By Russ Tarby
Contributing Writer
Liverpool’s village government changed overnight on May 2 after longtime Trustee and Deputy Mayor Nick Kochan failed to win his party’s nomination. Instead, village Republican caucus voters nominated incumbent Jim Rosier and newcomer Matt Devendorf for seats on the village board.
While 59 party members attended the May caucus at the Village Hall, Rosier topped the field with 46 votes, followed by Devendorf at 40 and Kochan at 28.
Kochan has served five two-year terms as trustee, preceded by more than two decades on the village planning board. He chaired the planning board for a dozen years and also helmed the committee that formulated the Village Comprehensive Plan 2025, which was adopted in 2007.
Devendorf has served on the village zoning board since October 2013. He’s employed as manager of business development at Tactair Fluid Controls Inc.
Because no Democratic Party caucus has been conducted in Liverpool for more than a decade, the Republican nominees are expected to run unopposed at the June 21 village election.
The May 2 caucus, chaired by former Onondaga County Chairman Bill Sanford, also nominated incumbent Village Justice Anthony LaValle for re-election. LaValle, who’s finishing up his second four-year term in July, however, may find his job eliminated: the village board voted on April 14 to abolish the village justice court.
Kochan took the caucus defeat gracefully, pointing out that after nearly three decades of service, he had been planning to leave the board for the past four years.
“Stepping down from the board has been my intention for the past two terms,” he said the day after the caucus. “I wish the board nothing but long-term success. Change is good. It has been a pleasure to serve the village of Liverpool for 28 years, and I hope the village thrives and survives.”
Mayor Gary White said he looks forward to working with a new trustee, but was less than pleased by the way Kochan was replaced.
“I would’ve liked to see Nick leave by his own accord rather than getting voted out,” White said. “But let’s face it, we’re all going to be replaced someday.”
White and Trustee Dennis Hebert acknowledged that they had their eye on Devendorf as a potential trustee.
“Matt’s a sharp young man,” Hebert said. “We need new blood.”
The mayor said Devendorf had been near the top of his list of future trustee candidates.
“I like Matt a lot,” White said on May 3. “He was one of the first people I’d planned to ask to run for the board. I didn’t expect it last night, but I like his youth and enthusiasm. I think he’ll do a good job.”
