Wilna council members face challenge
Wilna town councilmen Michael F. Storms and Francis M. Skvorak, both Democrats, are facing competition from Republican David Elliott in Tuesday's election.
Mr. Storms has been a councilman for eight years. He also has served as deputy supervisor for eight years and on the Zoning Board of Appeals for four. He is an exempt member of the Carthage Volunteer Fire Department, having served 15 years as an active member. A retired construction equipment salesman, he is a member of the Sons of the American Legion and a 37-year member of the Elks Lodge.
Mr. Storms said his council terms have seen many important issues, including several large businesses leaving the town, resulting in the loss of tax base. Even so, Mr. Storms said, the boards he has served on have been able to make improvements to town infrastructure. Mr. Storms is helping the town work with other municipalities, including the villages of Carthage and Deferiet, in an effort to share the cost of operations.
"My commitment to the town is to listen to all the constituent problems and to try to act in the best interest of the people of the town and to have a balanced opinion on all subjects," Mr. Storms said.
Mr. Skvorak is serving on the town board to complete the unexpired term of Gary Trombley, who resigned to run for a seat on the Jefferson County Legislature. As of the election, Mr. Skvorak will have served on the town board for about a month.
He has lived in the Carthage area since 1955 and is a retired papermaker. He has served as the Wilna Planning Board chairman for 15 years and as the Twin Villages Drug Abuse Awareness Council chairman. He is also active in Boy Scouts, Little League coaching and his church. Mr. Skvorak is a former Marine and National Guardsman.
"I want to continue to encourage the values of the people in the town of Wilna," Mr. Skvorak said. He said these values include promoting "a quiet and peaceful, crime-free area where we can enjoy our surroundings and our beautiful countryside."
Mr. Elliott is an armed security guard with T.W. Co. Inc. at Fort Drum. He has worked as a patrol officer for the Carthage, West Carthage and Watertown police departments and has served as a deputy in the Lewis County Sheriff's Department Division of Parks and Recreation. Mr. Elliott was the co-director for the St. Lawrence-Black River Valley Police Academy, as well as an instructor for the police development school, an alcoholic beverage control law course and an impaired-driver-recognition course.
Mr. Elliott served seven years in the West Carthage Fire Department and four years on the Watertown Police Department underwater search and rescue team. He is a 29-year member of the Carthage Elks Club and a member of the Blue Nights International Law Enforcement Motor Cycle Club Inc.
"I want to help existing local businesses prosper, as well as encourage new business because they create more jobs; conservatively watch how tax dollars are spent; support community events and tourism, and lower taxes for residents, especially the elderly," Mr. Elliott said.
Democratic Supervisor Paul H. Smith is running unopposed for re-election in Wilna, as are Town Clerk and tax collector Mary M. McMahon and Highway Superintendent Patrick O'Meara, both with the Democratic and For the People parties.
Officials in the town of Champion and the villages of Carthage, Black River and Deferiet are also running unopposed for re-election.
Town Supervisor Terry L. Buckley, Town Clerk Christina M. Vargulick and Highway Superintendent John F. Sech are each running on the Republican, Independence and Conservative lines; two councilmen, Henry S. Watkins and John D. Peck, are each running on the Republican and Independence lines.
The only election in Carthage is to fill a vacancy left by Bernard F. Frezza, who resigned Sept. 1. Linda S. Smith-Spencer, appointed by the village board to take Mr. Frezza's place, is running unopposed to fill out his term as trustee.
Black River Mayor Leland J. Carpenter, Republican, is running unopposed for re-election, as are Trustees Francis J. Dishaw and Randolph E. Lake, both Republicans.
In Deferiet, JoAnn Zando, with the Red Baron Party, and Harry Peck, on the Woodpecker Party line, are running unopposed.
Polls will open at 6 a.m. and close at 9 p.m.
