Dryden town councilperson candidates: their words

Loren Sparling, Democrat

TW: Why are you running for Dryden town councilperson?
 
LS: I am running for Dryden Town Board because I am a creative problem-solver who looks at how things are connected. In my education and work, I have always looked for commonalities between seemingly separate fields. I think this approach will help when we are looking at interconnected issues such as green energy sources, agriculture, transportation, infrastructure and development. As a town board member, my goal will be to help Dryden embrace our future, while maintaining what makes our town feel like home.
 
TW: How would you distinguish yourself from your opponents?
 
LS: I am excited to bring a fresh perspective to the Dryden Town Board. I have never held public office before, so while that means I will have much to learn, it also means I will be able to approach problems from a new perspective. Unlike many people who have the time and resources to hold elected office, I have known what it feels like to work hard and still struggle to get by. Though I have had the good fortune to pursue educational opportunities, I know what it is like to have to make ends meet. Working various jobs, often more than one at a time, I can truly understand how even “small” changes in the cost of living can affect families.
 
TW: What would you describe as your strengths and weaknesses as a public servant?
 
LS: While some may see my lack of experience as a weakness, I believe that this could actually serve me well as a board member. We sometimes fall into a habit of “but it’s always been done that way,” which means having a new voice in the conversation can help create progress. As a former student, archaeologist and educator, I am a skilled researcher. When an issue is presented to me as a member of the board, I will listen carefully to others’ opinions but will also follow up with independent research. My work as an educator has helped me become a good listener, and I am confident that I will be able to connect with the residents of Dryden, making them feel comfortable to share their ideas with me. I also have an excellent eye for detail that will make me an asset to the board as we consider complex issues that require careful analysis. The drawback of being detail-oriented and a strong researcher is that I will need to devote much time to this work, but I am prepared to do so.
 
TW: If elected, what are your top three priorities as councilperson?
 
LS: Where I live, I do not have access to high-speed internet, so my top priority is our public broadband initiative, which would make Dryden the first town in the state to offer public internet that is fast, reliable and affordable. I am also excited to work on updating Dryden’s Comprehensive Plan, as the current plan does not take into account the impact climate change will have on our community. Finally, I would like to focus on smart development in the town, keeping in mind the need for growth and progress, while also making sure we retain the sense of community that makes Dryden a wonderful place to live.
 
TW: What would you like potential voters to know about you?
 
LS: I am not someone who rushes to make a decision. Before voting on issues that will affect our community, I will make sure to seek out diverse voices and weigh the risks and possible rewards before coming to a decision. This means I will be seeking out input from community members and hope that we will be able to have an open and ongoing dialogue about the choices we are making as a board.
 
TW: What’s your vision of commercial and housing development in Dryden?
 
LS: Dryden is experiencing a period of growth right now, which provides us with a tremendous opportunity to expand commercial activity and housing in the town. However, we have to be strategic in our decision making, as we consider issues such as affordability, livability, convenience and the impact on our natural resources. I am particularly interested in supporting our agricultural community to find new, sustainable sources of revenue, as well as encouraging small businesses to establish new ventures or expand their current operations. My primary concerns in terms of housing development are to focus on green building projects and improvements to infrastructure.

Ronald Szymanski, Republican

TW: Why are you running for Dryden town councilperson?

RS: I am running to be a member of the Dryden Town Board to promote and build a more prosperous Dryden. I am an active, long-term resident interested in investing my time and personal skills to make the Town of Dryden a better place to live. Our community is rich in residents with diversified talents and with incredible physical resources. I look forward to becoming a positive force for effective change on the Town Board.

TW: How would you distinguish yourself from your opponents?

RS: I have experience on the Freeville Planning Board, Dryden School District Board of Education and Tompkins County Environmental Management Council. This experience and training provides me with the necessary skill set to successfully meet the needs of Dryden.

TW: What would you describe as your strengths and weaknesses as a public servant?

RS: My history is one of working constructively with other board members to find consensus and provide successful decisions. I listen well and value respectful communication. I am a servant of the people and will do my best to represent my community well.

TW: If elected, what are your top three priorities as councilperson?

RS: The most significant industries in the Town of Dryden are education and farming. 1) Dryden needs to expand the tax base to support our educational institutions. I want to emphasize our excellent schools to draw more residents to Dryden. 2) I have a background in renewable energy development and will continue to support appropriate growth. 3) I will focus on public safety and health while not infringing on individual freedoms and property rights.

