In the town of Cicero, there are two candidates for town supervisor and three candidates running for two seats on the Cicero Town Board. Cicero Town Clerk Tracy Cosilmon, Receiver of Taxes Nicole Walsh and Highway Superintendent Chris Woznica are also on the ballot.
The 2021 general election is Tuesday, Nov. 2. For information about polling places and early voting, visit ongov.net/elections or contact the Onondaga County Board of Elections at 315-435-8683.
Read on to meet the candidates (listed alphabetically and arranged by office).
Town supervisor (vote for 1)
Michael Aregano
Republican, Conservative, Independence
Aregano is an officer in the Cicero Police Department.
How will your experience serve you in government?
I am endorsed by the Republican, Conservative, and Independence Parties.
I have proudly served in Cicero government for the past 20 years. I have also worked on the staff of Sacred Heart Church for the past 32 years. My involvement in Cicero runs deep. I am a former commander of the Sons of the American Legion Post 787, a former vice president and board member of the Greater Cicero Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Monsignor Ronald C. Bill Scholarship board, and former president of the Cicero Police Benevolent Association. I have worked at the Cicero Festival for many years.
What do you think are the biggest challenges in your community?
The biggest challenge I will work to solve is decreasing town taxes and controlling town spending.
Other challenges are repairing our roads, attacking the traffic congestion problems, making Cicero an attractive place to operate a business and raise a family, protecting public safety (Cicero Police, fire, and ambulance), and beautifying Cicero.
I believe there is a solution to our traffic congestion. I will work with state and county government to improve our traffic. But I will also, when necessary, oppose decisions that I believe are not in the best interests of Cicero residents. I oppose the NYS Department of Transportation’s current plan for the roundabout at the corner of Thompson Road and Route 31.
My experiences in government and the private sector have forged in me certain leadership skills and management style. I believe in tapping into the abilities of others, creating consensus, and working together towards a common goal.
What are your ideas for addressing these challenges?
Cicero residents demand services from their town government. I will meet that demand, and work to provide our residents the high level of service they expect, but at a lower cost. To decrease town taxes, I will identify areas of structural inefficiency in town government, and streamline government operations and processes. I will work tirelessly to ensure that Cicero residents are getting the maximum value for their tax dollars.
I will be a strong advocate for Cicero residents when dealing with all levels of government — county, state, and federal.
My experience in both government and the private sector make me uniquely qualified to become Cicero’s next supervisor. As supervisor, I will be a cheerleader and advocate for Cicero. I went to school in Cicero, and have lived in Cicero most of my life. Cicero is my home. I will focus on our future.
Joyce Villnave
Democratic
Villnave is a systems consultant for OCM BOCES. Visit facebook.com/FriendsofVillnave to learn more.
How will your experience serve you in government?
As a systems consultant for OCM BOCES and past member of ASBO (Association of School Business Officials), I understand NYS school and governmental accounting.
I have experience with NYS reporting as Cicero Democrats Committee Treasurer, as a candidate, and as a systems consultant.
My experience as a buyer/expeditor and a union steward has given me negotiation skills.
My involvement with politics — through unions, candidate campaigns, and the Cicero Democrats, as well as attending board meetings over the years — has given me a clear understanding of the issues in Cicero.
What do you think are the biggest challenges in your community?
First is the need for a comprehensive plan for Cicero. Over the last 30 years, we’ve added miles of roads to maintain, thousands of water and sewer connections, and just as many vehicles to our infrastructure without the means to maintain it. Other issues the plan would address are zoning (where will we allow cannabis to be sold?) and preservation.
The town has been mandated by NYS to provide adequate facilities for the town justice court. This has been kicked down the road. We need to tackle this task.
As for Williams Beach, we need to find a solution for the lifeguard situation in Cicero and Onondaga County. Becoming a lifeguard is expensive. We need to subsidize that training. Bringing swimming back to the beach could lead to more activities.
A pet project of mine is securing an early voting site for Cicero residents.
What are your ideas for addressing these challenges?
For the comprehensive plan I would pick up the dropped ball and apply for the grant Councilor Boyke proposed and hire a professional to help with the process. This is too big a project to be done by part-time town officials.
I’m not sure why the justice court issue was not addressed with the highway garage. That property is certainly big enough for a more modest garage and a justice court. There are several empty buildings in Cicero that could be redesigned for a justice court.
For Williams Beach, I’d work with the other towns, the city, the county, and the American Red Cross to make lifeguard training more accessible to those interested.
We have several spots that would be perfect for an early voting site. I would reach out to the Onondaga County Legislature and the Onondaga County Board of Elections and petition them to designate a site in Cicero.
