By Hayleigh Gowans
Staff Writer
On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 7, residents in the town of Manlius will have the opportunity to select candidates for town supervisor, town justice, town clerk, receiver of taxes, highway superintendent and three town councilor positions.
Incumbent Republican Ed Theobald is being challenged by Democrat Nancy Durkin for town supervisor. (Click here to see the candidate profiles for town supervisor.)
Three seats for town councilor are up for election and incumbent Republicans Vince Giordano, Karen Green and Dave Marnell are seeking reelection. Democrats Sara Bollinger and Patrick Donnelly also vie to be elected to these positions. (Click here to read the candidate questionnaire responses by the town councilor candidates.)
For Manlius Town Justice, Democrat Tim McMahon is challenging incumbent Republican Bob O’Leary (Click here to read the town justice candidate questionnaires).
Incumbent Republican town clerk Allison Weber is seeking reelection against Democrat John Deer (Click here to read the town clerk responses.), and Democrat Elvis Mehmedovic is challenging incumbent Republican Laura Peschel for the receiver of taxes positions.
Incumbent highway supervisor Republican Robert Cushing will seek reelection to his seat unopposed.
Polls on Election Day will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7. For more information about the elections, go to ongov.net/elections/index.html.
The Eagle Bulletin distributed uniform candidate questionnaires for all of the contested elections in Manlius.
Following are the responses for receiver of taxes candidates organized by alphabetical order of last names:
Receiver of Taxes
Elvis Mehmedovic
Political Affiliation: Democrat.
Educational background and professional history: Associates Degree in humanities. Over a decade of working in all areas of retail business, stocker, cashier, customer service nad management. Following retail experience I opened a small business in logistics and transportation and used skills in accounting, operations management and business development to fully operate the company. Currently gaining professional experience in sales and marketing for business to business, with a focus on technology and the employment sector.
Community service and previous political office history: Held no previous political office.
Why are you running for the position of receiver of taxes?
I am running because I believe in making a change for the betterment of the position and the system the position is part of. I will always work towards the future and improvement of systems and operations. There are things that can be improved but they require a new mentality, and as I have been given a great opportunity because of the Town of Manlius I wish to give back. I choose to give back by using my skills and knowledge I have gained over the years to turn the government system into a more productive, efficient, and less consuming process.
If elected, do you have any ideas to improve the receiver of taxes’ office?
If elected I will evaluate the entire office and revamp it to a more modern system. Not by simply tossing everything away and then implementing some new system that has not been tested, but in a manner that will take into account all the responsibilities and duties of the office and finding the most efficient and sensible way to perform them. This can be done by analyzing the actions of the office and implementing a system that removes unnecessary steps. Modernization of the system by digitizing and connecting online services to the functions of the office would improve the efficiency of the office.
What distinguishes you from your opponent?
I am a new kind of elected official who will work to improve the town’s infrastructure, its esthetics, its benefit to residents, and other discussed topics. This is a new age and as someone who is part of a new generation creating it, I want to work for the town and the people.
Laura Peschel
Political Affiliation: Republican.
Educational background and professional history: Graduate Chittenango Central School, attended Onondaga Community College.
Community service and previous political office history: Town of Manlius Receiver of Taxes 1992 to present; Deputy Receiver of Taxes 1985 to 199; president 2009 to present, Onondaga County Association of Tax Receivers & Collectors; treasurer 1997 to 2008, Onondaga County Association of Tax Receivers & Collectors; member NYS Association of Tax Receivers & Collectors; Manlius Village Cemetery board member; Town of Manlius Republican committee member.
Why are you running for the position of receiver of taxes?
I wish to continue to provide the taxpayers of the town of Manlius with the services they are accustomed to. The ability to not just pay their taxes locally but to also have a place to go with their questions and receive an answer in a timely manner. I want to continue to implement options to make the office more efficient, providing the residents with alternatives for paying taxes that works within their schedules while still offering the ability to pay in person for those who still that need that option.
If elected, do you have any ideas to improve the receiver of taxes’ office?
For the last nine years I have offered taxpayers with a user fee the ability to pay their taxes with a credit card.
Starting in 2018 I am in the process of implementing the option to pay your taxes online. The remote capture of checks will begin soon which will enable me to deposit tax checks immediately into the bank.
What distinguishes you from your opponent?
Having worked in the tax office for 32 years, 25 of those as the receiver of taxes, experience and knowledge of this position are what sets me apart. I have earned a rapport and trust from those I have interacted with in the town of Manlius.
