas: assessment, parks and recreation and public works.
Why should voters elect you?
My running mates Wade Marvin, Arie “Peils” Scholten and I bring over 30 years of combined experience to the table. We have always been independent thinkers whose integrity cannot be questioned. We feel that a balance on the board is necessary for a honest town government.
Name: Wade Marvin
Address: 6711 Canton St., Warners
Age: 59
Political affiliation: Endorsed by the Democratic Party
Professional experience: 30 years as a sales representative for industrial and heavy construction equipment
Political experience: Served eight years as a Van Buren town councilor; three years as Van Buren’s representative, OCRRA Board of Directors; Former chairman of Van Buren Republican Committee
Community involvement: Van Buren Land Use Committee; Van Buren Conservation Committee; Warners Cemetery Association; Church leader, Cub Scout leader; Warners Fire Department Board of Ethics; People United for a Rural Environment; Committee to design a landfill host community agreement
Family: My wife, Patti and I have three children
Why are you running for office?
I feel it important to our community to preserve the two party system, locally. It is a system of checks and balances where all opinions should to be heard. I strongly believe that if one party controls all the votes in town government, that administration does not need your participation or mine to act upon important issues.
While it is OK for citizens to be indifferent towards town government, it is not OK for town government to be indifferent towards its constituents. Six town board members, if elected, all six being Republican committee members as well, is way off balance and just plain wrong! My fellow Democratic candidates and I will bring balance and experience to your town board.
What is the number one issue/problem you feel is facing town residents?
Van Buren is surrounded by towns that have experienced sustained and strong residential and retail growth. Our town is in a position to be overtaken by rapid development as well. This is not all together a bad thing. But we need to insure that all factions of our community are represented and allowed the opportunity to express their opinions and have them considered. We need to insure balanced development and preserve our resources and rural setting.
Other issues/problems?
While serving as a town councilor, I was very involved with the purchase, by OCWA, of the Van Buren water department and system. OCWA brought in much needed managerial oversight and implemented a better maintained facility. I would like to see an expansion of water districts, providing more residents pure, soft and save drinking water.
What goals do you hope to accomplish, if elected?
I will seek out more opportunities with Community Development funds for residential home improvement grants. I will work closely with our parks and recreation, facilities and highway departments. I will support our fine town parks, recreational programs and pool. I will support buildings and grounds department in order to continue improving our parks and cemetery locations. I will keep a watchful eye on the costs of highway projects to insure that they stay within their actual budget limits.
I feel that the current administration has done an excellent job keeping taxes in line while allowing departments to grow to meet the citizen’s needs. I will work to continue this progress by keeping our excellent town attorney and equally qualified town engineer. These men are respected professionals who, for years, have advised our town leaders and worked to solve town problems.
Consolidation is a popular idea and could save taxpayers money – what do you think the town can do to consolidate services?
Municipal consolidation promotes better use of resources and reduces duplication of services thereby saving tax money. Consolidation is already being implemented in town government.
Purchasing: The state and county negotiate volume pricing for material, services and equipment. Our town can buy off of the established contracts; cost savings are in the avoidance of bidding in addition to the benefit of volume pricing.
Canton Woods Senior Center: The towns of Van Buren and Lysander consolidate with the village of Baldwinsville to support this valuable resource. Earlier this year, then Mayor Dan O’Hara proposed a merger of the village into the two adjoining towns to save expenses.
The assessor’s office and parks and recreation department share information, programs and services with Lysander.
I will support and encourage departments to expand their current efforts, and look for new consolidation opportunities.
Why should voters elect you?
I am an independent thinker. I have a record of accomplishments throughout my eight years on the town board. I am dedicated to our community. The citizens of Van Buren need to elect people who have the experience to represent them. Being a town councilor is similar to riding a bicycle. When you first start riding you fall a lot, but when you have finally gained experience, you are able to ride well and get around obstructions. Vote for experience. Vote for dedication.
Name: Mary Frances Sabin
Address: Van Buren resident
Age: 48
Political affiliation: Republican party with endorsements from the Republican and Independence parties
Professional experience: Jr. court analyst in the human resources section of the NYS Unified Court System’s 5th Judicial District Office in Syracuse.
Political experience: Current member of the Van Buren planning board for three years. Served two terms on the Village Green Condo 4 Board of Managers (unpaid position) and during my last term, I was selected as president by the other board members. First time running for any elected office.
Why are you running for office?
My entire career has been customer service oriented.
