Ballot Recap: Fulton Candidates Seeking Election 2017

by Mikayla Kemp | November 6, 2017 2:50 pm

FULTON, NY – Polling places throughout Oswego County will be opening for the 2017 election day at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, November 7, running all day until the polls close at 9p.m.

Who can Fulton residents expect to see as candidates for elected official positions on their ballots?

For the Fulton Common Council, residents will see candidates based on which of the six wards of the city the resident resides in.

Read below for information regarding candidates running in each of the six wards and races for Oswego County Legislature representatives covering the city of Fulton.

Fulton’s first ward residents will see Thomas Kenyon appear on the Conservative line of the ballot for re-election to first ward councilor. Kenyon has been on the Fulton Common Council for 12 years.

“We are moving in the right direction, I see things coming together for the city. We are selling houses, we are getting the Nestle site ready for business, we have other parties interested in other properties along the 481 corridor so when people enter Fulton, they see a good place to be,” Kenyon said.

He aims to set his focus on the city’s code enforcement department in his next term, if re-elected. As chairman of the audit and financing committee, he sees code violations piling up without being able to catch up, he said.

“I’m still learning, we’re all still learning but I love what I do. I love helping. I’m proud of my ward and I’m proud of my city. We will keep moving despite the naysayers, and we will continue to work together to make things better,” Kenyon said.

Fulton’s second ward residents will see David Ritchie on the Conservative line of the ballot for re-election to second ward councilor. Ritchie has been on the Fulton Common Council for two years.

Upon re-election, Ritchie hopes to continue putting properties back on the real tax roll, clean up wards, and continue to clean up Lake Neatahwanta.

Ritchie, a 37-year employee for the city in both the recreation department and public works, intends to keep his focus on progressing the city of Fulton.

“We will continue trying to keep Fulton growing with help from all of the great volunteer groups like Fulton Block Builders and Friends of Fulton Parks. We are moving in the right direction,” Ritchie said.

Fulton’s third ward residents will see Donald Patrick Jr. appear on the Democratic and Conservative lines of the ballot for re-election to third ward councilor. Patrick has been on the Fulton Common Council for two years.

Having volunteered with Friends of Fulton Parks to upgrade playground equipment at Patrick Park, working with Fulton Block Builders to install a neighborhood welcome sign, attending all community events, committing to daily rounds throughout the third ward, as well as 41 years of work for the city of Fulton before retirement, Patrick is committed to bettering his ward and community.

“As a city we have an excellent well run Department of Public Works, Recreation Department, Sanitation Department, and Water Department. The employees are second to none and I want to continue to give them the equipment they need to do their jobs. Also, our Fire and Police Departments and Traffic Department are top of the line and have been a pleasure to work with,” Patrick said.

With re-election to his position, Patrick hopes to continue to work with the Mayor on installing a “Splash Park” for children, continued improvements at North Bay Campground, continuing manhole and catch basin repair work, making sure sewer lines are jetted and open, continuing to attract new business to the old Nestle site, work with codes to clean up properties and address problems with absentee landlords, and continue to work on upgrades to city parks.

“I run for Fulton Common Council to help make our city a better place to live and bring up our children,” Patrick said. “The City of Fulton is on its way back and with our employees and many excellent volunteer groups we will become a ‘City with a Future’ again.”

Fulton’s fourth ward residents will see newcomer Samuel Vono appear on the Republican and Conservative lines of the ballot after ousting current fourth ward councilor, Jim Myers in a primary race.

Born in Lee Memorial Hospital in 1952, Vono has been a life-long resident of Fulton. A 1970 G. Ray Bodley High School graduate, Vono went on to serve four years in the United States Air Force and after receiving an honorable discharge while in California, “home was calling me back to my roots here in Fulton,” he said, where he went to work with Miller Brewing Company.

After the company’s closing, he continued his education at Cayuga Community College before leading a plentiful career beginning in the Fulton City School District and working his way to his current position as a Computer Support Specialist the Oswego County Central Services Department.

“I believe that all of my life experiences qualify me to be Fulton’s fourth ward city councilor. My wide variety of experiences allow me to relate to all of my constituents; Republicans, Democrats, Conservatives and Independents. In my current position with Oswego County, wearing different hats and multitasking is the norm. These qualities are transferable to serving as a member of the city council. I believe that consistent contact with my constituents is the key to reaching any objective that lies in our path,” he said.

Upon his election, Vono hopes to provide a “fresh start” for residents of the fourth ward, offering a better quality of life in fourth ward neighborhoods.

“I’m running in this election because I would like to be apart of the endeavor to bring our city back to life again. If elected, I plan to be totally involved in the Nestles property project. With Aldi’s coming into town, I believe that we will see economic growth on the East side of the city. Economic growth and development is what drew my parents to the city of Fulton,” Vono said.

