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COLLINS - Merle A. Harvey seeks election as Town of Collins Supervisor as the endorsed candidate of both the Democratic and Citizens 1st parties. He is a lifelong resident of Western New York, having been born and raised in West Valley and graduated from West Valley Central School. He is married to the former Diane Baker, who is a lifelong resident of the Town of Collins.

Harvey has long been active as a volunteer in his community and feels he can contribute to the Town of Collins because of both his business experience and his longtime efforts to work with and help people wherever he finds needs. Harvey has a long history of studying a problem, researching pros and cons, and helping people reach a consensus in finding a solution.

After high school graduation, Harvey attended SUNY Cobleskill for medical lab technology as well as Oswego State University for secondary education. Despite his advanced education, most of Harvey's career has been through self-employment. A self-described workaholic, Harvey, along with his wife, has run a dairy farm, a greenhouse operation, and produce production. He has enjoyed the long hours, physical activity, and interaction with people in all these endeavors. Most recently he owned and operated Harvey's Farm Market and Greenhouses in Springville. With the construction of Route 219 his businesses closed, and Merle declared himself a retiree as of July 2009.

Harvey is a life member of Salem Lutheran Church in Springville. His various businesses have contributed to his membership in the Farm Bureau of Erie County, Erie County Cooperative Extension, and as a local committeeman for Agway. In each of these groups he has taken leadership positions. In 1996, Harvey was elected to the Gowanda Central School Board of Education and studied intensively the regulations and laws governing New York State schools. His fellow Board members elected him president of the Board which oversees a multi-million dollar budget and a staff of several hundred employees.

Harvey believes most problems can be solved through study, listening to both sides, and helping people to reach consensus. His goal for the Town of Collins is to make the town government more responsive to all of its citizens.