Supervisor
D, WF Ed Michalenko – 3,299
R, C, I Art Diamond – 2,108
DeWitt town board
D, C Kerry Mannion – 3,495
D, C, WF Jack Dooling – 3,090
R, I, C Ken Andrews – 2,756
D Sam Young – 2,489
R, I Scott Whipple – 1,792
R, I Tracy Gillen – 1,645
DeWitt Highway Superintendent
R, I, C Rocco Conte – 2,738
D Joseph Chiarenza Jr. – 2,592
DeWitt Town Clerk
D, C Barbara Klim – 4,468
(unopposed)
DeWitt Town Justice
R, I, C David Gideon – 3,937
(unopposed)
Fifteen years ago, before popular DeWitt Supervisor Jim Guyette died in office, he recruited Ed Michalenko to run for the DeWitt Town Board. On Tuesday night, Michalenko celebrated his own re-election to the DeWitt supervisor post while wearing a “Re-elect Jim Guyette” t-shirt, the same shirt he has worn each election night since his friend and mentor passed away in 1996.
“It’s my lucky shirt,” Michalenko said at a celebration at Barbagallo’s with about 40 friends and supporters. “I still think about him.”
On Tuesday, Michalenko earned another term as DeWitt supervisor by a margin of 3,299 to 2,108. He credited the hard work of the board and its responsiveness to the issues affecting residents from all corners of DeWitt.
“There was a sense that people felt we were working hard and working on a variety of things that were important to them,” he said of his interaction with residents during the campaign. “We worked on a lot of specific things in specific neighborhoods.”
Michalenko has brought an environmentalist’s perspective to the board since he was first elected. During his tenure, he has worked on issues related to the OCRRA facility, the proposed coal plant in Jamesville, ongoing storm water issues, and a variety of other environmentally-focused endeavors, including the recent installation of solar panels on town hall.
“A lot of those issues are some form of environmental concern,” he said. “I think that’s important to people.”
Two councilors re-elected, one newcomer
Democrat Jack Dooling, newly elected to fill the post vacated by Vicky Baker, said he plans to put the experience garnered during his long career as a purchasing agent with Crouse Hinds to work in reducing town expenses.
“My first priority is to work with the highway department to do something about the spending,” he said. “I look at the budget for next year and I know that I can help them with that.”
Dooling grew up in Eastwood and his father was a politician in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. Now retired and a resident of Franklin Park, he spends much of his time volunteering for a variety of community organizations.
“I grew up with it,” he said. “I go out and I help people. That’s what I’ve been doing my entire life.”
Dooling is joined on the board by incumbents Kerry Mannion, a Democrat, and Ken Andrews, a Republican, who with 18 years on the board is DeWitt’s longest-serving board member.
David Tyler is publisher of Eagle Newspapers. He can be reached at [email protected].
