Smith, Hayden Preparing For Election

FULTON, NY – The current alderman and the city’s former mayor have each thrown their hat in the ring for this fall’s special election for Fulton’s Fourth Ward.

Dana Smith, a Republican, and Daryl Hayden, a Democrat, have each received their party’s endorsement for the race.

Smith was appointed to the chair earlier this year to fill the vacancy created when former alderman Kenneth Myers resigned the position. Myers was sworn in to serve a new two-year term in January.

While the appointment was originally made for the unexpired two-year term, the city later found that its rules conflicted with state law, which only allowed an appointment until the next election cycle. The city modified the appointment and Smith announced that he would run in the fall.

Hayden announced his intention to run several weeks ago, however, he said he made that intention known to the party before Smith made his decision.

“I told the committee before Dana decided to run that I would do it,” Hayden said, who finished his first four-year term as mayor of the city of Fulton at the end of 2007. “I get along good with Dana. My decision had nothing to do with him.

“I like people to have a choice,” he added. “I said that I would only run one time for mayor, which I did. This isn’t the mayor’s race.”

Hayden said that he felt obligated to run for the alderman seat because so few people step forward for public service.

“I wasn’t really thinking about it before,” Hayden said. “But not a lot of people step forward to represent their city or their ward so I did. It is nice to let people have a choice for who they want to serve.”

Smith agreed.

“It is good for people to have a choice,” Smith said. “I have no problem with that. I was a little surprised to see Daryl was running. … But I am glad there is a race. I would feel weird about running if I was unopposed.”

Smith said that he has been campaigning “off and on” while he manages the regular responsibilities of the seat.

“I was amazed at how much time it actually takes,” Smith said. He noted that the position itself has been a learning experience.

“There are a lot of road blocks,” Smith said. “My primary focus has been things like neighborhoods, quality of life issues and infrastructure.

“A lot of things have been neglected for a long time,” Smith added. “Maintaining parks and facilities are necessary but it can be difficult. Every time it seems that there is an easy answer to something, that answer is something that you can’t do.”

Does Smith believe running against the former mayor make the race more difficult?

“I don’t know how it will turn out,” Smith said. “All I can say is that I will always do my best.”

Sixth Ward Alderman Russell Hayden, a Republican who serves as council president this year, is also Daryl Hayden’s brother. He said that he is confident that the council will be in a good position for the coming year with either candidate.

“Either one of them will make a fine choice,” he said. “Dana is a good man and Daryl is a good man. They are both in this for the right reasons. … We will be willing to work with either of them.”

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