Competition for two vacant seats in Holley elections

Voters in the Village of Holley will have two new candidates and two familiar ones from which to choose.

Trustees Peter Dreher and Gail Sevor have opted not to seek re-election. This opened the doors for newcomers Buffie Gleason and John Kenney and for former mayors Louis Passarell, Jr. and Stanley "Skip" Carpenter to throw their hats into the ring.

Louis Passarell, Jr., who served for five years as the village's mayor up until the most recent election, is looking to get on the board. "My main goal is to try to keep the taxes down," he said. "I feel because of my extensive background in construction, I would like to oversee the Route 31 project to make sure it is being done properly with the least inconvenience to the people."

Passarell said he feels that with his vast experience with past boards, he would definitely be an asset to the people of the village of Holley. "Because of trying times ahead of us, experience is a necessity," he said.

Prior to his five years as the mayor, Passarell was the village's police chief for 21 years. "I've worked with boards and budgets," he said.

A past member of the Holley School Board, Passarell has been a lifelong resident of the village. He and his wife, Jan, have two children, Shawn and Amy, and two grandchildren, Amber and Amanda.

Stanley "Skip" Carpenter said the experience he brings to the board is a necessity in these days of rising taxes. "I was mayor two terms and also served for two-and-a-half terms as a trustee," he said.

Carpenter served for two years as mayor in 1989 and then again for a term in 1992. In between that time he was a trustee. "I'm retiring from the post office in July so I will have more time to devote to the position of trustee," he said.

Taxes, and the possibility of them increasing, spurred him to run again. "The state of taxes and money in the state plays down to the village level and we have to try to keep them in check," he said.

From the road project to the village's industrial park, Carpenter said he was involved with various phases of them during his tenure on the board.

"The road project will be an inconvenience but it will be well worth it in the long run," he said. "Having the old sewer lines replaced and the sidewalks and curbs repaired is something Holley needs."

Residents need to get involved and come out and support the people running for office, he said. "The only way residents can keep things, like their taxes, in check are to come out and vote and express their opinions."

A lifelong resident of Holley, Carpenter resides in the village with his wife, Cynthia. They have two sons and one daughter. "Our one son is in the Persian Gulf serving on a Navy destroyer," he said.
Newcomer Buffie Gleason, a lifelong resident and graduate of Holley High School, is looking to become involved, she said, as her reason for deciding to seek election. "My stepson, Brian, graduates in June so I will have a lot of time to put towards the duties of the board," she said.

Gleason said she wants to look into the sidewalk situation and that something needs to be done with the old, abandoned high school. "I'm a firm believer that if there is something you don't like you should get involved and do something about it," she said.

An employee of the Holley school system, she said she has an accounting background. "I'm here for the community and I want to work for the health and safety of the community," she said.

She and her husband, Ralph, have operated R & B Plumbing, in the village, for 15 years.

John Kenney, a resident of Holley since 1964, said he figured in order to be proactive in the village he had to get active. "There are some things that have caught my attention, I started to attend board meetings and thought I could help correct and improve things," he said. "I'm interested in opening the lines of communication between the board and the residents."

A first time candidate, Kenney has previously served on the village's zoning board. Zoning ordinances, updates to village laws and projects that are being undertaken, Kenney believes, should be matters that are discussed before they occur. "We need to be informed about decisions that will affect us," he said.

Kenney's past experience as a 36-year veteran teacher in the Holley Central School district has helped him hone his people skills, he said. He has been involved in the community through coaching, youth recreation and scouting.

Kenney said he spoke out against the village's recent resolution to implement its own court system. "I just didn't think we needed it," he said. "Also, we were told about it after the fact."

Having a more "people-friendly" board is important to Kenney. "I think the board members should introduce themselves to those in attendance at the meetings," he said. "I also think that even if it is a rehash of old information, I think that resolutions should come with explanations."

Follow through on street repair projects is another item on Kenney's agenda, if elected. "There have been street repairs begun throughout the village, that just haven't been completed," he said.

Kenney is retired and said because of that he has the time to devote to the task of being trustee. "I want to thank the people who've approached me about this endeavor," he said. "Their support makes me feel like I am on the right track."

He and his wife, Wendy, will be celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary in July. They have two children, Michael, 23, and Elizabeth, 21.

Elections will be March 18, from noon until 9 p.m. in the village hall.