SMITHVILLE – With two of Smithville’s councilmen not seeking re-election, the town has two seats to fill with five candidates running for the open position. This year, voters will see the same last name appear multiple times on the ballot as three Smithville family members and two political newcomers campaign for the open spots.
Kenneth Whitmore, Robert Whitmore and Barbara Ann Whitmore are seeking election. Also running are political newcomers John Cammarata and Carol Omalyev. Of the five candidates, Robert Whitmore and John Cammarata will run as Republicans, Kenneth Whitmore and Barbara Ann Whitmore are backed by the Democratic Party, and one, Carol Omalyev, will run on the Green Party platform.
Carol Omalyev, a 59-year-old graphic designer, is hoping to appeal to voters through her past involvement in local committees. Omalyev said her choice to run in the Green Party is because of the party’s refusal of corporate funding. Her stance against gas drilling, she said, is in accordance with many Smithville residents and is one of her primary reasons for pursuing a council seat. She said she is running to have her voice heard and bring the actions of the council to the community’s attention.
“There are a lot of things in Smithville no one really knows about ... and I’m trying to make that recognized,” she said.
Barbara Ann Whitmore expressed similar concerns as Omalyev. Whitmore agrees that “you are not heard unless you are on the board,” which has given her one reason to campaign this year. Though she voiced concern for gas drilling, Whitmore puts more emphasis on the financial obligations of the council and said she hopes to prevent “decisions that are sometimes made too quickly.”
“Don’t add things that don’t need to be added; don’t change things that don’t need to be changed,” she said.
The 39 year old stay-at-home mom has been a Smithville resident for 14 years. According to her, more attention is needed to fix a flawed budget in the town. Whitmore, who also ran for Town Clerk in 2005 as a volunteer Deputy Clerk, is campaigning with the intent of also promoting youth programs in town.
John Cammarata, 56, is running a campaign centered on examining budget concerns and road conditions throughout the town. Cammarata, a retired NYC firefighter, present employee at Lowe’s in Norwich and active volunteer instructor for the DEC hunter safety courses, said he has listened to the concerns of residents since moving to the area from New Jersey in 1994 and wishes to address some of the pressing issues in the community.
As a current member of the Smithville planning board, he said that if elected, the greatest hurdle will be working with the budget and maintaining road conditions.
“We try to do as much as possible in the community,” he said, stressing his vision to move Smithville forward. “I want to work for the community,” he added. “We can’t control Albany, but we can control some of the roads.”
Kenneth Whitmore also emphasized the need for road work and community maintenance in Smithville. The 52 year old has worked for the Chenango County DPW for 21 years, served on the town board for the last six years and believes that his anti-fracking position and local political background will win votes on Tuesday.
Whitmore stressed the need for structural rehabilitation in Smithville, saying that even “the town barn is in disarray” and more is needed to improve the image and stability of the township.
Robert Whitmore, 47, has been a lifelong resident of Smithville Flats and said he hopes his presence in the community will have an impact on voters. He currently drives an oil and kerosene truck and he has had two stints as Smithville’s Fire Department chief – once from 1986 to 1993 and again from 1996 to the present. With no political experience behind him, he said that he will focus on the unity of the town and work with the local tax base.
“Everyone is worried about taxes,” he said, “I would like to keep taxes at a minimum.”