Surplus splits GOP in primary

The roughly $2 million surplus in town coffers and plans to install sewers in Duanesburg have emerged as key issues in the Republican primary contest for supervisor and Town Board.

The supervisor’s race to succeed incumbent Rene Merrihew, who is not seeking re-election, is between Roger Tidball and William Park. Four candidates are vying for two 4-year terms on the board in the Sept. 10 race.

Voting is noon to 9 p.m.

Park, 66, who runs Adirondack Combustion, a business in Princetown, served as supervisor from 1986 to 1999. He said he decided to return to local politics after presiding over several meetings with residents who told him they were discouraged with how the town was being run.

Tidball, 40, said he wants to keep the town moving in a “positive direction” and that the town is in “pretty good shape” financially.

Park countered that town leaders should be using a fund balance to help offset local property taxes.

“I’m alleging that it’s not being properly managed,” said Park, who is campaigning with Town Board candidates Laurie Meyer and Daniel Houlihan Jr., both of whom are political neophytes and agreed with his assessment.

He acknowledged that he owes around $30,000 in back taxes on his business that he plans to pay by the end of September.

Houlihan, 64, a retired crane operator, argued taxes in the town are “exorbitant for the services we receive” and the approximately $2 million surplus is “too much for a rainy day” (fund).

Meyer said she was inspired to get into the race for a seat on the board because of her disappointment in the town’s reaction to the damage to the community by Tropical Storm Irene two years ago.

“I really see government as more than making rules and regulations,” said Meyer, 55, adding she would have encouraged officials to deploy town vehicles to assist in cleanup efforts. “In times of real need, I feel the town should have stepped up more.”

Tidball is running with Town Board incumbent Charles Leoni, seeking his second four-year term, and businessman Randy Passonno. The three have been endorsed by the municipal GOP party.

Passonno and Leoni said it’s only prudent to maintain a healthy budget surplus.

“The surplus we have can vanish in no time and we need to have it in case of an emergency,” said Leoni, 69, a retired employee with the federal general services administration. Leoni said property taxes in town are nominal and that he is most proud of his role in the ongoing project that will ultimately lead to the construction of a sewer system.

Passonno, a real estate broker and appraiser, cited his experience as a local businessman as an asset in the political arena.

“I have a good track record of bringing benefits to the town through personal and business,” said Passonno, 46, who formerly served as president of the Duanesburg Business Association.

The winner of the GOP primary for supervisor will square off against Democrat Jean Frisbee in the general election. She is wrapping up her second term on the board and does not face a primary challenge. The Democrats are also backing candidate John Peters for Town Board, but don’t have a second candidate.

pnelson@timesunion.com – 518-454-5347 – @apaulnelson

BOX:

Name: Charles Leoni

Age: 69