Primary elections will be held Tuesday, June 25, across Onondaga County. The Republican Party will select a candidate for Lysander Town Supervisor. The Conservative Party and Independence Party are holding primaries for Onondaga County Legislator (1st District), Lysander Town Supervisor, Lysander Town Councilor and Lysander Town Justice.
Voters may write in candidates for the offices that list “opportunity to ballot.” The Messenger gathered biographical information from candidates who appear on the ballot.
Read on to meet the candidates. For a list of polling places or to look up your voter registration and sample ballot, visit ongov.net/elections.
Republican Party: Town of Lysander Supervisor (vote for 1)
Robert A. Wicks
Biographical information
Work experience: I have been in law enforcement for 38 years. Currently, I am the Marcellus Chief of Police and I am retired from the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office as a lieutenant after 30 years of service. I am a consultant for CAM Hospitality Advisors and Management and have taught at Keuka College and Onondaga Community College.
Education: MPA, Marist College; BA, Columbia College; FBI National Academy; FBI Bomb Squad Executive Management Course; Central New York Regional Police Academy.
Community involvement: I am currently on the Rescue Task Force Committee, which develops policies and procedures, and trains police, fire and EMS in new ways to respond to active shooter events. I also teach CRASE (civilian response to active shooter events) to community groups and schools. I am currently working on State Legislation with Assemblyman Stirpe on a Bill regarding school resource officers.
Family: My wife Rosanne (Middlemore) and I are graduates of C.W. Baker High School and currently live in the village of Baldwinsville. We have two children and three grandchildren. Two of our grandchildren are Baldwinsville students.
Political experience/Why are you running for office?
I do not have any political experience. I am running because I was encouraged to do so by Lysander residents and I am sure that I can move the town in a positive direction.
What is the biggest issue facing the town and what do you plan to do about it if elected?
We have many issues facing our town, but the biggest issue is that we need government officials that will represent the concerns of its residents and listen to its voters.
Joseph P. Saraceni
Biographical information
I am a 1990 graduate of Baker, attended the University of Tennessee and earned a B.S. in Communications and worked in Washington, D.C., for a few years but have never called anywhere but Lysander home. My wife Theresa, also a Baldwinsville native, and I chose to raise our family in our hometown because we love this community and wanted our children to have the same wonderful experience that we had growing up here.
Why are you running for office?
As the Lysander Town Supervisor, I am running for re-election because my grandfather (John Nostrant) instilled in me that Lysander is home, and you take care of your home. Sadly, many see New York void of opportunity and growth.
Many are moving and our children are looking elsewhere for opportunities. However, Lysander is different. Our community is full of potential and our businesses are growing. Since 2003, I have been working in one way or another to ensure our town continues to be a beacon, a place that our children want to come back to, find a job, and love raising their families here as much as we do.
For the past four years we have worked incredibly hard to keep the tax rate low while providing exceptional services. I have many hopes and goals for a second term, and I need your help to get there. Please support me on June 25 because we have come a long way, and we need to keep moving forward! Follow me at facebook.com/JoeSaraceni.
Conservative Party
Onondaga County Legislator, 1st District: Vote for 1 — Opportunity to ballot (write-in)
Brian F. May
Biographical information
I grew up in Liverpool, worked on Emmi’s Farm in high school and moved to Lysander when my wife and I were starting our family almost 20 years ago. We have four kids — three in college and a junior at Baker. Professionally, I am the business development director for a regional financial institution. I’ve spent my entire career in the private sector.
Political experience
Former Lysander town councilor, former chairman of the Legislature’s Public Safety and Ways & Means committees. Last fall, I was unanimously elected Majority Leader by colleagues.
Why are you running for office?
Each member of the Legislature brings something meaningful to our process. In my case, private-sector experience has benefited our budget development, budget management and policy-making. It enabled me to lead in the delivery of improved property tax rates, levies, or both, each year I’ve held public office. These results may lack sex appeal, but taxpayers seem to appreciate my simple, minimalist approach. I will continue to fight for these results as long as I am privileged to serve.
What is the biggest issue facing the county, and what do you plan to do about it if elected?
As a dynamic $1.3 billion enterprise, every facet of county government faces unique challenges relevant to my constituents, I take these concerns very seriously. As a policy-maker and leader of my caucus, my performance is proven, especially with respect to the County budget. If re-elected, I intend to continue to improve these results.
Town of Lysander Supervisor (vote for 1)
- Robert Wicks (see above for bio)
- Opportunity to ballot (write-in)
Justice: Vote for 1 — Opportunity to ballot (write-in)
Charles J. Mantione Jr.
Biographical information
My name is Charles J. Mantione Jr., and I am the current Lysander town justice. I have been your town justice since 2012 and I am seeking re-election. I am a member of both the Onondaga County and New York State Magistrates Associations. In addition to being town judge, I work as a senior attorney in the Adjudication Department of the New York State Workers Compensation Board.
