Less then one dozen voters turned out for the Otsego County District
9 Meet the Candidates Night sponsored by the League of Women Voters
(LWV), Otsego Chapter.
For a little over an hour, LWV members Liane Hirabayashi and
Stephanie Bauer moderated what Bauer called the “small, intimate
group,” who came out to meet Independent and Democratic candidate
William Elsey, and Keith O. McCarty, who is running on the Republican
line.
The two candidates displayed subtle differences in their
presentation, but for the most part agreed with one another throughout
the hour long event.
Two key issues focusing on how the county government operates provided the audience with an idea of how the opponents differ.
In regards to the issue of a county administrator, Elsey said he
supports the hiring of someone to oversee county government. Elsey
estimated start up costs at $125,000 or better to fill the
position and staff the office needed, but said he believed the
administrator would save money by paying attention to finances and
waste.
McCarty said that hiring a county administrator would increase
county spending and referred to a Republican party survey recently
completed proving this.
County board members’ health benefits, particularly the policy of
providing full benefits for retired board members, is another issue
Elsey addressed. He said he does not believe county employees should
have to pay a portion of their premiums while county representatives,
who are part time employees, do not have to pay. “Current part time
board members receive full benefits, county employees do not,” Elsey
said. “(They) shouldn’t get a free ride with the benefits.”
McCarty disagreed with Elsey, clarifying that he is not seeking the
position for the health benefits, but that he believes the county board
members deserve full benefits. “You get out of it what you put in to
it. If you want it to be part time, it is. If you want it full time, it
is,” McCarty said. “Some board members can’t afford health benefits.
The policy is set, and that’s that.”
When Richfield resident Sal Furnari questioned overstaffing at the
county level as unnecessary waste, Elsey said hiring an administrator
would oversee and eliminate waste like that. McCarty said that county
employees have unions and there is not a lot of control over unions,
but that department heads need to be making sure employees are working
up to snuff.
A lifelong Springfield resident, McCarty said his involvement with
local government has led him to run for the seat left vacant by former
county legislator Eugene Wells. Wells passed away earlier this year,
leaving a vacant seat on the board.
A desire to give back to the community that has embraced him and his
wife, Vi, since moving to Springfield in 1999, is why Elsey said
he has chosen to run for county legislator.
In addition to owning and operating the Leather Stalking Books used
book store on Bartlett Road in Cooperstown, Elsey said he has served as
a Springfield representative on the Otsego Lake Watershed Supervisory
Committee since 2002 and as an election inspector with his wife for
more than three years. Since moving to Otsego County he has also
devoted his time to helping coordinate the Salvation Army’s holiday
fund raising activities throughout the years.
A graduate of Springfield Central School, McCarty is a lifelong
member of the Springfield Fire Department and has served as an EMT for
25 years. During his 37 year tenure with the town of Springfield
highway department, McCarty served as superintendent for 24 years. He’s
also served as president and vice president of the NYS Association of
Highway Superintendents and as treasurer of the Otsego County Highway
Superintendents Association.
Snow removal funding would be an issue McCarty said he would keep an eye on if elected.
Both men praised the rural qualities of their district and vowed to
support the quality of life and the small town characteristic of the
community.
They also both agreed while fielding questions from the crowd, that
a county legislator cannot easily influence Albany decisions, and that
there was little they could do to help with high taxes burdening
taxpayers, especially senior citizens.
Town of Richfield resident Monica Harris told the candidates, “since
Eugene died, we’ve been left out of the loop as far as county
government goes. Will either one of you be able to make a difference?”
Elsey said that if elected he would “spend a lot of time between now
and Jan. 1 getting ready and getting information” to help him in his
representation.
McCarty said he has started attending committee, board and budget meetings since announcing his bid to run for legislator.
Elsey commented on the poor scheduling of county meetings, noting
that it’s difficult for the taxpayers who are being represented to
attend county board meetings scheduled at 10 a.m. – during the day when
most people work.
Springfield resident Fred Culbert commented on the lack of turnout
for the night, considering the district has been left without
representation for so long.
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