As former Deputy Supervisor Tim Burtis bowed out to replace Jim Corl, Jr., as Cicero’s county legislator, the Cicero Town Board has added Dick Cushman to its numbers.
Dick Cushman, a Republican, was one of two candidates who threw his hat into the ring to replace Burtis.
“I just want to contribute and help solve some problems in Cicero,” Cushman said.
Cicero Town Supervisor Jessica Zambrano said town officials were already familiar with Cushman through his eight-year tenure on the planning board. A lifelong Cicero resident, Cushman has been a part of the Cicero Republican Committee for more than 30 years.
Cushman has three decades of government service behind him, as well. After high school, he entered the military and went on to work in post office management. He retired in 1992 as postmaster in Pulaski.
Zambrano said Cushman’s government experience appealed to her.
“I liked his background — the fact that he had worked in government before and had experience with collective bargaining agreements,” she said. “He was able to hit the ground running.”
Cushman has an MBA from Columbia College and is now an adjunct professor at Keuka College. He said his accounting background would be useful in tackling issues such as contract negotiations and funding infrastructure improvements in the town.
“It’s a lot of issues that need to be addressed,” Cushman said.
As for whether he’ll run for the town board seat in November, Cushman said he hasn’t quite decided, but is “leaning in that direction.”