Political experience
I am the current Lysander Town Justice with past endorsements from the Republican, Conservative, and Independence Parties. I have once again been endorsed by the Republican, Conservative, and Independence party committees for this upcoming election.
Why are you running for office?
Serving as your town judge has been both professionally and personally rewarding. Although litigation of any kind will always have its winners and losers, the parties are much more likely to respect the outcome if the process is one of integrity and fairness. As your town justice, I have and will always do my part to reinforce these principles.
What are the major issues facing the town, and what will you do to address them?
Judicial campaign ethics do not let me comment on specific issues or views of these issues. I can comment on what I have accomplished as your town justice. While serving as town justice, I have increased the technological capabilities of the court office by expanding the information on the court’s website and developing an avenue for citizens to pay fines online. In addition, I secured a grant for $30,000 to update the court room to be in compliance with both the Unified Court Security Assessment and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Lysander Town Councilor: Vote for 2 — Opportunity to ballot (write-in)
Jeffrey J. Kudarauskas
Biographical information
Having lived in other towns, I have decided to settle down in the town of Lysander 11 years ago to raise my family.
Political experience
I am endorsed by the following parties: Republican/Conservative and Independence
Why are you running for office?
I have a deep appreciation for its Lysander beauty and its small town charm, as well as its fantastic school district. I’m seeking office because I want to preserve the small town charm that Lysander has to offer. I believe that I will be serving the town for the right reasons.
This as an opportunity for me to serve in a capacity where I can have an impact in keeping our town financially strong while still providing for the established town priorities of; public safety and disaster preparedness, a positive community appearance, activities and recreational opportunities for youth, adults, and seniors, and retaining the town history and character
What is the biggest issue facing the town and what do you plan to do about it if elected?
If I am elected, I promise to:
• Preserve our small town atmosphere
• Protect open spaces, our scenic hillsides and local control.
• Add value to our park in which everyone would benefit from
I am only interested in making Lysander a better place to live for everyone in the community and I will listen to ideas from anyone that brings them forward.
Eugene F. Dinsmore
I, Gene Dinsmore, am running as an endorsed Conservative for one of the two Lysander Councilor positions up for election in November. You may remember that I was your Town Highway Superintendent from 2012 through 2017, during which time I always kept our expenses within the limits of the town board approved budget. You might also remember, that I struggled with this incumbent board for appropriate road maintenance funding and resisted their attempts to steer us toward their favored methods and vendors. I preferred our Cornell local roads program and Onondaga County mutual purchasing system that the previous board approved and had begun to fund.
Accordingly, I humbly implore you to vote on June 25th for the endorsed Conservative candidates, or write our names in if you are an Independence Party member. Scattered between Lysander, Tennessee and Florida, my wife Joanne and I have four adult children and nine grandchildren to keep us busy with concerts, plays, ball games and birthdays. When I’m not engaged with them, you might find me with VFW Post 15033, American Legion Post 1832, Knights of Columbus Council 5082, Elks Lodge 2348, IUOE Local 158 or Elizabeth Ann Seton Church.
As you can see, I must manage my time as carefully as money. Should you put me on the town board, I will be a champion for maintaining our roads network and facilities, parks and recreation, plus taking care of our employees who make it all happen. My SUNY Civil Tech degree and my time in the Army has taught me a lot, but my time in the highway department taught me why George Washington couldn’t tolerate King George of England. Please help our Conservative team right the Lysander ship.
Independence Party
Onondaga County Legislator, 1st District (vote for 1)
- Brian F. May (see above for bio)
- Opportunity to ballot (write-in)
Town of Lysander Supervisor (vote for 1)
- Opportunity to ballot (write-in)
Justice (vote for 1)
- Charles J. Mantione Jr. (see above for bio)
- Opportunity to ballot (write-in)
Lysander Town Councilor: Vote for 2 — Opportunity to ballot (write-in)
Peter J. Moore
Biographical information
My wife Anne and I have lived in Baldwinsville for the past thirty years. She was raised here, and we raised both of our children here as well.
I have been teaching in the Baldwinsville Central School district for over 20 years, and have been a member of the Baldwinsville Kiwanis Club for 20 years. Needless to say, I love this community and serve in many capacities to give back to the place Anne and I call home.
What is the biggest issue facing the town and what do you plan to do about it if elected?
One of the most important issues that any municipality has to deal with is working within the means of the people they represent. I’m proud to be part of a board that can boast the absolute lowest tax rate of any town in Onondaga County. To do this, we have developed relationships with other government bodies that have helped us bring in over $2 million in grant money to repair aging infrastructure and improve our community. We have turned Town Hall into a revenue source by leasing out unused square footage, and we continue to seek out cost cutting measures. I say “we” because it takes a team to keep your tax rate down, and we’ve been getting that job done.
If re-elected I will continue to be a positive and professional voice of reason on the Lysander Town Board.
Thank you to all who have supported me in the past; I look forward to the future.
