Trustee, mayoral elections contested in the Village of Oxford; residents set to hit the polls Tuesday
OXFORD – Oxford residents will take to the polls Tuesday to cast their votes in the village election, an opportunity to weigh-in on who they would like to fill two, two-year trustee positions, the two-year mayoral position, and a one-year position for village justice.
Incumbent board of trustees member John M. O’Connor, a Democrat, is seeking re-election. O’Connor is just completing his first term on the board, and is a life-long resident of Oxford.
“I would like to continue to serve the village in any way that I can,” said O’Connor. He added his family has been in Oxford for three generations.
According to O’Connor, it is important for a board member to be able to objectively look at what’s at hand, make decisions, and continue to move forward. He added his many years of experience within the community will help him to continue to serve, if re-elected.
Democratic incumbent Joseph Spence began serving on the board in 2003. If re-elected, Spence – a 15-year Oxford resident – stated he would like to continue to work to keep taxes low, complete work at the wastewater plant, and re-construct Albany Street. He added the position isn’t so much about individual goals, as the board is to work cohesively together, stating more than two dozen meetings were held last year.
“I’d like to keep the village a nice place to live and work,” said Spence. “There have been a lot of things put forth by the board that are already in progress.”
Spence commented on the comprehensive plan in the works between the village and town of Oxford, stating the importance of reducing village/town barriers and cooperating as much as possible.
Zachary Crandall, a 15-year Oxford resident, is also seeking a position on the board. Crandall is an 18-year-old Independent who stated he intends to bring some positivity to the community. He is currently seeking his education via home-schooling, but also has had the experience of both public and private education.
If elected, Crandall said he would provide a responsive voice, something he feels is important for anyone holding an elected position. He stated his desire for referendums for matters such as high volume hydraulic fracturing, and said many of the roads are in bad shape and should be maintained as opposed to beautification of other areas of the village.
“I would also like to engage the youth,” said Crandall. “I think a community center in the village would be a great idea, so the young members of the community have something to do.”
Terry M. Stark is running for re-election as the mayor of the village, a position he has held since 2002. Stark, a Democrat, spent ten years on the village board of trustees prior to holding the mayoral position.
During Mayor Stark’s incumbency, the board of trustees passed a zoning ordinance amendment that made the village the only municipality within Chenango County to effectively ban the controversial practice of high-volume hydraulic fracturing for natural gas.
Mayor Stark attested there is a lot going on in the village and many people aren’t aware of all of it. He said there have been more than 20 public board meetings throughout the past year and the village and town are working together to update the town/village comprehensive plan as well as a number of other projects.
Although Stark is the only name on the ballot for mayor in the official capacity, residents have always maintained an opportunity to write-in a candidate if they so chose. This year, ten-year Oxford resident Larry Olsen has announced his desire to hold the mayoral position.
Shortly after moving to the area, Olsen became involved with the Oxford Fire Department, stating he wanted to do something within the community. He added there have been some recent changes with the police department’s budget and fire department’s vehicles are long overdue for replacement.
“It almost seems like they want to get rid of public safety and public service,” said Olsen. “That’s the one thing taxes should be going for. Many in the community are unhappy about it.”
Olsen added his intentions to continue to make a positive impact within the community regardless of the outcome, yet felt the community should always have a choice, and said no one should run unopposed.
The Honorable John Weidman is running to fill the one-year Village Justice position to fill the term from which Justice Charles Race resigned.
Voting will take place from noon until 9 p.m., Tuesday, at the Oxford Fire Station.
Incumbent board of trustees member John M. O’Connor, a Democrat, is seeking re-election. O’Connor is just completing his first term on the board, and is a life-long resident of Oxford.
“I would like to continue to serve the village in any way that I can,” said O’Connor. He added his family has been in Oxford for three generations.
According to O’Connor, it is important for a board member to be able to objectively look at what’s at hand, make decisions, and continue to move forward. He added his many years of experience within the community will help him to continue to serve, if re-elected.
Democratic incumbent Joseph Spence began serving on the board in 2003. If re-elected, Spence – a 15-year Oxford resident – stated he would like to continue to work to keep taxes low, complete work at the wastewater plant, and re-construct Albany Street. He added the position isn’t so much about individual goals, as the board is to work cohesively together, stating more than two dozen meetings were held last year.
“I’d like to keep the village a nice place to live and work,” said Spence. “There have been a lot of things put forth by the board that are already in progress.”
Spence commented on the comprehensive plan in the works between the village and town of Oxford, stating the importance of reducing village/town barriers and cooperating as much as possible.
Zachary Crandall, a 15-year Oxford resident, is also seeking a position on the board. Crandall is an 18-year-old Independent who stated he intends to bring some positivity to the community. He is currently seeking his education via home-schooling, but also has had the experience of both public and private education.
If elected, Crandall said he would provide a responsive voice, something he feels is important for anyone holding an elected position. He stated his desire for referendums for matters such as high volume hydraulic fracturing, and said many of the roads are in bad shape and should be maintained as opposed to beautification of other areas of the village.
“I would also like to engage the youth,” said Crandall. “I think a community center in the village would be a great idea, so the young members of the community have something to do.”
Terry M. Stark is running for re-election as the mayor of the village, a position he has held since 2002. Stark, a Democrat, spent ten years on the village board of trustees prior to holding the mayoral position.
During Mayor Stark’s incumbency, the board of trustees passed a zoning ordinance amendment that made the village the only municipality within Chenango County to effectively ban the controversial practice of high-volume hydraulic fracturing for natural gas.
Mayor Stark attested there is a lot going on in the village and many people aren’t aware of all of it. He said there have been more than 20 public board meetings throughout the past year and the village and town are working together to update the town/village comprehensive plan as well as a number of other projects.
Although Stark is the only name on the ballot for mayor in the official capacity, residents have always maintained an opportunity to write-in a candidate if they so chose. This year, ten-year Oxford resident Larry Olsen has announced his desire to hold the mayoral position.
Shortly after moving to the area, Olsen became involved with the Oxford Fire Department, stating he wanted to do something within the community. He added there have been some recent changes with the police department’s budget and fire department’s vehicles are long overdue for replacement.
“It almost seems like they want to get rid of public safety and public service,” said Olsen. “That’s the one thing taxes should be going for. Many in the community are unhappy about it.”
Olsen added his intentions to continue to make a positive impact within the community regardless of the outcome, yet felt the community should always have a choice, and said no one should run unopposed.
The Honorable John Weidman is running to fill the one-year Village Justice position to fill the term from which Justice Charles Race resigned.
Voting will take place from noon until 9 p.m., Tuesday, at the Oxford Fire Station.
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