As the city is currently involved in projects and organizations such as the Fulton Block Builders, Friends of Fulton Parks, Friends of Great Bear, and the Lake Neatahwanta Reclamation project, Vono believes Fulton is on track.

“As Fultonians, we can help our city on its journey to a ‘Fresh Start.’ However, there is one more hurdle that I’d like to overcome together. Let’s take this upcoming election cycle, this opportunity for change, as a chance to encourage more positive activism in our neighborhoods and our community as a whole. Of course, in order to do this, we need your vote and support!” he said.

Fulton’s fifth ward residents will see the only contested race for Fulton Common Council in the 2017 general election as Dennis Merlino will appear on the Democratic and Independent (Fulton Action Party) lines of the ballot and Audrey Avery will appear on the Republican and Conservative lines.

As a first experience running for office, Merlino says he is no novice due to his role on the Fulton Planning Board and County Planning Board working to improve the businesses in Fulton while also working to attract new business, his role on the Comprehensive Plan Update Committee working to update the city plan, his role as a director on the Board of Oswego Housing Development Council allowing him insight into the need for affordable, safe, responsible housing in Fulton, and his role as an Ambassador for the Fulton Block Builders working to rebuild the appearance and spirit of neighborhoods throughout the city of Fulton.

With these positions as well as volunteering for several city groups such as Friends of Fulton Parks, Friends of Great Bear, Fulton Public Library, CNY Arts Center, Fulton Jazz Fest, Fulton Music Association, Lake Revitalization Project and more, Merlino is devoted to putting in a helping hand to assist in making a positive impact.

If elected, he hopes to create an upward spiral in Fulton by improving neighborhoods, enabling improvements to existing businesses, attracting new businesses, creating responsible budgets, addressing infrastructure needs for roads, sidewalks, and water, responsible development of our waterfront properties, and searching for new opportunities to improve Fulton.

“Our current City Council, and the organizations I volunteer with, are making great strides in improving Fulton,” Merlino said. “I have attended virtually every City Council meeting over the past decades. I am involved in projects with the Mayor, the City Council, the department heads, and our community’s leaders. I am familiar with the problems we are facing, our financial restrictions, and workable alternatives and solutions to our problems. Now, I want the opportunity to put these solutions into action.”

Merlino is endorsed by county legislators, former Mayor, multiple current and former Common Council members, the Fulton Teachers Association, CSEA, Oswego Labor Council, Fulton Democrats, Oswego County Democrats, UFCW, AFL-CIO, and more, he said.

“The people who work with me, and know me best, have wholeheartedly endorsed me for Fulton City Council. I hope the people of Fulton’s fifth ward will put their trust in me, and vote for me to be their representative on City Council. I am active, energetic, and work hard for Fulton. Help me continue the positive improvements to our City with your vote. Vote for Dennis Merlino,” he added.

Opposer, Audrey Avery is familiar with election campaigning after a 2011 run for fifth ward councilor against an incumbent, what she refers to as “a rewarding and learning experience.”

A long-time city resident, Avery has owned a home in the fifth ward for 12 years.

Having lived through the good and bad times Fulton has faced in economics, neighborhood and social decline, as well as the deterioration of city infrastructure, parks, and neighborhoods, when paired with her life as a city resident, taxpayer, and homeowner, Avery feels she is very in tune with what the city of Fulton needs to get back on track.

“I am not a politician, I am a concerned resident of this city. I am for the people and I am in no way doing this to serve my own agenda. I have a rapport with many of my constituents. They all know that I am very hardworking in my endeavors, I will fight for the greater good of our community,” Avery said.

If elected, Avery hopes to work on cleaning up neighborhoods, improving business opportunities, presenting fresh ideas for new business, repairing streets and sidewalks to make the city more appealing to prospective residents and businesses, looking toward acquiring funding before raising taxes, curbing the issues regarding absentee landlords who are bringing neighborhoods down, infrastructure repair, continue to improve the park system, and seeking out recreation for Fulton youth with the possibility of bringing back a city swimming pool.

Currently a self employed small business owner, Avery is proud to have the support of several small business owners in Fulton as well as the endorsement of the Conservative and Republican party lines.

“My goal is to try and make a positive difference for our city and it’s people,” Avery said. “I have had so much positive feedback. I want to thank in advance all of those who support me.”

Fulton’s sixth ward residents will see Lawrence Macner appear on the Democratic line of the ballot for re-election to sixth ward councilor. Macner has been on the Fulton Common Council for six years.

