Hamlin supervisor race raises town issues

The Hamlin supervisor’s race has incumbent Austin F. Warner III pitted against Peter Tonery. There is a full slate of candidates on the Democratic and All Hamlin tickets hoping to win over their Republican counterparts. In addition to the supervisor’s race, there are two open town board spots and a race for Hamlin Town Justice.

Austin F. Warner III is finishing up his fourth year as supervisor. The Republican, also on the Conservative line, lives on Martin Road with his wife, Billie, and has four sons. He is an account representative for Ad Net Community News.

Peter Tonery has earned a reputation as Warner’s most vocal critic, and while he has not officially held office in Hamlin, Tonery has definitely been part of the town’s political scene. The Independent, who is running on the Democratic and All Hamlin tickets, lives on Moscow Road with his wife, MJ, and has three children.

Tonery and his colleagues have been going door-to-door to educate voters. He said these visits have taught him that residents are focused on two things: raising property value and keeping Hamlin rural.

Tonery’s platform focuses on three key issues: fiscal responsibility, community development and open and accessible government.

“It hardly has anything to do with partisan politics,” said Tonery. “This is about trying to bring professional management to this municipality.”

Tonery and his colleagues have thoroughly documented what they perceive to be the missteps of the Warner administration. On their website, www.allhamlin.com, they chronicle issues of secrecy, poor financial decisions and bad growth management.

Tonery acknowledges that some find his views to be negative; however, he believes his viewpoint is valuable to the community. “Everyone who clamors for change is denigrated. Those who benefit from the status quo do not want to lose their positions,” said Tonery. “The men and women at the Boston Tea Party were critics. The men of our Constitutional Convention were critics. For every person who labels my writing as criticism, there are two who see it as positive advocacy for needed change.”

Warner fails to see the positive in Tonery’s contributions. … “I just don’t understand what his motives are.”

Warner said he hopes to be elected based on the strength of his first four years. Warner points to:

• The increase in the number of occupied parcels in Hamlin with access to water.
• An increase in the town’s cash reserve.
• Work that has been done in Hamlin and primarily funded through grants like the court house, the tennis court, and work to the Town Hall parking lot.
• Communication efforts like the town newsletter and the web site.
• Productive committees that have done a lot of work for the town.

Hamlin’s development seems to be the most pressing issue. Warner said he is focused on further developing the Master Plan. He touts the Master Plan survey, which he said has been filled out by almost 800 residents. Warner said the Master Plan will be instrumental in guiding Hamlin’s future growth.

Tonery said it is time for Hamlin’s leadership to shift its focus onto the majority of the town’s residents. According to Tonery, almost 87 percent of Hamlin’s working population commutes to work. While the majority of Hamlin’s land is used for agriculture, it is only a small percentage of the population that actually make their living in agriculture. Tonery said the town government needs to pay more attention to the many professionals who live in Hamlin and work outside the town.

“People have the perception that Hamlin is the same town it was 40 years ago,” said Tonery. “There is a difference between how the land is used and who the population is and it is up to the government to focus on the population.”