Dear Editor,
The Village of Owego election this year will be on March 15 at the Central Fire Station on North Avenue. As usual in any election there is a lot of rhetoric, but I think the best way to judge between the opposing parties is to look at their voting records. Since May, Phelps and Hartman were elected, they have voted eight times against hiring officers for the Police Department; leaving the Village without the police coverage we need to fight the heroin epidemic and protect our kids. This year they voted six times to dissolve our historic Fire Department in favor of a Joint Fire District, and in the last two board meetings, Phelps has suggested that we get rid of our DPW. Their voting record for the last few years clearly states what their agenda is.
In contrast, the Rebuild Owego Party has never voted to get rid of the police department. We have never voted to get rid of our Fire Department. Instead, we revived the cemetery grant and secured over $600,000 to rebuild the crumbling infrastructure in Evergreen cemetery. We refinanced and paid off all Fire Department loans. We are working on a grant to repair our historic Central Fire Station. We kept the Village under the tax cap for four years in a row while supporting our essential services; rebuilding from the flood, and not going into debt. The Rebuild Owego Party has a proven record of good financial management that we are proud to run on.
Theresa Gosart, Rebuild Owego candidate for trustee, was instrumental in organizing the “I want my OPD” group during Steve May’s first attack against the Village Police Department when he was running under the A Positive party ticket. Another Rebuild Owego trustee candidate, Patrick Cartwright Jr., is a former EMT, a former NYS Peace Officer and is certified in FEMA Emergency Management. He bought and rebuilt a flooded house here because he believes in a future for this Village. Dick VanHall, the third trustee candidate, is an engineer at Lockheed Martin and has used his analytical talents to help the Village on the Zoning and Planning board. His talents will be instrumental as the Rebuild Party works to keep our budget under the tax cap again.
I am impressed with the dedication and passion these candidates have for the Village of Owego and know that, if elected, they will work hard to see that our Village not only survives, but thrives in the years to come. I urge all voters who care about keeping Village services to vote for the Rebuild Owego Party.
Sincerely,
Phoebe Morris
Village of Owego Trustee
