The reality of a weekly newspaper deadline makes it impossible to
salute the winners in Tuesday’s election because this editorial had to
be written before the election was held.
We do, however, know — and celebrate — one result: Unless there was
some last-minute electoral upheaval, Larry Budro, who ran unopposed,
was elected supervisor of the town of Richfield Tuesday.
Budro comes to the office with considerable experience. He served on
the Town Board, where he was an independent voice — someone who wasn’t
afraid to speak up even when he stood alone. That independence got him
in trouble with current supervisor Nick Palevsky, who engineered a
denial of Budro’s renomination at the Republican caucus. (Running as a
Democrat, Budro later challenged Palevsky for supervisor. Incumbent
Palevsky barely held on to his office in that race two years ago.)
Add to that political independence, Budro’s multi-decade record of
civic service in a wide variety of areas such as the Red Cross and the
Chamber of Commerce, and his considerable banking and financial
experience. What we have is a man very well qualified to serve as
supervisor.
Palevsky and the Town Board took a cheap shot at Budro during the
2006 budget process by lowering the supervisor’s salary. The amount of
money wasn’t much but it was a petty act, and not a good way to begin a
new relationship. Budro would be wise to brush the slight aside, as he
has apparently done, and concentrate on more important issues.
At the top of that list should be Canadarago Lake.
This issue of the Mercury contains a front-page story about recent
flooding of North Shore Lane, which serves as a reminder of the years
of delays and buck-passing on the lake issue.
Memo to Supervisor-elect Budro: Get this issue resolved.
Creation of a Canadarago Lake special district (read that as taxing
district) has been the focus of efforts the last couple of years.
Follow through on that as quickly as possible. The state Senate
approved legislation creating the district last year, but the Assembly
balked. Jump all over Assemblyman Bill Magee, a Democrat in the
overwhelming Democrat-controlled Assembly, to get the legislation
approved.
Magee ducked and weaved on the issue last year. He can’t be allowed to get away with that for another year.
Everybody has excuses on why the Oak’s Creek dam, so fundamental to
preventing flooding in Canadarago Lake hasn’t been repaired, and why
other flood-mitigating actions haven’t been taken.
It’s time for the excuses and the foot-dragging at all levels of government to end.
Get it done! Make that priority one for your new administration, Supervisor Budro.
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