Three more announce intentions in Brockport election

It's more than a month from the time that intentions for office have to be officially announced and filed but three more Brockport residents have tossed their hats into the political ring in the upcoming Brockport elections. Laura Emerson and David Wagenhauser have decided to run for trustee and Glenn Emerson is making a bid for the mayoral seat.

Laura and Glenn Emerson are a husband and wife team, who say they feel their differing perspectives and outlooks would make them effective board members.

"It's been in the back of our minds to run for office for a while," Laura said. "We wanted to do it as a team because doing it separately would mean a lot of time apart from each other."

Glenn said there are a number of people in the village who have said that the couple should seek office. "We always thought we weren't politicians, but then we realized that being on a village board is more about the deeds and the people than being a politician," he said.

Laura considers herself a people person while Glenn says he is more analytical. The couple were instrumental in getting Brockport's SPARTAC committee up and running following a vandalism that occurred at their home.

"The vandalism was a catalyst for SPARTAC being started but one of my concerns with the village has been that it takes a tragedy to occur before change happens," he said. "It shouldn't be that way. If there are people out there who want to make a difference and become involved, their ideas should be embraced."

Economic issues are one of the challenges facing the village, Laura said. Glenn agreed but said the economic issues facing Brockport are no different than those facing other municipalities.

"Every community in Western New York is facing the same problems that Brockport is dealing with," he said. "Having prudent leadership, carefully thought out plans and new ideas are what is needed. We need to look to other municipalities to see what they've tried and see what works and what doesn't."

Laura, who says she is good at finding information, said that Brockport can't be afraid to talk to others and find out what works.

"In this day and age there is almost unlimited access to information," she said. "There are organizations and professionals that can be sought out for solutions."

The Emersons said that neighboring Batavia had a promotion where they invited small businesses to come to their community and set up shop. They received a grant to help promote their Empire Zone. "We need to learn by example and not always reinvent the wheel," Glenn said.

"That's a project Brockport should emulate."

Laura said village officials need to restore trust and accountability. "It's hard to hear the citizens talk about the board and the acrimony and animosity that they see from their village officials," Glenn said. "Many people don't trust the village officials and we would work hard to restore their faith in their local government and rebuild that trust."

Giving status updates on projects and having citizen advisory boards could help defray many of the problems of poor communication the village fosters. "Everything comes down to communication," they said.

Inefficiencies and lack of professionalism in the village government also need to be addressed, they agreed.

"Items need to be addressed professionally instead of everything becoming a personal fight between board members," Laura said. "There needs to be more of an environment of 'what's best for the village and its residents'; board members need to work together as a team - you might not be best friends but you have to be a team."

Glenn said that village officials need to recognize the professional talent they have in their department heads and not micromanage them.

"Brockport has top caliber department heads and rather than looking over their shoulders all the time, officials should let them set goals and hold them accountable for meeting those goals."

The Emersons also say that one of their concerns is saving taxpayer money and toward that end they feel hiring an additional police officer would be an efficient move for village officials.

"Hiring one more officer would save overtime money," Glenn said. "The math works."

Laura said she looks at the trustee position as being a student. "There's a lot of reading, researching and studying that goes on," she said. "It's a lot of hard work to learn what the issues are and what resources are available."

Glen works at Xerox while Laura has a part time position at SUNY Brockport. The couple, who have lived in Brockport for 16 years, have two children, Kyrinn, 14 and Holly, 11.

They urge people to come out and cast their ballot on election day. "There will be a lot of choices this year and if residents are concerned about the future of the community this is your way to have a say in it," they said.

Go to their website at: www.Two4brockport.org for information on their election bid. They are running under the Better Brockport Party.

David Wagenhauser has announced his intention to seek a trustee position in order to promote revitalization of Brockport and its neighborhoods.

In a press release he writes," "We value our historic downtown - the magnet that draws us together. It's time to put our focus on our neighborhoods: to ensure they are affordable for our current and future neighbors; to create a strategic plan to repair our streets, sidewalks and other infrastructure and for the safety of renters and to protect the property interest of our neighbors we must enforce village codes."

Wagenhauser also writes he has heard from many of his neighbors who are struggling with recurring tax and assessment increases. "My business and legal experience in cost containment, creating efficient and contract negotiations would prove invaluable to the board," he wrote."

Needing to look at new and innovative approaches to doing businesses is something village officials need to consider. As an example, Wagenhauser said that by putting the local garbage collection out for bid, the average Brockport resident could realize the cash equivalent of a 15-20 percent tax cut.

"There is a master plan for canal development but there is no plan for routine street, sidewalk, water and sewer maintenance and repair," he wrote in the press release. "Instead the village reacts to emergencies - often at a much higher expense. Families shouldn't have their lives disrupted, their sewers back up into their homes or their autos damaged by potholes. We need a comprehensive infrastructure master plan."

While the majority of landlords are conscientious and concerned for the safety of their tenants, Wagenhauser said there are a small number who put renters at risk, negatively affect property values and discourage the arrival of new homeowners. "These people must comply with property maintenance and safety regulations," he said.

Wagenhauser serves on the village's Zoning Board of Appeals and the Historic Preservation Board. Most recently, he reestablished the Brockport Community Service Program, a program run by volunteers, that requires individuals who commit crimes within the village to serve their sentence by completing supervised community service jobs.

He and his wife, Laura, have two children, Dana and Ethan. He is the vice president/operations manger at Westside Home Care Agency, Ltd.

Wagenhauser is running on the independent Neighborhood Now party line. "I believe the non-partisan tradition is important and I will be an independent voice, putting people first, without a party's agenda," he said.

Josephine Matela announced her intention to seek re-election to her mayoral seat. She was profiled in a recent edition of Suburban News West edition.

Candidates can pick up petitions April 5, they are due back to the Monroe County Board of Elections by May 17 for the June elections.

Note: Want to reread an article previously printed in Suburban News or The Herald? Visit www.westsidenewsonline.com.