Town councilor (choose 2)
Judy Boyke (incumbent)
Democratic, Conservative
Boyke is a New York State Licensed Realtor and small business owner. To learn more, visit judyboykecicerony.com.
How will your experience serve you in government?
My 33 years employed with General Electric, 28 years as an Independent NYS Licensed Realtor, and a small business owner provides me with the knowledge and critical experience needed to have served as a past supervisor (2010-2011) and presently as a councilor. I have proven that I have the managerial, financial, engineering, zoning and land use skills necessary to act in the capacity as a public servant. I continue to use my interpersonal relationship skills providing the voice that town of Cicero residents must have.
Transparency and accountability are key.
What do you think are the biggest challenges in your community?
The town of Cicero consists of Brewerton, Cicero, and parts of Bridgeport and North Syracuse. Each area is unique to their own challenges but drainage, flooding, traffic, road repair/replace, assessments, development impact, brush and trash are key to challenges. I am a life resident and have paid taxes for over 50 years. The growth factor has created major traffic issues, drainage and flooding and impacted the quality of life for residents. I have continued trying to address our traffic issues. Because our infrastructure is state, county and local responsibility always boils down to money. We have a short paving season which impacts how much paving we can do also. I am liaison to the town’s public works development. I am involved regarding new development, commercial and residential land use. Keeping open government with a voice for the people is always a challenge.
What are your ideas for addressing these challenges?
I have the determination, knowledge and experience to move on issues that protect the residents and their wallets. I have continued to force accountability by working with the supervisor, engineering, zoning and planning, and the town attorney to create a local law regarding decommissioning of solar farms. I have been successful creating a new comprehensive plan, and was instrumental in initiating a one-year moratorium on commercial solar fields in Cicero.
Working closely with the comptroller making sure that our town is accountable and keeping a reign on borrowing. I attend all planning board meetings keeping current on any and all new projects looking to make their home in Cicero.
I cannot address the challenges that will impact the residents of Cicero if I didn’t know what future projects come before the planning board. My experience gives me the knowledge I need to address Cicero’s future.
Jonathan Karp (incumbent)
Republican, Conservative, Independence
Karp is an attorney. Visit facebook.com/karp.for.cicero to learn more.
How will your experience serve you in government?
As an attorney, I work on a daily basis with parties that have different interests in order to find common ground and a solution that works for everyone. During nearly six years on the town council, I have used that experience time and time again; many of the most important resolutions and laws that I have drafted passed with bipartisan support. My time on the council has taught me how to navigate government processes and procedures, as well as given me insight into the interests of the various stakeholders at the local and county levels of government.
What do you think are the biggest challenges in your community?
One of the most pressing issues in Cicero is our inadequate traffic infrastructure and the resulting traffic issues that it creates. For a period of time, too much development was allowed in our busiest commercial areas without the infrastructure improvements that it required.
The condition of our roads is another issue that we contend with on an annual basis; some headway has been made but there’s more work to do. This is not only a quality-of-life issue but also a safety issue; some roads are hazardous for pedestrians and bicycle riders, particularly children.
Additionally, like municipalities around the country, we face the possible loss of tax revenue from businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The rise of work-from-home and the damage done to restaurants and retail businesses is likely to continue to have an impact on commercial tax rolls for quite some time.
What are your ideas for addressing these challenges?
With respect to our traffic problems, we took a big first step by removing apartment complexes from the acceptable uses in general commercial zones; I was proud to write that law, which passed with bipartisan support. Several developers have expressed interest in building large complexes on Route 11, which they now cannot do without the council approving a zone change.
We need to continue to push for smart development of those areas that can sustain increased traffic.
As for our roads, the highway department is now getting more mileage paved for each tax dollar, but we also need to pave more annually by making cuts elsewhere in the budget, freeing up those dollars for paving.
Finally, we need to attract new businesses to Cicero to replace any that leave or go out of business, especially in those areas that can sustain the traffic.
Michael Mirizio
Republican, Independence
Mirizio is director of technology for OCM BOCES. To learn more, visit michaelmirizio.com.
How will your experience serve you in government?
Over the past 11 years I have been on various boards and organizations that serve CNY. I was elected to the North Syracuse Central School District Board of Education in 2010 and currently serve as vice president. I am a member of the Cicero Planning Board, and have served on the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority. I have also founded and run a nonprofit organization that serves the community. Through collaborative efforts, I have been involved throughout our community to help make positive, effective and responsible changes. I feel that my years of service will be an asset to Cicero.
What do you think are the biggest challenges in your community?
Being a lifelong resident of Cicero, I see several opportunities for improvement. Most notably, traffic and road conditions. It’s no secret that Cicero has a traffic problem due to the increase in housing and business development over the past several years. Many of our town’s roads are also well past their useful life and are in dire need of replacing.
