There are two candidates running for the position of Lysander Town Clerk. Incumbent Dina Falcone, a Republican, was appointed to fulfill the term of Lisa Dell (following the resignation of original appointee Elaine McMahon) after Dell was elected Onondaga County Clerk in 2015. Falcone is being challenged by Kevin Rode, who is running as a Democrat. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8.
—
Kevin Rode
Biographical info:
My name is Kevin Rode. I am 40 years old, and I have lived in Lysander my entire life. I currently reside in Radisson and I am employed at Strategic Aligned Companies as the dry-cleaning Supply Division Manager and Bookkeeper of the company. I am a registered Republican.
Why are you running for office?
I have regularly attended our Lysander Town Board meetings since 2011. I secured the Democratic Party nomination for the office of town clerk in 2013, but due to a filing error, the party nominations were deemed invalid. I followed through on the promise I made to the Democratic Party and ran as a write-in. I ran in 2013 because I had watched the combative relationship between our then town clerk and the town board. I believed the residents of Lysander needed and expected to have a town government working together, and for its citizens.
I am running in 2016 as the Democratic Party nominee because I believe the residents of Lysander deserve an elected official in the office of town clerk who is there to serve all of the residents of Lysander efficiently, effectively and equally with an emphasis on the quality of service. I have grown tired of our elected officials becoming “salesmen” for their political party, or their personal agendas, and using their office to raise monies for their political party rather than the job the citizens elected them for.
Why are you the best candidate?
I believe that I am the best candidate to serve as Lysander town clerk for the following reasons: my varied experience in management in the private sector, my attentiveness to detail and my regular attendance of Lysander government meetings.
I have worked as a production manager for a small company of five employees, operations manager that oversaw over 50 employees and work almost singlehandedly running the dry-cleaning supply division at my current place of employment.
I pay great attention to the details, and this is a trait you need as a town clerk. I was asked by my current employer to be his bookkeeper because of my skills and attentiveness to detail. I asked the town board to be on the Lysander Public Safety Committee and have been complimented by them for my detailed review of these meetings that I submit to them.
I also feel that my five-plus years of attending and participating in our local government gives me experience that very few people have. Over these five years I have attended multiple work sessions, budget sessions, planning board, zoning board and Town board meetings. All of this was because I wanted to learn personally about the processes and procedures in our local town government.
The town clerk is one of the first people, if not the first person, that greets you when entering Lysander Town Hall. Lysander is a diverse community. I will provide information to the residents of our town, and maintain all records in Lysander, in an accurate, efficient and timely manner, with an emphasis on quality.
Lysander flows from a rural to suburban setting in just a few short miles. We need a town clerk who understands our geographically and economically diverse community. In my almost 40 years of residency in the town of Lysander, I have lived on Coppernoll Road, Church Road, Ashington Drive and Greymoor Way in Radisson. I understand the diversity of our residents and their ever-changing needs. If anyone would like to get to know more about me, I have a Facebook page titled Kevin Rode for Lysander Town Clerk.
What are the major issues facing the town, and what will you do to address them?
The major issue facing Lysander in my opinion is transparency.
We expect our elected officials to work in an open and accountable manner. The decisions they make, the legislation they enact and the way they spend our tax dollars should be based on the will of their constituency. As members of that constituency, we have the right to access the information that our elected officials base their actions on, and have access to the process through which they come to their decisions. The voters of Lysander have the final say with their votes, which is the ultimate “checks-and-balances” built in to our democracy.
As the main information officer of the town, it is the responsibility of the town clerk to make sure that all relevant information be provided to the public in an efficient and timely fashion. This includes recording and documenting the actions of the town board each time they meet and providing access to these documents expediently so the public can participate and give feedback to the board about decisions that affect them. Participation and engagement in our government starts locally, and it works best when we are informed.
As your Lysander town clerk, you have my guarantee that I will make my duty providing you with complete and accurate minutes of all your town board meetings a priority. My experience and familiarity with town board meetings from “the other side of the bench” gives me perspective on how to keep the residents of Lysander informed. I will carry out all of my other duties and responsibilities of the town clerk with the same dedication in order to provide an open and welcoming window to Lysander town government.
—
Dina Falcone
Biographical info:
I have lived in Radisson with my two children, Michael and Anna, for more tan six years. Michael is in seventh grade at Ray Middle School, and Anna is in fifth grade at McNamara Elementary. I am 45 years old, and I’m a Republican. I earned my bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University and my master’s degree from Le Moyne College.
Why are you running for office?
I am running for this position so that I may continue to serve the residents of Lysander in a positive, efficient and effective way. Throughout my public service career, and working with the community, I have always dedicated myself to helping the residents of our community.
Why are you the best candidate?
I have many years of municipal and management experience. Prior to becoming the town clerk, I worked at the Town of Salina Justice Court as chief court clerk, where I restructured the court in a manner that created a positive work environment for my clerks and was cost effective for the town.
I also worked as the assistant to the Town of Salina Supervisor, where I worked with town residents on a daily basis and helped them with various issues.
As a Constituent Service Representative for Sen. John DeFrancisco, I worked with constituents on a daily basis as well. As a liaison between the senator’s office and various state agencies, I was able to help many residents who sought assistance when they otherwise had nowhere to turn.
What are the major issues facing the town, and what will you do to address them?
The most important issue is continuing to provide the excellent services our residents have come to expect. Although the town clerk position is an elected position, it is not political in nature. My focus is to serve the residents of Lysander on a full-time basis regardless of their political affiliation or political views. My duty is to meet the needs of the residents in a professional, efficient manner. Each and every day I search for ways to improve my office, so that I can be certain that every need is met.
The town clerk provides many services that the public may not be aware of. For example, as town clerk, I attend all meetings of the town board, and act as the clerk to the town board. I complete minutes of the proceedings of each meeting and index the minutes. I am the custodian of all records, books and papers of the town of Lysander. I prepare local law filings and submit the law to the required agencies. My office issues dog licenses, issues handicap parking permits, acts as a passport acceptance agent, provides notary services and updates the code of the town of Lysander. These are just a few of the many duties I provide as town Clerk. I look forward to continuing as your Lysander town clerk. Thank you.
