Brockport's Mayor Jo Matela
announces intentions to seek re-election

Petitions don't have to be filed until mid-April and elections aren't until June, but Village of Brockport Mayor Josephine Matela has made her intentions known - she will be seeking her second term as mayor.

Matela said that under her administration many things have been accomplished that benefit the health, safety and welfare of the community. Most recently, at the February 21 board meeting, village officials opted to join 10 other municipalities within the county and pool resources for workmen's compensation funds. It is a move that will save taxpayers more than $40,000 in the first year, Matela said.

"We've received more than $1.5 million grant funds and with that money we've been able to purchase defibrillators for all of the police vehicles and for various public buildings in the village," she said. "Also, more than 150 new local jobs have been created under my administration."

She counts among her accomplishments: maintaining local dispatch services while moving 911 services to Monroe County; implementing a program to maintain career ambulance staff; working toward getting the village named to the local, state and now federal historic registries; opening the farmers market; seeing the Brockport Police Department become accredited; working with the Walk! Bike! Brockport action committee on the installation of $16,000 worth of benches throughout the village with no taxpayer dollars being used; and the best news, she said, is seeing that the rehabilitation of the village's neighborhoods has brought about a 28 percent increase in the average sale price of homes. The average sale price is $100,000.

In addition to being a resident of the village since 1965 and serving as the mayor, Matela also operates a Main Street business, so she shares in the challenges and high points with the other downtown merchants.

Matela said that the accomplishments under her administration are due in part to a dedicated board of trustees and an equally dedicated and enthusiastic group of volunteers. She addressed the fact that at times village board meetings may be contentious but says that it's all part of the process. "We may disagree about certain topics but in the end we all put forth the effort to do what's in the best interest of our constituents," she said.

Village resident Glenn Emerson has also said he will be seeking the mayoral seat in the June election. The trustee seats of James Whipple and Norman Knapp are also up this term and neither trustee has announced their intentions yet. Petitions can be picked up by the candidates on April 5 and must be turned in to the Monroe County Board of Elections by May 17.

Editor's note: This newspaper will profile all candidates who submit petitions prior to the election.