TW: What would you like potential voters to know about you?

RS: I want the voters to know I am committed to Dryden values and culture. My family is part of this wonderful community, and I love Dryden. I will always work for the best interest of this place we call home. I am happy to serve if elected.

TW: What’s your vision of commercial and housing development in Dryden?

RS: The needs for housing and commercial development are diverse in the Town of Dryden. I respect the character and desires of our varied neighborhoods. I feel I am well suited to listen and resolve issues that will best serve this town. Development is not static, and decisions to address opportunities are best settled when all stakeholders are at the table and consensus is reached. We move forward together and with purpose.

James Skaley, Democrat

TW: Why are you running for Dryden town councilperson?

JS: The Hamlet of Varna has never been represented on the Town Board in the past 25 years, and this is an area that is undergoing pressure from developers, so I felt it critical that there be someone who has an understanding of the Varna community and what changes are taking place. While I’m concerned about the area I live in, I also am serving on the planning board for the past two years and know of concerns around the town and would do my best to work to address those concerns.

TW: How would you distinguish yourself from your opponents?

JS: One or both of my opponents running were involved in some aspects of delaying the installation of the solar farm on the north side of Route 13. While I understand the concern of visual changes in the landscape – and whether it could have been placed somewhere else, that wasn’t an option for the town to decide – we are going to need to do more to reduce our carbon footprint, and to do so, we need more renewable sources of energy, such as solar.

TW: What would you describe as your strengths and weaknesses as a public servant?

JS: I have a Ph.D. in natural resources policy and planning from Cornell University and served for 11 years as the chief environmental planner for Tompkins County. I have now completed two years on the Dryden planning board. I have both been chair of and am active in the Varna Community Association. I and three other local residents were appointed to advise the town on the development of the Varna Community Development Plan, which has been adopted in 2012 as part of the Town Comprehensive Plan. While I don’t claim to have all the answers, I have many years of working in the public arena and will listen carefully to citizen concerns. I also have a strong interest in protecting our sensitive environmental areas and am supportive of our expanding trail system.

TW: If elected, what are your top three priorities as councilperson?

JS: 1) Assure that the town’s comprehensive plan adopted in 2005 is updated to address energy/climate challenges that the town and residents will face in the coming decades. 2) Work to see how the town can help to address affordable housing. I am already encouraging INHS to look seriously for opportunities in the hamlet of Varna and the other hamlets/villages where the infrastructure is there to support. Along these lines, I will work to encourage other developers to work with the town and especially the Varna Community Development Plan to build according to the desires of the community. 3) I support the town’s current objective to have a publicly run internet system that will expand coverage to the rural parts of the town and lower rates while improving service. Doing so, may serve to be an economic boost to the town and also especially allow more telecommunting and home/small businesses to operate.

TW: What would you like potential voters to know about you?

JS: I have lived as a homeowner in Dryden for over 22 years. Previously to coming to the area, I served as an officer in the Air Force in Vietnam. Locally, I have been active in several choral groups. I am a proud grandfather, and with my wife, we like to travel and enjoy a wide range of cultures. I have been past chair of the Varna Community Association and helped to secure grants to renovate the community center, and with many local volunteers, we did a major renovation of the building including a new commercial kitchen that now supports several small food businesses, and I volunteered with our community built playground that now supports a K-fifth grade after-school program. I also have served for 17 years as treasurer for a moderately large local organization and have coordinated two successful capital campaigns.

TW: What’s your vision of commercial and housing development in Dryden?

JS: I believe there is likely an opportunity to promote more farm to table agriculture so as to help our ag community diversify as markets change. The NYSEG facility is a potential asset if we can find the right developer and get necessary incentives to convert the facility for some multiple uses. Affordable single-family housing is in critically short supply. Also, the town lacks senior housing. As folks age, many would like to downsize and yet maybe stay in the area. Presently, we have few options for seniors. NYS recently awarded the county some funds to promote affordable housing. The town needs to try to tap into some of that.

Two seats are open for Dryden Town Coucil. Answers have only minor edits for grammar but are otherwise the exact words of the candidates. Early voting is now through Nov. 3 at Town of Ithaca Town Hall, 215 N Tioga St., Ithaca, and Crash Fire Rescue (C.F.R.), 72 Brown Rd., Ithaca. For more information on this and other races, sample ballots and more, visit tompkinscounty.gov/boe.