In Cicero, voters will elect a town supervisor, two town board members, a town clerk, a tax receiver and a town highway superintendent. Learn more about each candidate below. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7. To determine your polling place, visit ongov.net/elections/index.html and click on “Polling Place Locator” or call the Onondaga County Board of Elections at (315) 435-8683. Note: Highway Superintendent Chris Woznica, who is running unopposed, did not return the Star-Review’s questionnaire.
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Town Clerk: Tracy Cosilmon (unopposed incumbent, Republican)
Biographical info:
Lived in Cicero for 35 years
Honor and distinct privilege to serve as your Cicero Town Clerk for 17 years
Married for 31 years to my wonderful husband David
Proud parents of our John and his dog Kane
Our loving dog Callie
My supportive and loving mom, dad and family
Party affiliation: Republican
I am honored and privileged to have the endorsement and support of the Republican Party, Independence Party, Conservative Party and the Onondaga County Veterans Party.
Why are you running for office?
I am running for the position of town clerk as I want to continue to be a vital part of Cicero’s growing community. I have dedicated myself to providing professional and cost efficient services to our community and I want to continue to provide accessible, personalized services to our Seniors as they have come to know from me.
Working together we can provide innovative technology with credit card and online payment availability that is cost efficient so that we can make our town a better place to live and work in.
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
I believe that I am the best candidate for the town clerk’s position as I have extensive knowledge and experience along with being accessible and caring to the needs of the community. I have, for the past 17 years, dedicated myself to learning everything I can by attending continuing education/training classes. I have strived to make the town clerk’s office more efficient and accessible and I have been able secure the latest technology available so that the office and town hall runs more efficiently and professionally.
And through my efforts as Cicero Town Clerk for the past 17 years, I have been able to receive multiple competitive grants for the preservation of records, which are maintained in our Archival Records Room, and purchased a large scanner for the zoning and planning department to provide increased efficiency. With the support of town board members I have also obtained an American with Disabilities Act-compliant sound system and automatic accessible doors for the town hall as well as new visual support with modern technological equipment that enables projects to be presented to the public in a more efficient way.
I am passionate about the health and safety of this community. I have coordinated Earth Day cleanup with our efficient highway and parks departments and Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency. I also help provide rabies clinics with the Onondaga Health Department to help ensure that all animals have updated rabies vaccinations. We have updated our database of owner information so that lost animals can be reunited with their owners more quickly.
What are the major issues facing the town and what will you do to address them?
Although I do not have any voting authority in the capacity as town clerk, I am aware that there are issues facing this town. Some of these are traffic congestion and need for jobs. I will continue to listen to people and guide them to the proper channels or persons to address their concerns. I feel during these tough economic times that it is very important that we work together as a team, as there is strength in numbers. When we work together providing top notch services and activities to our seniors at the senior center as well as our youth through the parks and recreation department it is amazing what productive things can be accomplished, that will benefit us now and in the future.
I want more than ever to stay positive and remain helpful in serving our town residents. I have always taken an interest in any and concerns that are brought up to the town clerk’s office and I would like to continue going that extra mile for our residents, assuring them that their concerns will be addressed.
I truly believe that working together as a team that we can build a better community and make a difference.
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Tax receiver: Nicole Walsh (unopposed incumbent, Republican)
Biographical info:
My name is Nicole Walsh and I am 32 years old. I have lived in the Town of Cicero for over 25 years. My parents chose the town of Cicero to raise myself and my two sisters, and I have followed their example in choosing Cicero as my home. I graduated from Cicero-North Syracuse in 2003 and Syracuse University in 2007. I have been a member of the Cicero Republican Committee for 10 years and was previously the vice-chair of the committee.
I was appointed to the position of receiver of taxes as of May 1, 2017 to fill the vacancy created when the previous receiver of taxes retired. Prior to becoming receiver of taxes, I worked for the Onondaga County Board of Elections for nearly nine years. I have been endorsed by the Republican, Conservative, Independence and Onondaga County Veterans parties.
Why are you running for office?
I am running for office because I believe I am the best person for the job. Our tax office has offered a wide range of services for many years. Since taking office I have worked to modernize our tax payment system by adding online tax payment and credit card payments. I will continue to have our town be a leader in the services that are offered to the property owners in the town of Cicero.
Why are you the best candidate?
Since entering office I have implemented changes to the Cicero tax office to eliminate unnecessary spending. We have streamlined our office procedures to cut unnecessary work activities to ultimately save tax funds.
I have established a shared services agreement with Onondaga County to consolidate future mailings of property tax bills for the village, school districts, town and county. This reduces postage expenditures and utilizes town employees in a cost effective manner.
We have added online tax payment as a new convenience for taxpayers and our office is equipped to accept all major credit cards for in person payments. There are fees associated with the services by the third party vender that handles these transactions, but by adding these additional payment options the tax office is better suited to serving the needs of Cicero taxpayers.
What are the major issues facing the town, and what will you do to address them?
There are many major issues facing our town. Unfortunately the position of receiver of taxes is only responsible for tax office for the town of Cicero and therefore will not be able to make an impact on issues not directly related to my office. That being said, there is one issue my office can have a positive effect on. My office will be fiscally responsible to the taxpayers. We will strive to continue to offer top of the line services while keeping expenses low to save on your hard-earned tax dollars.
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