In Van Buren, voters will elect a town supervisor, three town councilors, a highway superintendent and one town justice. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7. If you are unsure of your polling place, visit ongov.net/elections and click on “Polling Place”
or call the Onondaga County Board of Elections at (315) 435-8683.
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Town supervisor (unopposed)
Claude Sykes (Republican incumbent)
Biographical info:
Married, wife Christine. Three adult married children and eight grandchildren. 64 years old. Registered Republican. Town of Van Buren Supervisor for past 10 years. Previously employed by the village of Baldwinsville for 34 years with the last 28 years as superintendent of public works. Lived in Baldwinsville (Van Buren) since 1974.
Why are you running for office?
My public works background makes me uniquely qualified for the supervisor position, since approximately 70 percent of the job deals with public works-related issues. We have a lot of projects that will be starting in the spring and I would like to see those through to completion. I enjoy what I am doing and my 40-plus years of municipal experience, I believe, has lent itself to a smooth operation of the town for the past 10 years.
Why are you the best candidate?
With more than 40 years of municipal experience at various levels, I feel I have a unique perspective that has proven valuable to the residents of the town of Van Buren. I have the time to devote to the position and I have a proven track record of stable tax rates and have streamlined government while maintaining services that the residents expect. I have been endorsed by the Republican, Conservative, Independent and Onondaga County Veterans parties. I would be honored to continue as the Van Buren Supervisor and respectfully ask for you vote on Election Day, Nov. 7, and I want to thank you in advance for voting.
What are the major issues facing the town, and what will you do to address them?
The most pressing issue in local government is the delivery of services that the people want and expect while maintaining a stable tax rate for those services. This has and will continue to be the biggest challenge for every local government. The town of Van Buren has enjoyed stable tax rates for the past 10 years. The town board and I have worked tirelessly to control spending and maintain these stable rates. We will continue to do so.
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Town justice (Choose one)
Ed Van Der Water (Incumbent)
Biographical info:
My wife and I are life long residents of the Baldwinsville community. We have been in our home in the town of Van Buren since 1967. Our sons and their families live in the town as well. I retired from the Syracuse Police Department after 25 yeas of service. I was promoted through the ranks of police officer, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and deputy chief of police during my service. I am registered Republican and endorsed by the Republican, Conservative and Independence parties.
Why are you running for office?
After I retired from the Syracuse Police Department, I found I missed public service, missed working for the public good. Running for town justice provided me with an opportunity to return to doing something I enjoyed doing, and still enjoy doing. It is meaning full way to spend time and serve my community.
Why are you the best candidate?
I am experienced, retired so I have the time to devote and an interest in the work. I have 25 years of experience as a Van Buren Town Justice. For three of those years I also served as acting justice for the village of Baldwinsville. I have served as president of both the Onondaga County and New York State Magistrates Associations, having been elected by my peers to both positions. I am presently a member of the Executive Committee of the New York State Magistrates Association, which affords me an opportunity to debate and vote on any issue coming before the state association. I have been a member of the Onondaga County Criminal Justice Advisory Board since 1985, serving three county executives. I have been a member of the Fifth Judicial District’s Advisory Committee since its inception in 2007. I am a Fifth Judicial District mentoring justice and a member of the district’s Peer Assistance Committee as well. Past organizations include the Executive Committee of the Onondaga County Assigned Counsel Program where I was elected treasurer (three years), Onondaga County Youth Court Advisory Board (23 years), Volunteer Centers Legal Service Advisory Board (13 years) and Onondaga County Diversion to Community Service Program Advisory Board (13 years). There are many, many more.
What are the major issues facing the town, and what will you do to address them?
In regard to the work of the town court, the major issue is drug and alcohol abuse. People under the influence endanger, traumatize and even kill others. Many are unable to maintain employment, support themselves or their habit. They steal, which increases the cost of goods, particularly affecting those at the lower end of the income scale that can least afford the higher prices. Some commit robberies and burglaries creating fear in our community. They return to the justice system over and over, leaving a string of victims along the way. They break the hearts of parents, wives, husbands, children and others who care about the victims they have harmed, and they break the hearts of parents, wives, husbands, children and others who care about them — the abusers of drugs and alcohol.
I will continue to utilize restitution, community service, treatment, supervision, incarceration and other options available in an effort to compensate victims for their losses, maintain community safety and change the downward and destructive spiral in the lives of the people arrested.