Lysander residents will have four candidates to choose from when selecting two individuals for councilor representation on the town board. Norman Ashbarry and Robert Ellis are running on the Republican and Independence lines, Andrew Reeves is running on the Democratic and Independence lines and Melinda Shimer is running on the Democratic line. There are no incumbents running in the election; Jack Krisanda and Ed Reed, the two who currently hold the open seats, are not running for re-election.
The Baldwinsville Messenger recently interviewed the candidates to get an idea of what each candidate represents. Their answers are featured below in alphabetical order:
Norman Ashbarry
Republican Party
Community involvement: Lysander Republican Committee, Annual Ride For Missing Children (bicycle ride fundraiser), Annual Earth Day Volunteer, Onondaga Cycling Club
How do you plan to ease the financial strain on Lysander residents?
By treating the fiscal needs and expenditures of the Town as I treat my own financial dealings.
What is the primary issue facing Lysander? How do you intend to resolve the issue?
To keep taxes as low as possible while providing necessary services to town residents.
I will encourage residential and commercial growth by working with the other board members to create incentives for building and business.
What goals do you hope to accomplish should you be elected?
To work with the other members of the town board in order to keep the town growing, keep taxes low and give residents the feeling that their town board is working with and for them.
Why should voters elect you?
As a member of the New York State Police for 32 years I have shown that I can deal with the problems of others in a calm, methodical and pragmatic way in order to obtain the best result. I will be hard working, independent, straight talking and honest in all my dealings with town residents.
Robert Ellis
Republican Party
Community Involvement: I have served on the Lysander Parks and Recreation Commission for over 12 years, serving as chairman for the past six years. The Commission is a group of seven members who act in an advisory capacity to the Lysander Parks and Recreation Department. I am currently the Scout Master, and have been for the last 10 years of Troop 119 with the Boy Scouts of America, which is sponsored by St. Mary’s Church right here in Baldwinsville. Naturally, having two sons I have been very involved and have coached with BYSA Soccer, B’ville Little League, Pop Warner Football and B’ville Booster Basketball for more years than I can count.
How do you plan to ease the financial strain on Lysander residents?
Allow me to answer this question in two parts. First, the Town of Lysander’s town taxes are not the strain. Our town taxes are $1.32 per $1,000 of assessed value that means a homeowner with a $100,000 home will pay $132 in town taxes for all the quality services the town provides. The current town administrators have used sound financial practices to keep our budget in check. As a matter of fact, there are 908 townships in New York State and the Town of Lysander is ranked the 39th lowest in per capita spending. I want to be a part of that town board to continue the sound financial management of our budget. Secondly, the real financial strain comes from mandated costs. We need to work closely with other levels of government to ease the burden and find creative ways to work more efficiently with those other level of governments to fight for relief.
What is the primary issue facing Lysander? How do you intend to work to resolve the issue?
Since becoming more involved with the topics and issues faced by the town board, I have truly noticed a contentious attitude at board meetings between the public and town officials. I would truly like to foster an attitude at meetings that is open, honest, constructive, trustworthy and productive. To lead this town forward we all need to be pulling in the same direction with open honest government. I want to listen to citizen’s concerns, hear both sides of the issue and come to a consensus that is in the best interest of the town and I want to do that in a productive, caring manner.
What goals do you hope to accomplish should you be elected?
I truly value my rural roots and want to maintain the rural integrity of this township and protect our must valuable resource – our fertile farmland through proper controlled growth. I will make sure I am available to listen to citizen’s concerns and issues and assist them through the process of resolving their issues to the best of my ability. I will be fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars, continually search for cost saving measures within our township and provide quality and necessary services to our taxpayers.
Why should voters elect you?
I consider myself a very patient, level headed man with great common sense. I am a good listener, very stable, even-keeled kind of guy. I would love the opportunity to serve the residents of the Town of Lysander as a town councilor on the Lysander Town Board. Please consider voting for me, Bob Ellis, on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Andrew O. Reeves
Republican Party
Community involvement: Plainville Fire District Commissioner (1.5 years); Plainville Fire District Commission Chairman (six months); Member Lysander Public Safety Committee
How do you plan to ease the financial strain on Lysander residents?
The financial strain in Lysander is felt by everyone. Lysander must work well with other municipalities and discuss areas where shared services and or consolidation may work without reducing the quality of service provided to the taxpayers. We must work with the fire protection people to help them implement their study result. We must look for grant opportunities when they make sense. Grants are still taxpayer dollars. We must look at hiring our own engineer and working with Baldwinsville and Van Buren on projects. We must open a dialog with all businesses in Lysander and work to retain their presence in our town. We must look at all codes to see if we are driving business out of Lysander.