During my more than 20 years in cable television, I worked my way up through various levels of management and am very comfortable creating and overseeing both operational and capital budgets, negotiating contracts with commercial clients, dealing with all aspects of employee relations. I’m a taxpayer and will look at each of the topics/issues that come before the town board from the taxpayer’s point of view to make sure that the board is reviewing both the revenues and expenses ensuring that the tax dollars are spent wisely, while looking out for the best interest of the town as a whole, not just one segment.
With the loss of Syroco jobs and that tax base, the town board has to be even more vigilant when approving expenditures and develop long term plans for replacing that tax base. I know how to look at the big picture when it comes to resolving issues and know that you have to make the tough decisions that are in the best interest of the community, not just one segment.
What are the issues/problems you feel are facing town residents?
While the most pressing issue facing any town is controlling taxes, the important offshoot is how controlling taxes impacts provisioning of services. The town needs to resolve long standing drainage issues residents in various areas of the town continue to face. Additionally, the town needs to expand its infrastructure so as to make the industrial areas more attractive to new businesses.
What goals do you hope to accomplish, if elected?
If elected, my goals will be: a) to resolve drainage issues faced by residents in the Village Green and Seneca Knolls areas of the town; b) to implement long term planning of operational and capital budgets that directly impact the town’s ability to expand infrastructure, which will help to expand the commercial tax base; work with Onondaga County Planning to add/extend sidewalks from River Mall to Tri County Mall, which will improve the safety of residents as they walk along Downer Street towards River Mall; c) to control the growth of the town, both residentially and commercially, thereby maintaining the character/charm of the town of Van Buren.
Why should voters elect you?
The experience gained from being on the Van Buren planning board, board of managers of Village Green Condo 4, my more than 15 years of management experience and focus on customer (resident) service, has provided me with a tremendous foundation to tackle the issues that are and will come before the town board.
Name: Arie “Piels” Scholten
Address: 102 Overlook Dr. Baldwinsville
Age: 52
Political affiliation: Conservative
Professional experience: Partner in Scholten Dairy, also own and operate a farm supply business.
Political experience: Completing 12th year on Van Buren town board
Community involvement: Mainly been involved in organizations dealing with agriculture; also have served on various committees associated with town government.
Family: Wife, Maggie and daughter, Amanda.
Why are you running for office?
To help continue the progress the town has made in the areas of business and residential growth and to continue the major infrastructure improvements that are taking place such as road, water and sewer.
What is the number one issue/problem you feel is facing town residents?
To continue attracting new residential and business investment in Van Buren. This is important if we are to maintain a stable town tax rate and then maybe some day our children will decide to stay here rather than move elsewhere.
Other issues/problems?
I believe we must address what areas of the town are best suited for certain kinds of residential/commercial/industrial growth. We also must address how the town will provide the required services for this new growth and, with all this new growth, will farming still have a future in Van Buren? I believe this question must be re-visited in our current land use plan. There are only about five active farms left in Van Buren.
What goals do you hope to accomplish, if elected?
We need a more open town board. We need to re-establish the two-party system in Van Buren. If we are not re-elected, a group of about 20 committee members will be making very important decisions, like who gets appointed to the planning board and Z.B.A along with many other important appointments, such as the town attorney and engineer. If we are not re-elected, the majority of the town board will also be members of the republican committee. This has never happened in recent history.
Consolidation is a popular idea and could save taxpayers money. What do you think the town can do to consolidate services?
We already have three good examples: The Sheriff’s sub station in Van Buren town hall, Time Warner franchise agreement and the Canton Woods senior center. This should be the blue print for the next step, which I believe should be combining Van Buren’s, the village of Baldwinsville and Lysander’s parks and recreation departments into one. This can improve programs and save a great deal of personnel and equipment costs.
Why should voters elect you?
I have always put the town’s agenda first. And by keeping alive the two-party system, I believe this will bring a fresh flow of ideas back to the board table. This is what’s needed to keep Van Buren’s progress on track. I have always been up front and honest about the issues facing the town and, if re-elected, I will continue to work and do my best to keep Van Buren’s progress on track.
Name: Derek Shepard
Address: 79 Syracuse Street
Age: 29
Political affiliation: Republican
Professional experience: Executive Director, Parkrose Estates
Political experience: First time candidate, one year on VB GOP Committee
Community involvement: VB GOP Committee, Baldwinsville Rod & Gun Club
Family: Single
Why are you running for office?
I am running for office because local issues became even more important to me after I bought my own home in 2003. With my experience managing multi-million dollar budgets in the private sector, I want to be sure the town is spending the residents’ money as carefully as I know it can be.
What is the number one issue/problem you feel is facing town residents?
I believe the
