The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Q&A with mayoral candidates
CANASTOTA, N.Y. » Canastota mayoral candidates Richard Bennett, Bill Haddad, and Rosanne Warner are preparing for the village election on March 18.
To help voters become more acquainted with each candidate, the three responded to a Q&A.
Polls are open noon to 9 p.m. for village elections on March 18.
Q: What experiences do you have that help you qualify for Mayor?
Bennett: “I worked for the village in the 60’s, plus I work in construction, and I’m in the Teamster union.”
Haddad: “I am presently the deputy mayor and was appointed in 2018, I have been a Village trustee since 2012. I am the owner of Haddad Telecom Consulting Services est 2002. Presently employed as the northeast operations manager at Mastec Network Solutions. I was honored to serve our country as a US Army communication specialist, and I was honorably discharged as a Sergeant.
“I have been managing multimillion-dollar budgets for over 25 years. I have been in positions of customer service since I was 11 years old, and I am a trusted and respected decision-maker with the ability to communicate
clearly.”
Warner: “6 years Town Clerk - Town of Lincoln; 3 years Farmland Protection Board Secretary - Town of Lincoln; 4 years Youth Bureau Board - Town of Lincoln; 8 years Clerk-treasurer - Village of Wampsville; 14 years Planning Board Secretary(town & Village); 14 years Zoning Board of Appeals Secretary (Town & Village); 14 years Records Management Officer (Town & Village); 6 years Vital Statistics Registrar (Town); 14 years Receiver of Taxes (Town & Village); 8 years as Trustee for the Village of Canastota; 8 years Canastota Liaison to the Fire Dept.; 4 years Village of Canastota Code Review Board.”
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Q: In what ways will you energize the position of Mayor and stay connected to the village’s ever-changing needs?
Bennett: “I will keep our residents notified on what projects we are doing, plus have an open door to allow residents to come and meet the mayor to discuss any issues they may have.”
Haddad: “My phone will always be on 24/7. Village Hall will be open two evenings each month. Residents will be able to come in and meet with the mayor, as some people would like the opportunity to meet face to face. As the current administrator of the Village’s Facebook page, I will continue to use social media as a means of communication along with additional paper and electronic newsletters.
“To address our younger citizens, creating a Junior Teen Village Council, with a junior mayor (targeting teens 13-16 years old), the junior mayor will have a seat at the Village Board Meetings.”
Warner: “This will begin with establishing better communication not only with residents, but with our village departments. This will go a long way in getting people engaged in the community again. We have a lot of planning to do to budget for road repairs, equipment repair, truck replacement, capital projects and a continuation of the sidewalk replacement program. I hope to encourage the Village Board to fill the long vacant positions on both the planning and the zoning board.
“As a top priority, I will encourage additional budget oversight with the board and department heads and discuss the need for establishing reserve accounts for future purchases of capital equipment.”
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Q: What are some key issues in Canastota you hope to tackle while in office?
Bennett: “I want to have a good working relation with our department heads, which has been lacking in the last eight years. Also have our administrator seek a grant to help fix our sidewalks in the village, plus look at a five year plan on fixing our roads.”
Haddad: “Maximize tax dollars to renovate existing infrastructure with a rate of return on all investments. I will work to control the finances of the Village so that any debt will be coordinated with an economic action plan. We need to continue the multiple years of successful business attraction and retention that has already occurred in our village.
“Retaining the current businesses that we currently have and to be aware that we are not imposing undue fiscal stresses on their bottom line. We value their input to our community and need to always have an open line of communication with them.”
Warner: “I would like to work with the village board to tackle an improvement in communications by establishing a regularly scheduled newsletter that would include information about services available in the village as well as local law education to homeowners. This would be an ideal place to list community events and advertise our recreational programs to our residents.
“We also need to establish monthly department head meetings, quarterly meetings with all staff, and public budget workshop meetings. Increasing public awareness of issues that concern the village and encouraging resident’s participation is key to the future success of our community.”
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Q: What strategies will you employ to get things done?
Bennett: “The best strategy is to make our work place a place without fear and tension, to make it a place that people are treated with respect for what they are doing, which makes them want to come to work everyday knowing they are respected.” Haddad:“a clear, short and long term comprehensive plan, secured to an affordable budget. Developed in conjunction with all department personnel and Village Board. With my project and business management skills, we will track goals and tasks. Updated and published to the public. This will promote our transparency and accountability.
“As mayor, I will continue the “business-friendly” culture that has been established continuing to attract more employers and businesses. We will Implement the ‘Consider Canastota First’ Marketing plan. This will be a village plan, involving everyone. We will continue the partnership and collaborative working arrangements with the School, Town, and County.”
Warner: “Firstly, I would encourage the board to employ site tours at each of the village facilities to better educate all members of the board on the systems and department needs. We need to reach out to the Madison County Planning Department to request assistance in completing a comprehensive plan for future growth and improvements of the village.
“It would also be beneficial to have discussions with our surrounding communities to increase our shared service work as well as reach out to the Oneida Indian Nation to see if we can work together to bring commerce and jobs to Canastota.”
••• Q: COVID-19 has demanded leadership from authority figures around the world. How would you handle COVID-19 and other health crises as Mayor?
Bennett: “I would listen to the health board on what they tell us, and I would keep our community informed on what to do and the precautions we should take.”
Haddad:“we will need to continue to monitor the current situation with the COVID-19 and take direction from the Madison County Department of Health and CDC. As the Mayor, we will make use of all communications channels to keep the residents up to date. Hand Washing is still the most effective way to reduce viruses.
“As a trained member of the CNY Medical Reserve Corp, I am familiar with FEMA Emergency Management and basic public health measures. As a volunteer, I participate in monthly drills and have already submitted my availability if a need for volunteers in Madison County occurs.”
Warner: “The first point of contact in any health crisis would be with the Madison County Department of Health. The county has an emergency preparedness plan that was established to assist local municipalities. The county can assist the village with additional communications between local doctors and hospitals who have all been proactive in advance planning.
“Those who have been asked to self-quarantine will need assistance in obtaining supplies and food, and as a strong community, I know the village and residents of Canastota would step up to the plate to help anyone afflicted by this virus should the need arise.”
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Q: What should voters know before they head to the polls?
Bennett: “After 19 years of the same leadership, it’s time for a change, including new ideas, keeping our residents informed, cleaning our plugged storm sewers, and fixing our cavingin manholes that are cavingin throughout the village streets, which have been neglected in the last eight years.
“I also want to establish a good relationship with our department heads, plus an open door for our residents. Also, I will donate my salary to charity, some to the Parkinson’s Foundation, our Opportunity Shop, and our area churches.”
Haddad:“i have no current or planned conflicts of interest and nothing in my character that will embarrass the Village. Our fantastic staff will be motivated by their empowerment and skills. I will represent the Village in a positive light and treat all citizens with respect and fairness. I am the only candidate that has all the qualities of a chief executive officer; responsible for steering the Village in the right direction and having the ability to forecast what might happen in the future and prepare for the possible outcomes.
“A vote for Bill Haddad will not be wasted.”
Warner: “I was raised in Canastota, am an alumnus of Canastota’s Class of ‘91, and have raised my own family here. My parents instilled a sense of community in all their children, and I have spent a lifetime volunteering for numerous civic groups and nonprofit organizations.
“I have extensive experience in municipal budgeting and was recently awarded a proclamation by the Wampsville Village Board of Trustees for my work.
“In my campaign I will work for the RESIDENTS of Canastota because I love Canastota and the people who make up our great community. It takes a village and greatly improved communication is key.”