How can we push a $17 million dollar privately funded YMCA out of Lysander and feel we fulfilled our obligation to the taxpayers of Lysander? We must appoint and hire people based on qualifications, not party line affiliation. We need better people in government, people who want the job, not need the job.
We must take off the blinders which now exist at town hall. To every action there is a reaction. We are all in this together and must work closer than ever before. The town and the Baldwinsville School District must open up a new close relationship to really protect the taxpayer. Today, that relationship is non- existent.
What is the primary issue facing Lysander? How do you intend to resolve the issue?
I believe the number one issue facing Lysander is how do we engage the taxpayers and bring their concerns, ideas and participation to Town Hall. Town Hall affects all of our lives and has run on a “Good Old Boy” program for too long. The present supervisor has removed and denied public comments at town board meetings, all appointees and candidates are selected by the Lysander Republican Committee, long time contractors hired by the town belong to and donate to the same committee, which selects the people they rely on for work. The taxpayers need to actually get mad as hell and get involved.
What goals do you hope to accomplish should you be elected?
If elected, I would like to see a close working relationship established with the local municipalities including the school district and the fire districts. I hope to work for a better quality of life in Lysander with fewer tax dollars wasted. There certainly won’t be a dog catcher with an office in town hall. I would also be proud to serve on the town board with a woman member.
Why should voters elect you?
I would like to serve the taxpayers of Lysander as a hardworking, easily accessible, plain talking councilor. I will listen and I am humbled by the opportunity given to me. I am not a lifetime politician, and I believe in term limits. If not term limits, then politicians with enough sense to see when they have overstayed their welcome.
Melinda J. Shimer
Democratic Party
Political Experience: currently serving second consecutive term on Baldwinsville Village Board
Community Involvement: English as a Second Language tutor to local migrant population since 1992
How do you plan to ease the financial strain on Lysander residents?
Service to the community involves many duties, a primary one being fiscal responsibility. This term is used often in politics, often without clear definition, simply implying penny-pinching and no debt. Being truly fiscally responsible in government, however, includes not only being accountable for the financial revenue and spending, but also having a legal and moral obligation to all the taxpayers to use their contributions as efficiently as possible to provide infrastructure and services. I will work with the supervisor and my fellow councilors to honor these responsibilities and let the residents know how and where their money is being put to work.
What is the primary issue facing Lysander? How do you intend to work to resolve the issue?
The primary issue facing Lysander is the total disconnect between its government and its citizens. One example of this is its recent decision to favor a handful of friends with a Not-In-My-Background mindset and block the building of a YMCA that would benefit all of the residents in the town. The entire community, with all its diverse needs and interests must be considered. Only when all the individuals and groups that make up the town are considered, can decisions be made that benefit the entire community as a whole. In Lysander, this includes people who choose to live in a planned community, as well as those living within the village limits or on the outskirts of our town.
To ensure that everyone is represented, the town board has to be responsive to its constituents. This means listening to input, both complementary and critical, and giving respectful answers to questions and thoughtful feedback to comments by citizens who choose to take advantage of their right to participate. Even one voice not taken into consideration weakens the fabric of the community as a whole. I will actively listen to people who take the time to communicate their thoughts and concerns and work in an equitable and amicable way to satisfy them to the best of my ability.
What goals do you hope to accomplish should you be elected?
I hope to work with the rest of the Lysander Town Board to bring fiscal responsibility to our local government and responsive and respectful representation to all our constituents.
Why should voters elect you?
The voters of Lysander should vote for me because I have the ingenuity, experience, passion and dedication to take on the duties and responsibilities of governing the town. I am the only candidate running for town councilor who has experience in municipal government. In my two terms as a Baldwinsville Trustee, I have been part of a village government that is successfully revitalizing the core of the village while encouraging and facilitating responsible growth and development. I am focused on being part of a team that welcomes transparency in government and encourages involvement from all members of the community.
Thinking out-of-the-box to get the job done is one of my greatest strengths. My training and experience as an educator allow me to critically evaluate, assimilate and communicate information with which I am presented. As a scientist, I am objective and open-minded and challenge the status quo. I was born and raised in this community and have a legacy of service to the community to uphold.
I have the qualifications, vision and the passion to make a difference. I will bring these strengths and experience to the Lysander Town Board and work collaboratively with the Town of Van Buren and Village of Baldwinsville to help make our entire community one of the premier places to live in Central New York.
Please vote for Melinda Shimer for Lysander Town Councilor on Nov. 8.
