Hennessey will be strong voice for OneidaCounty

Let’s answer one of the most frequent questions asked of me: Why do you want to run for county legislator again?

I didn’t plan on running again; I tried to convince at least three others to run and while we had good conversations, there was no one able to make the effort! It became a question of do you walk away from your civic duties or run and give the public a choice?

My critics will say that I have run and lost too many elections, but I look at it as a testament: to my upbringing, my convictions, my moral fabric, my work ethic and my deepest belief that I’d rather lose an election being true to my principles than win by accommodating and supporting the status quo. It’s one thing if the status quo is working, but when it’s failing, we need new candidates, new ideas and competition to flourish!

Twelve years ago, I was elected to my fist term as county legislator. During six years we experienced some setbacks, but more successes, including: the largest tax cut in Oneida County history; reducing county legislators from 29 to 23 and eliminating health insurance for part-time elected officials; opening a satellite county clerk’s office; town hall meetings with county elected officials; job fairs; and property tax reductions for Cold War veterans and disabled property owners.

In addition, we defeated the original County Executive Picente agreement that was seriously flawed, which would have ceased payments from the Oneida Enterprises after 10 years!

The revised agreement, of which I was not a party to, was unfortunately entered into and is also flawed. It has led to more purchases that don’t meet the Sherrill Supreme Court decision making it clear purchased land must go into Trust Land to avoid taxation -- a decision not recognized under CuomoPicente, as they’ve allowed the OIN to buy land never put into trust.Not a word from our current legislator opposing any of these actions.

Despite about $70 million received in payments from the state over a five year period, county taxes have not been cut in any meaningful way. Local infrastructure problems remain, and we have not received our adequate share of money distributed to Oneida County. What we have seen is restaurants closing, motels being purchased, gas stations ceasing business, and more and more properties coming off the tax rolls!

If this is the agreement we must live with, we need a strong leader who can rally the community to make the case that we deserve $7-8 million of the annual payments ($16-$17 million) so our impacted area, our taxpayers and our business community has the money to build waterlines in Vernon Center, flooding mediation in Sconondoa, sewer lines in Oneida Castle and tax relief to our local schools. We’re not asking for much, just the same percentage that other impacted areas received from their state agreements!

County leadership will tell us it can’t be done, my opponent will stand by their decision, and I will ask why not?

Schiebel will honor Conservative vote

To Conservative voters of OC Legislature District 1:

I amwriting to express my sincere gratitude to you for your recent participation in the Oneida County Conservative Party opportunity to ballot primary for County Legislator, District 1. Thank you for taking the time to listen to the issues, compare the candidates’ credentials, and most of all, thank you for taking the personal time to go to the polls and vote; your voice and engagement is an important part of our democracy.

Today, it’s official. I received and accepted the Conservative party’s endorsement through the opportunity to ballot process. Although I was not endorsed by the county Conservative committee, the voices of Conservative voters in District 1 rang loud and clear. The overwhelming voter turnout of more than 60 percent of the eligible registered Conservatives in a write-in primary is a strong indicator of the significance of this process. And in the final canvass of ballots, we secured 62 percent of the votes cast.

In closing, I am honored and privileged to receive the Conservative nom1ination and look forward to your support as such in the upcoming November general election.