Afton voters have choice for supervisor
AFTON – For the first time in 24 years, Town of Afton voters will have a choice of candidates to lead them locally and to represent them in Chenango County decision-making.
Town Councilman John H. Lawrence, who is a Republican, and political newcomer and Democrat April M. Leggett will face off in the general election on Nov. 8. Leggett is also running as an independent under the “Vision for Afton” platform.
Veteran Afton Supervisor Robert B. Briggs, who is retiring, never faced opposition in an election. He said Monday that he is leaving the town debt free and in good financial shape.
“As good as any in the county and better than some,” he said.
Upon announcing his retirement, the 82-year-old former dairy farmer endorsed Lawrence for the job.
Lawrence, who is 68, was nominated to run for county supervisor at the Republican caucus. He was elected to the town board in 2008 following his retirement from Whitaker & Son Buick Chevrolet in Sidney, where he was service manager for several years.
The candidate credits Briggs for his “conservative and careful approach” to town government, and said he plans to follow the same course.
“It has worked well and kept us out of many problems that, you know, small towns can get into very easily. Basically I’m going to continue Bob’s policies,” he said.
The prospect of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale formation located under much of Afton has been a hotly debated issue in the town this past year. Lawrence said he is “definitely not” against gas exploration and hydraulic fracturing,” but is “very concerned” about keeping the environment safe.
“I’m very glad people have held the DEC’s (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) feet to the fire so that they set the right guidelines and have the right safety procedures in order,” he said.
Leggett, who was nominated to run for supervisor by the Democrats at caucus last month, could not be reached for comment yesterday. She was present at at least one of several Afton Town Board meetings held late last year and this year where opponents of hydraulic fracturing made an unsuccessful attempt to pass a local road use ordinance that would ban heavy truck traffic from certain roads in the town. At the time, Leggett said the town’s road repair bonding agreement in place with the drilling company, Norse Energy, was “so full of loopholes that you could drive a frack truck through it.”
Voters will also have the choice of four candidates for two open seats on the town council. Running on the Republican ticket for Afton Council are the incumbents Jamie L. Baciuska and Calvin Tallmadge. Alan M. Steinberg and Abram S. Loeb join Leggett on the Dems side. Steinberg is also running on an independent line called, “Community.”
Town Councilman John H. Lawrence, who is a Republican, and political newcomer and Democrat April M. Leggett will face off in the general election on Nov. 8. Leggett is also running as an independent under the “Vision for Afton” platform.
Veteran Afton Supervisor Robert B. Briggs, who is retiring, never faced opposition in an election. He said Monday that he is leaving the town debt free and in good financial shape.
“As good as any in the county and better than some,” he said.
Upon announcing his retirement, the 82-year-old former dairy farmer endorsed Lawrence for the job.
Lawrence, who is 68, was nominated to run for county supervisor at the Republican caucus. He was elected to the town board in 2008 following his retirement from Whitaker & Son Buick Chevrolet in Sidney, where he was service manager for several years.
The candidate credits Briggs for his “conservative and careful approach” to town government, and said he plans to follow the same course.
“It has worked well and kept us out of many problems that, you know, small towns can get into very easily. Basically I’m going to continue Bob’s policies,” he said.
The prospect of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale formation located under much of Afton has been a hotly debated issue in the town this past year. Lawrence said he is “definitely not” against gas exploration and hydraulic fracturing,” but is “very concerned” about keeping the environment safe.
“I’m very glad people have held the DEC’s (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) feet to the fire so that they set the right guidelines and have the right safety procedures in order,” he said.
Leggett, who was nominated to run for supervisor by the Democrats at caucus last month, could not be reached for comment yesterday. She was present at at least one of several Afton Town Board meetings held late last year and this year where opponents of hydraulic fracturing made an unsuccessful attempt to pass a local road use ordinance that would ban heavy truck traffic from certain roads in the town. At the time, Leggett said the town’s road repair bonding agreement in place with the drilling company, Norse Energy, was “so full of loopholes that you could drive a frack truck through it.”
Voters will also have the choice of four candidates for two open seats on the town council. Running on the Republican ticket for Afton Council are the incumbents Jamie L. Baciuska and Calvin Tallmadge. Alan M. Steinberg and Abram S. Loeb join Leggett on the Dems side. Steinberg is also running on an independent line called, “Community.”
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