Lysander residents will have three candidates to choose from when selecting a Town of Lysander Supervisor.
Incumbent Barry Bullis and challengers John Salisbury and Kevin Rode will be on the ballot at voting locations throughout the town on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8. After narrowly losing the Republican Primary nomination, Fred Burtch was running a write in campaign for the supervisor position, but has withdrawn his name from consideration as of last Friday.
The Baldwinsville Messenger recently interviewed the candidates to get an idea of what each candidate represents. Their answers are featured below (in alphabetical order):
Barry Bullis
Republican/Independence parties
What makes you qualified to serve as Lysander Supervisor?
I have the experience and institutional knowledge to lead Lysander forward during these difficult economic times. A full-time supervisor is needed to administer day-to-day affairs and oversee the operation and maintenance of the town’s 110 sewer, water, drainage and street lighting districts. My background in utility construction and in-depth knowledge of these special districts saves tens of thousands of dollars annually in professional fees. I have guided the adoption of town budgets for 15 years and can proudly say that this year’s tax rate is much lower than the rate was when I first took office.
In your opinion, what is the number one issue facing town residents?
In a single word: taxes.
What is your plan to resolve this issue?
The challenge of town government is to maintain the services and programs that residents expect, while keeping taxes low. Our current town tax rate of $1.32 per $1,000 of assessed value is the lowest of the 19 towns in Onondaga County. While some costs beyond town control rise annually, our infrastructure needs cannot be ignored. The plan for the future is to keep taxes low and minimize the impact of rising costs by continuing to promote organized growth and expansion of our residential tax base, retain and expand our industrial tax base and to persist in finding ways to reduce spending through sharing and/or consolidation of services, departments and staff. This program was started a number of years ago and continues with our current spending plan. We must also continue our successful practice of procuring outside sources of funding for needed capital projects. Even though it is more difficult to acquire grants, it is possible with research and persistence.
Our spending is very much under control. The Empire Center for New York State Policy (See-Through NY) ranks Lysander 39th lowest out of 908 towns across the state in total spending per capita. We are fortunate that increases in our tax base have kept pace in proportion with our increased cost of doing business. Lysander has increased over 30 percent by population in the last two decades while our taxable assessed value has more than doubled. Increased property values account for some of this increase, which is a positive when considering the investment, and future return, on residents’ real property assets. While other towns struggle, we remain one of the fastest growing towns in the county. This can be attributed to the fact that we have a very well developed master plan, excellent schools, wonderful recreational amenities and low taxes. Lysander has been, and continues to be, a very desirable place to live and work. Demand spawns growth, and growth yields prosperity.
How do you plan to best serve residents?
As in the past, I will continue to serve the residents of Lysander by advocating for an honest, open, efficient, transparent and fiscally sound government. I have the will, energy and ability to continue to work full time, year round, as many hours as needed, to assist all residents regardless of the hour of the day or the day of the week. I will continue to listen to citizens’ concerns and do everything within my power to assist them whenever possible.
Kevin Rode
Road for Progress Party
What makes you qualified to serve as Lysander Supervisor?
I have had many different positions, from laborer to manager, in my work career. In these experiences, I have managed up to 40 employees at one time. I have had multiple responsibilities as an operations manager and a warehouse manager that will help me succeed in my role as Lysander Town Supervisor.
In your opinion, what is the number one issue facing town residents?
I believe the number one issue facing Lysander residents is a town board controlled by one party for too long
What is your plan to resolve this issue?
This election offers us the unique opportunity to elect new members to three out of the five positions, with the fourth position becoming open in January. With people from different parties on the board, it will bring in other views and visions for Lysander. As the town board helps appoint other boards for Lysander, it will add new views to these boards as well. I would like to see no one party have a majority on our town board. Lysander has a very diverse population, and I think our town board should reflect this. I am not affiliated with any political party other than my own. I have not asked for or accepted donations. I have no interests or agendas other than to serve the residents of Lysander.
How do you plan to best serve residents?
I want to run a town board meeting that a resident feels comfortable asking questions or offering their opinions on town business. I would also like to see a town board that values their residents’ opinions. I want our Lysander Town Board to remember the voters put them in office, and the town board answers to all of the residents of Lysander. Even though I currently reside in Radisson, I grew up in the hamlet of Lysander, and later on Church Road. I know, understand, and relate to people from all walks of life in Lysander. I believe every resident is equal, and should be treated as such.
John Salisbury
Democratic/Conservative parties
What makes you qualified to serve as Lysander Supervisor?
In short, I have the time, will and experience to do an excellent job, and no inclination to remain in office for more than four years.
More specifically, I am a retired Certified Public Accountant, who served as the business administrator of the Baldwinsville Central School District for six years, served as a Town of Lysander Councilor for 10 years, was Deputy Supervisor for the last three years, and am currently the treasurer of the Village of Baldwinsville. I have been the chief operating officer of three successful law firms and have an extensive knowledge of all aspects of running a profitable business and a local municipality. I genuinely like people and will treat them respectfully and fairly.
In your opinion, what is the number one issue facing town residents?
The number one issue facing the town is the current administration’s attitude toward his office and people. He can be disrespectful and unresponsive to residents’ concerns when they are not part of a large group, favors those who do him political favors with appointments and contracts, manipulates information to political advantage, is wasteful with taxpayer dollars and has favored a few Radisson friends at the expense the all Lysander residents with regard to the YMCA.
What is your plan to resolve this issue?
With the help of Lysander voters, Andrew Reeves, Melinda Shimer, a couple of the current Lysander Board members, we will end the current administration’s self-serving practices. We will insist on treating people with respect, be accessible and responsive to the public, make appointments and award contracts on merit rather than political party affiliation, and operate openly, honestly and transparently. We will be careful with taxpayer dollars, helpful to employers and facilitate rather than hinder the building of the YMCA in our community.
How do you plan to best serve residents?
We can best serve the residents by being honest, listening and giving full explanations of activities that will affect them. We will welcome suggestions from the public. We will review the challenges facing the current board, formulate solutions, evaluate their costs and benefits to residents, and then prioritize their implementation. We know we need to get water to Lamson Road residents and move along the construction of the sewer service to Whispering Oaks residents. We help the YMCA move their project along and find ways to consolidate Lysander, Van Buren and Village of Baldwinsville services whenever practical.
