The Sweden Republican Committee has nominated the following slate of candidates for the 2025 election, to be held on November 4: Supervisor Patricia Hayles, Councilperson Scott Maar, Councilperson Gary Sullivan, Justice Paul Vadas, and Town Clerk Karen Sweeting.
Patricia Hayles is completing her first term as Supervisor. She had served on the Sweden Town Board for six years prior to becoming Supervisor. As Supervisor, she pursued a second Rural Development Public Water project to continue expansion in rural areas, shepherded the sale of 133 State Street to return the underused facility to the tax rolls, and has undertaken a major town code update and master plan review. A CPA with a private practice in the Brockport area since 1987, Hayles has been active in the community, notably with the Lakeside Health System and Lakeside Foundation. Hayles and her husband, Bill, have lived in Sweden for 33 years, raising their four grown children here.
Scott Maar is seeking another term as Town Councilperson and concurrently serves as Deputy Supervisor. A native of Sweden, Maar is the Director of Finance at St. Ann’s Community following 27 years as Chief Financial Officer of Kirkhaven. He also serves as the bookkeeper and treasurer of the First Presbyterian Church in Brockport (29 years) and CFO/Treasurer of the SeniorsFirst Foundation Board of Directors. He began his affiliation with the Town of Sweden as a Seymour Library Trustee and has continued as the Town Board’s liaison to the library. Maar has three adult children.
Gary Sullivan has served on the Sweden Town Board since 2021, serving as liaison to the Town Park, where he was instrumental in the installation of the new skate park, fishing dock, and various other improvements. Sullivan had a 32-year career in law enforcement, first with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department and then with the Rochester Police Department as a Major Crimes Investigator. Although retired, he continues to work part-time in the security field. He and his wife, Darlene, have three adult children and two grandchildren.
Paul Vadas is seeking his first full term as Sweden Town Justice. He was appointed to the position last year following the retirement of Justice Anthony Perry. Vadas had a 31-year law enforcement career, retiring from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department as a Lieutenant. He was in charge of Special Operations, including the K-9 Unit, Airport Security, Marine Unit, Mounted Patrol, Traffic Unit, Security at major Special Events, and other areas. Additionally, he was a member of the US Marshall Fugitive Task Force. Vadas and his wife, Mary, have three adult children and two grandchildren.
Karen Sweeting has served as Sweden Town Clerk since 2004. Prior to that, she worked for the Town as a Court Clerk and as the Tax Receiver. Sweeting is also the Village of Brockport Historian and Director of the Brockport Museum & Library of Local History. She is a member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, the NYS Town Clerks Association, Monroe County Town Clerk and Receivers Association, and NYS Association of Local Government Records Officers. Sweeting is a Registered Municipal Clerk and Master Municipal Clerk. She and her husband, Rob, have four sons.
“I am pleased to be running with a team of experienced, committed, and capable public servants,” Hayles said. Our goal is to bring our residents excellent town services at an affordable cost and to help Sweden be a place people are eager to live, work, visit, and invest in.”
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