Earl Hartman.
Four Owego residents recently announced their candidacies for Village offices that will be on the ballot this coming March 15. Current Village Trustee Steve May is running for Mayor, while current officeholders Mike Phelps and Earl Hartman are running for re-election as Trustees, and newcomer Ed Morton is also running for Trustee.
The four candidates plan to run on the “Taxpayers First” Party line, which is focused on three key priorities: Financial Accuracy and Accountability; Maximizing Efficiency and Effectiveness; and Ensuring That Taxpayers Make Final Decisions on Major Issues.
More details about the Taxpayers First platform will be unveiled in the coming weeks. The candidates will also be visiting residents face-to-face by going door-to-door to collect petition signatures, share information and answer questions.
Steve May.
Steve May was first elected to the Village Board in 2014. He’s running for Mayor this year with a keen focus on improving financial and public accountability after a career spent building businesses in the private sector. He currently owns and operates Owego and Harford Railway and 10 other local companies. He has served as a Board Member for the Tioga County Boys and Girls Club, as a volunteer for the Special Olympics, and as a supporter of Stray Haven, Camp Ahwaga, Tioga Opportunities, Apalachin Youth Football, Tioga Youth Soccer, and many more local organizations. He lives on Montrose Turnpike with his wife, Cheryl.
As a Trustee, May has worked to amend Owego Fire Department Operation Manual to remedy PESH violations, wrote the Corrective Action Plan in response to a negative State Audit, pushed for a law to protect children against sexual predators, and assisted in crafting Nuisance Property Law to improve our neighborhoods.
Ed Morton.
“We’ve made good progress trying to turn Owego around in the last two years,” said May. “But we need new leadership at the top in the Mayor’s Office to get our finances back on track and to bring real accountability to the taxpayers.”
Incumbent Trustee Mike Phelps is running for re-election after first being elected in 2014. He is a third generation resident of Owego and graduate of Owego Free Academy. He is a graduate of Elmira College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration and serves as a member of the Vestal Police Department. He previously served as a volunteer coach for Owego Little League, Youth Basketball, and Apalachin Youth Football. He and his wife, Terra (Seaver), live on Talcott Street in Owego with their four children.
“Unfortunately the tax rate of nearly $20 per $1,000 on property assessments has the few taxpayers left in the Village of Owego struggling to reside or operate business here,” said Phelps. “The New York State Tax Cap restrictions imposed on the Village cripple our ability to generate more tax revenue to invest in improving our public services. In order continue to make the Village of Owego a safe and desirable place to live and operate business, we must find ways to get the most out of every tax dollar.”
Mike Phelps.
Incumbent Trustee Earl Hartman is also running for re-election. Earl was appointed in 2010 by former Mayor Arrington to fill a vacated seat and has diligently served the Village taxpayers for two subsequent terms as an elected Trustee. He was born and raised in Owego and is retired from Cornell after 42 years in Civil Engineering Project Design and Management and as their NYS Code Official. He is a past Volunteer Youth Sports Coach, Scout Master, Sunday School Teacher and Board Member of Friends of Hospice. He currently serves as an EMT with Village of Owego Emergency Squad and is very active in his Church. Earl’s wife Judy (Baker) also grew up in the Village and they have four children and seven grandchildren.
“I’m proud of my work on the Village Board, and especially with the Taxpayers First Team, over the last two years. We strive to listen to and represent all of our constituents’ voices, not just the shrill or strident ones,” said Hartman. “I would be honored to earn the support of Village voters to continue the important work of this office for another term.”
James Edmond (“Ed”) Morton is a first-time candidate for public office but is an eighth generation Owego resident. He was born and raised in Owego, is a graduate of Owego Free Academy, and holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Applied Economics from Cornell’s Dyson School of Management. He currently serves as Senior Vice President at Chemung Canal Trust and is the Treasurer and a Board Member of A New Hope Center. He is a member of Owego United Methodist Church and served as a past Volunteer Coach for Owego Junior Football. He and his wife, Kari, live with their four children on Front Street in Owego.
“Kari and I moved back home to Owego when we had opportunities to go many other places because we love this community,” said Morton. “I’m running for Trustee to bring my financial background to the Board so we can set out a long-term path to stability and success.”
May, Phelps, Hartman and Morton encourage Village residents to contact them with any questions or comments leading up to the March 15 election.
All Village residents are eligible to vote in the March 15 election if they are registered with the Tioga County Board of Elections.
