Office of mayor: 2 year term, vote for one
•John W. Kenney, Jr., incumbent, 75 East Ave, Holley – Family Party
Kenney has lived in the village for 50 years, serving as village trustee for three years and as mayor for eight years.
Kenney says much has been accomplished during his time as mayor. In his initial year as mayor, he worked successfully with the State Comptroller’s Office in Buffalo and O’Connell and Associates, Inc., Grants Consultants, to rectify incomplete paperwork regarding work on a Route 31 project. He explained that if the village had failed to address the situation, it would have had to repay $900,000 in grant funding, and would have lost out on future grants/loans. The situation was rectified in six months. Since that time, the village has been able to secure $2 million in grants to help minimize the cost to the village for many projects as well as addressing the Diaz chemical spill and chlorine spill at the waste water treatment plant.
Businesses in the village are applying for funds from a $250,000 Main Street Grant (the mayor notes the final amount of the grant was less than $250,000). The village has shared services with the school district, Orleans County, the Town of Murray and the Village of Albion. Inter-municipal agreements have helped to keep the tax rate fairly stable, Kenney says. He notes the current tax rate is $13.95/$1,000, which is down from $14.00/$1,000 while still maintaining services.
Kenney says he is hopeful that with the support of the community progress can continue to be made. He is thankful for the privilege of being allowed to serve the village as mayor. He says the village continues to work with the Landmark Society of Western New York to get the old high school building into the hands of a developer. He says he will work to continue to improve the infrastructure of the community in order to avert higher costs to the village in the future.
•Stanley “Skip” Carpenter, 1 Day Street, Holley – Independent Party.
A lifelong resident of Holley, Carpenter currently serves as a village trustee. He is a 1966 graduate of Holley High School. His wife and three children also grew up in Holley and attended Holley High School. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1967-1970 and is retired from the U.S. Post Office after serving 34 years – including two years as a letter carrier and as Holley postmaster for 19 years. Trustee Carpenter has also served as a Holley police officer, a Holley fireman and member of the finance committee at St. Mary’s church. He served five times as a village trustee and three separate terms as Mayor of the village.
During his past three terms as mayor, Trustee Carpenter and the board accomplished a number of projects. A half-million dollar water tower was erected and paid for without raising water rates. A number of 60 to 70 year-old water lines were replaced; initial phase of construction of a new electric sub-station was begun and curbs and sidewalks were replaced on several village streets. Over 100 new trees were planted by the village electric crew, park trails developed; military flags were placed in the village square to honor all who serve or have served. Senior citizen housing was built and outdated street lighting was replaced with modern lighting.
If elected mayor, Carpenter will work to restore fiscal responsibility and accountability to the taxpayers of the village. He will work with interested residents in restoring the village and making it a better place to live for all. Trustee Carpenter hopes that with sound fiscal planning, consistent follow-though, and old-fashioned hard work, the board and community can encourage families and businesses to consider the village.
Office of trustee: Two year term, vote for two
•Connie Nenni, 72 Geddes Street, Holley, People’s Party – Nenni has lived in the village for 24 years. She served as village clerk/treasurer for four years (2003-2008) and has also served previously as trustee for three years (2008-2011). She is a current Sports Booster member and also served previously as a Girl Scout leader for six years.
Nenni says she would like to see the village work more closely with local and state officials to help the village accomplish more on issues like finding a developer for the former high school as well as to help keep taxes under control. She would like to see the village utilize more shared services, for example, sharing or borrowing equipment when possible instead of purchasing it.
She says sidewalks in the village are a big issue which has no easy answer. Abandoned buildings and parking are also issues facing the village. Nenni also feels the water infrastructure needs to be addressed as well the water deficit.
•David Dill, incumbent, 144 Woodside Court, Holley, Citizen’s Party – Dill is a lifelong resident of the village, having lived there 64 years. He is the chairman of the Murray/Holley June Fest, a member of the Board of Directors of Orleans United Way, and volunteers as an instructor for the Kendall/Holley marching band. He is chairman of the festival of lights celebration. Dill says keeping taxes low and being able to maintain all services at current levels is the most important issue facing the village.
•Donald Penna, incumbent, 15 West Avenue, Holley, Justice Party – Penna has resided in Holley for 46 years and has served as trustee for four years. He says there are a number of important issues facing the village including the challenge of keeping property tax rates flat while maintaining the same level of service for residents. He says the village also has old infrastructure which is in need of replacement.
•Kevin J. Lynch, 112 State Street, Holley, Happy Party – Lynch, 57, grew up in Holley and has lived in the village most of his life. He is a newcomer to village politics.
Lynch is active with the local American Legion. He is a member of the VFW Men’s Auxiliary and the Sons of the American Legion in Holley.
Lynch says he is a taxpayer who is interested in serving on the village board in order to work towards keeping taxes from being raised. Lynch, who worked on the canal for 36 years, says he would like to see more businesses come into the village.
•Shawn P. O’Mara, 25 High Street, Holley, Taxpayer Party – O’Mara, 42, has lived in the village all his life. He has worked as a police officer for 21 years and has two children. He has served in elected office within his police union and is running for public office for the first time.
O’Mara says he believes in conservative spending and is running to give village residents a change.
Polls are open Tuesday, June 17 from noon – 9 p.m. at the Village Clerk’s Office, 72 Public Square, Holley.
