The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Acker running formayor
ONEIDA, N.Y. >> After giving it some thought, Ward 4 Councilor Helen Acker is throwing her hat in the ring for Oneida mayor come November.
“A couple of weeks ago, it just hit me that this was the time,” Acker said. “I’ve been getting a lot of encouragement from people I’ve worked with for the last 39 years I’ve been in Oneida.”
Acker said she was endorsed by the City of Oneida Republican Committee and after the election, she will be a registered Republican. She is currently an independent. Ward 5 Councilor
Jim Chamberlain declared his campaign for Oneida mayor on Jan. 9 and is running under the Democratic ticket. As of writing, incumbent Mayor Leo Matzke has not announced his intention to run.
Acker moved to Oneida on Jan. 1, 1981, after growing up in New York City. She attended Morrisville State College and worked a string of business-related jobs, even holding a position at radio station WMCR, before opening Oneida Office Supply in 1984. She has been part of a number of community organizations, including the Rotary Club, Oneida’s Club, Seneca Street Elementary School PTO, Girl Scouts, the Oneida Improvement Committee, and more.
Acker was sworn in as Ward 4 councilor in June 2012 to replace Mike Kaiser following his resignation.
“I’ve been very involved in the community since I moved here and been civicminded because I think it’s important to do your civic duty if you can,” Acker said. “And this something I can do."
cker said she wants to work on the quality of life in the city of Oneida, city infrastructure, and bring in more businesses. She’s still hammering out the finer points of her platform, but she plans on getting it out with her goals for the city soon.
“It’s in the planning stage, but I’m getting a committee together for my campaign,” Acker said.
Acker said she agrees with Chamberlain’s declaration of keeping a clean campaign that focuses on issues, not the other candidate.
“I think it’s always good for people to have choices, rather than settle on one,” Acker said. “I feel I’m giving people the choice between two good candidates.”