His theme will be quality of life for sixth ward residents, as it’s always been, he said. He aims to keep the quality of life for Fulton residents constantly improving, building upon programs throughout the city working to restore Fulton’s charm such as Friends of Fulton Parks of which Macner is an avid volunteer and the recently developed Fulton Block Builders program.

“That has helped tremendously with the appearance and spirit we want for the city of Fulton. People were working together and taking pride in their homes in the sixth ward,” he said.

Upon re-election, he aims to keep focused on landlords in his ward that don’t follow city codes and ordinances so that it doesn’t bring the rest of the ward down in terms of appearance or create noise or pollution throughout neighborhoods as well as continuing to work with city government, department heads, and other members of the common council to achieve what is necessary for the sixth ward and for the city.

His 28 years in the United States Air Force/National Guard have allotted him such distinctions as the city of Fulton’s 2017 Veteran of the Year and a place in the NYS Senate Veterans Hall of Fame, all the while teaching him lessons in teamwork and camaraderie that will benefit him in his role on the Common Council.

“I want to make Fulton forge ahead. I want to move forward with growth and opportunities to hopefully bring it back where it once was many years ago,” Macner said. “It was unbelievable how this city was prosperous. One by one, little by little, everything slipped away but my heart is with my city. Even though I’m a transplant, I believe Fulton can someday be back where it was years ago. I’m not going to give up that fight, I’ve still got it in me.”

Only one contested race for the Oswego County Legislature will appear on ballots in the wards of the district the candidate will cover.

The 25th district of the Oswego County Legislature covering a portion of Fulton in some of the fourth ward, fifth ward, and sixth ward will show incumbent Frank Castiglia Jr. on the Democratic and Independent (Standing for the People) lines while challenger Marc Holliday will appear on the Republican and Independence lines.

Castiglia has served two terms on the County Legislature. If re-elected, he thinks the biggest issue to tackle county-wide is unemployment.

“Good solid employment is the medicine that will cure all of our problems in Oswego County as well as the City of Fulton. It would solve our poverty problem, our health issues, our crime problem, and last but not least our drug problem. Knowing that is the answer, I would continue to push the Oswego County IDA to secure good solid employment for our County and the City of Fulton,” Castiglia said.

Furthering, he’d like to push for more help with the Drug Task Force from the state.

Castiglia is endorsed by both the County and City of Fulton Democratic Committees as well as the Oswego County Labor Council.

A Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Education from Southern New Hampshire U, coupled with work experience as a Director of Strafford Business School and past manufacturing supervisory positions along with having served two terms as a county legislator, helps with knowing the needs for proper budgeting, Castiglia said.

“I decided to seek the office when I found out that the county was forcing P.I.L.O.T. on the city and I felt I needed to get involved to insure the city had a voice that would speak up for the city and its taxpayers,” he said, having since never lost focus on his role of being a voice for his constituents.

His opponent, newcomer Marc Holliday, has experience serving as the Fulton Republican Committee Chairman and the current Republican Committee Vice Chairman as well as a campaign for Mayor of Fulton in 2007.

During his time as chairman, he was able to work with the Board of Elections to consolidate polling locations on the east side of Fulton which saved county and city residents thousands of dollars, he said.

A political science major in college, Holliday believes he excels at thinking outside the box to find solutions to the problems faced in the county.

Some of those problems he would hope to address if elected include the heroin opioid epidemic, anti-business climate- getting rid of current anti-business red tape and legislation that impedes growth and leads to job loss, high property taxes, and saving Rowlee Beach/Park.

“I decided to run for Oswego County Legislature because I was sick and tired of seeing nothing get done by our elected officials. We have serious issues that are not being addressed. I am sick of seeing and hearing that we can’t change status quo. Our current elected officials have resigned themselves to defeat and I am a fighter and our city is worth fighting for. I want to rebuild and revitalize Fulton. I want to help make Fulton a ‘City with a Future’ once again,” Holliday said.

Other uncontested races for Oswego County Legislature districts covering a portion of Fulton will appear on ballots in respective wards. Voters can expect to see the following:

Linda Lockwood will appear on the Republican line of the ballot for the 11th district of the Oswego County Legislature covering a portion of Fulton including some of the fourth ward, fifth ward, and sixth ward.

James Karasek will appear on the Republican, Conservative and Independence lines of the ballot for the 22nd district of the Oswego County Legislature covering a portion of Fulton including some of the second ward and third ward.

Daniel Farfaglia will appear on the Democratic, Conservative and Independence lines of the ballot for the 24th district of the Oswego County Legislature covering a portion of Fulton including some of the first ward and second ward.

Visit the Oswego County Board of Election website[1] for sample ballots, polling locations, other 2017 NYS ballot propositions, and more information.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/fulton/ballot-recap-fulton-candidates-seeking-election-2017/

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