Bill Andrews and Margay Blackman have announced their candidacies for Brockport Village Board seats. The election is June 19. Provided photoMargay Blackman and Bill Andrews have announced their candidacies for Brockport Village Trustees. Running on the Revitalize Brockport ticket, the two have worked together on many community projects and plan to apply those same successful skills when serving on the Village Board of Trustees. Blackman is seeking re-election, having been elected in June 2011 to complete an unexpired term on the board. Andrews is a candidate to fill the position left vacant by Scott Hunsinger’s decision not to seek re-election. The Village election is June 19.
Blackman has resided in Brockport since 1977, where she raised her daughter and stepson. She was a member of The College of Brockport faculty for 30 years before retiring in 2007. In addition, Blackman is the former chair of the village of Brockport’s Tree Board (2005-2011), a founding member of Walk! Bike! Brockport!, and a volunteer in various village organizations.
During her first year on the village board, she says she focused on raising non-tax revenue, found a firm that has contracted with the village to collect years of unpaid parking tickets, and secured a two-year NYSDEC tree-planting grant. Furthering town/gown partnerships, she created internships in local government and supervised four college student interns, who worked on economic development, historic preservation, off-campus student housing, and researched options regarding justice courts, according to a press release announcing her candidacy.
When summarizing her role in developing the 2012-2013 village budget, Blackman said, “I believe I took a sensible, prudent approach to the budget, with a focus to protect taxpayers, replenish the reserves, and keep spending down – resulting in a healthier fund balance.” She spearheaded budget initiatives – the hiring of a grant writer and part time code enforcement officer – that represent sound investments with good financial returns to our community, but still kept the tax levy below inflation and the 2% New York State tax cap.
Bill Andrews came to Brockport in 1967 and has resided at 46 College Street since 1970. He taught college students for 41 years, the last 29 at The College at Brockport, where he founded the political science department and was a dean for nine years. He was recently widowed after 42 years of marriage to Monika and has six children and 13 grandchildren. He has been active in local civic affairs for many years as chair of the Historic Preservation Board, founding president of the Brockport Community Museum, vice president of the Greater Brockport Development Corp., organizer of Max’s Mardi Gras Parade, and coordinator of the volunteer program at the Village’s canal side Welcome Center. Also, Andrews is village historian emeritus and has published three books on Brockport history, according to the press release.
Andrews said that he hopes to work, especially, to strengthen village finances, ensure the integrity of the code enforcement process, promote the downtown business community, and promote Brockport as a tourist destination, especially for canal travelers. He has been instrumental in obtaining nearly $700,000 in outside grants for the village and hopes to work with the new grant-writing expert in continuing those efforts, according to the press release.
He described the present Trustees as “a conscientious, hard-working, responsible team” that he hopes to join. “They have accomplished a great deal, but much remains to be done,” he said. “I believe that my experience as a leader and problem solver in many civic and academic roles will enable me to make valuable contributions in tackling the remaining problems.”
As retirees, both candidates emphasize their ability and willingness to give the trusteeships their full attention.
