Bergen election slate set

Residents in the village of Bergen will be asked to cast their ballot for the position of mayor and three trustee seats. James MacConnell and Thomas LeSage are vying for the mayoral position while Anna Marie Barclay, Virginia Adams, Robert Bausch, Rex Neal and James Howard are throwing their hats into the ring for the available trustee positions.

James R. MacConnell has been mayor of the village of Bergen for the past 13 years and he is looking forward to helping run it for another four, he said. "When I first ran I had some strong issues and one of those was the installation of a computer system," he said. "Now the whole village is computerized."

Being strongly involved in the village’s economic development is also one of the projects he wants to see continue to grow. "We have our industrial park and are focusing on getting utilities up there and to attracting more businesses to the park," he said.

MacConnell said he is also working with the Industrial Development Agency and the Chamber of Commerce to find ways to revitalize the downtown business area.

Continuing upgrades to the village’s sewage treatment plant are underway. The facility, he said, is permitted for up to 104,000 gallons a day and officials are working to upgrade it to 150,000 a day in order to support the usage at the industrial park.

He said his experience with the village and his ability to work with the board in keeping tax rates in good shape are reasons the public should support his bid for reelection.

MacConnell has lived in Bergen his whole life. He and his wife have two sons, one of who is stationed in Afghanistan.

Thomas LaSage decided to run for the position of mayor because he said it is time for a change in the village’s administration. "It’s time for a change and I would definitely be a hands-on mayor," he said.

Working to fill the village’s store fronts and attract new business to the community would be high on his agenda, he said. "This is a small, close-knit community and we need to do something to help revitalize our downtown," he said.

LaSage has a lot of fresh ideas to infuse into the village and its workings. A business owner for the past 30 years in the village, LaSage said because he works within the village he knows what is going on all the time. "I’m always here… in the heart of the village," he said.

He urged citizens to come out and cast their votes on Tuesday. "There are some new faces and we have choices this year," he said.

LaSage has five children.

Virginia Adams, a Bergen trustee from 1981-1987, said she now has the time to devote to the board and thought it was a good time to get back into politics.

"One of my concerns as a resident is, I would like to see improvements to our sidewalks," she said. "I walk my dog on them all the time and I know they need some work."

The odors from Agri-Link are also a concern, she said. Adams said she would like to work with the DEC to see if there is a way to improve the situation. Attracting business to the downtown area is also a concern. "We have an excellent bakery and some nice shops … I’d like to see more businesses and see more people patronizing our local merchants," she said.

Raising an awareness of the village is also on the top of her agenda. In addition to serving on the board, Adams has lived in the village since 1972, has been on the planning board and has raised her two children in Bergen. She was also the past librarian for the Byron-Bergen library. Her husband, Edward, is the cemetery superintendent and also works downtown, she said.

Robert Bausch, a 25-year resident of the village, has served on the board since he was appointed to fill a vacancy last summer. "I’ve always been involved in local activities and felt it was time to step forward and serve on the board," he said.

Bausch said the biggest issue facing Bergen is maintaining the quality of life for residents. "It means everything from local police protection to keeping the village clean and orderly to maintaining our infrastructure," he said.

His community involvement, ability to work with people and his knowledge of the issues make him a good candidate for the position of trustee. Bausch and his wife, Jan, have five children, two of whom are grown and have moved away, two are in college and one is still in high school. "I feel very blessed to live here," he said. "Bergen has been good to our family."

The idea of running for a seat on the village board has been in Rex Neal’s mind for a couple of years, he said. Neal is seeking election for one of the four year trustee seats that is open on the board. "I’ve been thinking about it and I just want to get in there and help make the community a better place," he said.

Neal said he thinks the present board has done a great job but some "new blood … some younger blood" needs to get in there and start looking at the village.

The issues facing the town, he said, are the need for new sidewalks and the completion of the electric lines. "I’d like to see some areas where teenagers can go to rollerblade and skateboard," he said. "That’s something I’d like to see happen in the future."

A 15-year resident of the village, Neal has served with the volunteer fire department, was a lieutenant in the department and is a member of the Masons.

Neal said if he is elected he will be willing to work with everyone and put 100 percent into doing the job of trustee.

He and his wife, Cynthia, have one son.

James Howard decided to run for a trustee seat because he said he has lived in the village a long time and wants to become "part of the machine, and because it’s time to stop saying something and start doing something."

"I want to help steer the village toward the future," he said. "There just doesn't seem to be a lot of people in their 30s and 40s who are involved."

Howard has been involved in area churches and is president of the PTA, he said. "There’s a big movement to get the school and the village to hook up and get some programs for the school age kids," he said. "I’ve been on the forefront on the school end and want to get involved from the village standpoint."

His skill in business, budgeting and his having been involved in the inner workings of other organizations will be useful if he is elected, he said.

Howard and his wife, Karen, have two daughters.

Anna Marie Barclay has been a village trustee for the past four years. She has also served as deputy mayor. She is seeking re-election to another four year term because she wants to remain involved in the growth that is taking place at the village’s industrial park. "I like being involved and want to make sure the growth at the industrial park provides local job opportunities," she said.

Barclay said Bergen is a family-oriented community and the values represented by the school and the community should help to encourage young families to move, and stay in, the village. "I think the increased industrial growth should help encourage that," she said.

There are several businesses that are considering a move into the industrial park, she said. "There are three businesses there now, a couple in the talking stages and a new industry that is a definite."

Her involvement with various groups and her ability to talk with people about their concerns makes her a natural for the board, she said. "I take the time to find out what issues and concerns are facing the residents and find ways to address them," she said.

Barclay has lived in Bergen for the past 25 years. She and her husband, David, have two sons.

Elections will be held March 19 from noon until 9 p.m. at the Town Hall (in the courtroom).