I also see the need to increase the availability of resources for community members that need assistance with mental health. I would also like the town to make a larger effort in “beautifying” Cicero by tending to public spaces more frequently and by providing a more communal feel throughout the town. My public service involvement has helped develop plans to accommodate numerous changes that our schools and community are facing. I feel that my experience and my input on these opportunities will benefit Cicero.
What are your ideas for addressing these challenges?
First and foremost, the town budget needs to allocate more funding for road repair. This will increase the number of roads our highway department can work on each year. We can also collaboratively work with county and state DOT officials on our traffic pattern configuration. With the potential for large development in our neighboring town, we are in a unique position where we can get the state to step in and help redevelop the town’s traffic configurations. We can also solve some of the traffic issues by slowing down development in Cicero’s busiest areas, such as Route 11 between Bear Road and Route 31.
I would also like to increase the involvement of our local CanTeen. This program is an invaluable resource to Cicero. Not only can this program help our students, but we can further promote resources available to all residents that may need mental health assistance.
Highway superintendent
Chris Woznica (incumbent, running unopposed)
Republican, Conservative, Independence
Woznica did not respond to the Star-Review’s election questionnaire.
Receiver of Taxes
Nicole Walsh (incumbent, running unopposed)
Republican, Conservative, Independence
How will your experience serve you in government?
I am the current receiver of taxes for the town of Cicero, and previously I was employed by the Onondaga County Board of Elections. My entire career has been in the public sector where I have served my community to the best of my abilities.
Whether I assisted the residents of Cicero in paying their taxes or exercising their right to vote, I have the experience needed to provide excellent service to our community. If I can not directly answer a question or solve an issue for someone I can direct the resident to the appropriate office or agency.
What do you think are the biggest challenges in your community?
In this COVID-19 world, the biggest challenge facing our community, regarding my office, is the ability to pay taxes timely. There are many people who face issues which cause temporary financial hardship. Since the beginning of the pandemic there have been many people who face issues due to loss of employment or the loss of an income source such as rent payments. Our goal within the town of Cicero is to help our community to the best of our abilities and this is one issue I hope to help our residents with.
What are your ideas for addressing these challenges?
Due to Real Tax Property Law the town has limited powers to change or alter tax collection rules and regulations. The one thing we can influence is the rules regarding partial payment of taxes. In an effort to ease the burden of tax payment deadlines I am working to change the rules regarding our partial payment program.
In the current program the first partial payment must be received on or before the penalty-free due date for taxes. If a first partial payment is received after the deadline I am unable to accept it. I am working toward changing the rule so I could accept a first partial payment at any time during the tax collection. The change would need to be approved by the taxing authority (i.e., the town, village and school district boards), but I hope to have the change approved in time for the 2022 tax collections.
Town clerk
Tracy Cosilmon (incumbent, running unopposed)
Republican, Conservative, Independence
How will your experience serve you in government?
With over 20 years serving as the Cicero Town Clerk, I have the required hands-on experience. I have received a 2019 Safety Award, the title of “Registered Municipal Clerk” from the NYS Town Clerks Association, and have been recognized as one of the nations’ top 100 Municipal Clerks. I have dedicated myself to learning by participating in many continuing education and training courses. I have implemented the latest online technologies including town board meetings, dog license renewals, and credit card payments. During my tenure, I have also coordinated Earth Day, boater safety and defensive driving courses, and numerous rabies clinics.
What do you think are the biggest challenges in your community? What are your ideas for addressing these challenges?
Our community has some challenges that continually need to be addressed. COVID-19, of course, was and still is one of the bigger issues plaguing our area. Throughout the pandemic, our office was open and working diligently to continue to provide the best for our residents. We had to create new safety protocols and implement new measures in order to mitigate infection, such as making appointments and meeting residents at their cars to perform required services.
I believe that working together can make a difference and help make our community a better place. Though our office handles certain services, we try to answer any and all questions that we can, when we can, even if the request isn’t necessarily a task our office in particular performs. I aim to remain positive and helpful in serving our residents, taking interest in and going the extra mile for each request that passes through our doors. Making sure residents are comfortable and leave our office satisfied with the services provided is one of my top priorities.
Another issue our community must face is the loss of toll booths on the Thruway. Many residents need assistance in setting up an E-ZPass to help pay fees. We will continue to help our residents become acclimated to the new system and ensure they avoid the stresses of higher costs and violations.
I will continue to strive each and every day to bring the best efforts to the Cicero Town Clerk’s office by providing knowledgeable, highly skilled, reliable and financially responsible services to the residents of our town. A positive experience and a smile are what our residents both deserve and receive at the Cicero Town Clerk office.
