Today’s election to determine who will be Mayor

On Tuesday, Village of Owego voters will determine who their next mayor will be. Running for mayor on two separate party lines is Steve May, a village trustee and Kevin Millar, incumbent.

The incumbent, Kevin Millar, is part of the Rebuild Owego Party and is running with Rod Marchewka, who is running for reelection as clerk / treasurer; and Patrick Cartwright, Theresa Gosart and Dick Van Hall, who are running to fill trustee seats.

Steve May is part of the Taxpayers First Party and is running with Earl Hartman and Mike Phelps, incumbents running for re-election for trustee seats; and Ed Morton, who is a first time candidate running for a trustee seat.

Each party has built their campaign surrounding their party’s platform.

The Rebuild Owego Party has stated that they have worked hard to keep the village under the tax cap for four years, while keeping essential services like the police and fire departments.

The party also noted that they worked with the entire board to respond to the state audit and incorporated all of their suggestions; including hiring a bookkeeper with over 20 years of experience in municipal accounting.

“We will continue to work to keep the village fiscally sound, fully staffed and providing all the services our residents expect,” said Mayor Kevin Millar.

The Taxpayers First Party has made a pledge to give the taxpayers a stronger voice when it comes to running the village business.

“When it comes to major decisions affecting village residents, it’s not the politicians that should be making the call,” said Steve May, mayoral candidate.

He continued, “Our commitment is to give the Taxpayers a stronger voice by ensuring that significant decisions about the Owego Police Department – or any other department – come up for a public vote. The people should decide, and they will if our Taxpayers First team is elected on Tuesday, March 15.”

Throughout their campaigns, the Owego Police Department has remained at the forefront of the election.

The current Mayor has made the issues surrounding the hiring and staffing of the Owego Police Department one of the target points of his campaign. Steve May, Taxpayers First Party, has rebutted any talks that they were trying to abolish the police department, stating that it is not the goal of his party to get rid of the police department.

Another point of contention has been the fire department’s attempts to form a district – an action that would have required the department to dissolve, first, from the village. The current board did not allow this to go for public vote.

“We want to put the power where it should be – in the hands of the people,” said Ed Morton, about this recent board action and the changes that will be made if the Taxpayers First Party is elected into office.

The Rebuild Owego Party, according to Millar, wants to remain focused on the continued rebuilding of Owego. They also want to continue to work on ways to improve government efficiency.

May says his priority is listening to what the taxpayers want. May also wants to straighten out the village finances.

Voters will decide on Tuesday, March 15, who will be managing the business of the village of Owego.

Voting will be held from noon to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15 at the Owego Central Fire Station on North Avenue.

All village residents are eligible to vote if they are registered with the Tioga County Board of Elections.

According to the Board of Elections, out of more than 2,000 registered voters, only 591 people voted in the 2014 mayoral election and 563 people voted in the 2015 election.