Brockport trustee seeks mayor seat

Village of Brockport Trustee Mort Wexler has announced his intention to seek the mayoral seat in the June election.

"I'm looking at the two candidates who are seeking the office and I cannot support either one of those two people," Wexler said. "I believe we need to restore open government, fiscal responsibility and integrity to village government."

Wexler said he disagrees with the direction of the two people who have announced their intentions to run.

"I disagree with them on their ideas on one particular department," he said. "Their ideas are to hire more people. I don't think you can reduce the costs by hiring additional workers."

People who have known him for years, Wexler said, will say that even if they don't agree with him, they know that he will always tell the truth and be honest.

"I listen to people's concerns," Wexler said. "When people ask a question at a board meeting, I will answer them. In this day and age we can no longer just say, 'thank you for your comments' and get back to them at a later time."

If people give their time to show up at a meeting, Wexler said they deserve answers to their questions immediately. He also said that decisions need to be made by the entire board.

"What's transpiring right now is the present mayor runs the village government as a monarchy," he said.

The infrastructure of the village will be Wexler's primary concern because he said that infrastructure is a quality of life issue.

"I'm talking about curbs, sidewalks, roads and sewers," he said. "That's what people are concerned with - quality of life issues regarding people over those of concerns for buildings."

Wexler said cost of government in the village is another issue.

"We can no longer continue to go back to the taxpayers of this village to pay for everything," he said. "As far as income is concerned, we have one of the lowest in Monroe County and these people have supported the government but I have more and more people come up to me and say they cannot afford certain things that the village is doing."

Wexler said he offers voters a realistic program regarding cost effectiveness in the village.

"I understand the needs of the people and will be honest and truthful."

A trustee for the past five years, Wexler was reelected to his trustee seat in 2004. If he wins his bid for mayor, he will appoint a village resident to fill his spot; if he is defeated in his bid, he will remain on the board as a trustee for the remaining three years of his term.

Josephine Matela said she will be seeking re-election to the mayor position and resident Glenn Emerson has also indicated he will be running for mayor.