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The Fredonia-Pomfret Democratic Association issued a statement regarding its mayoral endorsement of Mike Ferguson in the village of Fredonia.
"A resolution of support for Michael Ferguson, candidate for mayor in the village of Fredonia, was unanimously passed at the Fredonia-Pomfret Democratic Association's most recent meeting," the association said. "With a write-in candidate declaring at the 11th hour, the association wanted to make it clear that they were still firmly supporting Ferguson.
"The committee also discussed claims being made by that candidate regarding the selection process. All members of the Association, of which this candidate is a member, received emails requesting interested parties to notify them. Contrary to the erroneous claims of the candidate, the election calendar is set by the state Board of Elections and local Democrats have no control of this calendar. To comply with the state calendar interviews were held, endorsements were made, petitions were circulated and the slate of candidates was established.
"Throughout this process any registered Democrat could have petitioned for a primary. Following this independent petitions were circulated and any challenger could have gained a place on the ballot. The recently announced candidate chose not to follow any of these processes. For her to cry foul is just wrong. As an experienced politician she should know all of this and it appears she either did not want to follow the process or has chose not to bother with the facts.
Earlier this week, recently announced write-in candidate Athanasia Landis revealed her personal struggle with an illness over the winter when candidates were being sought. During that time, Landis said, she reached out to town committee Chairman Christopher Schaeffer to express her interest in seeking the position.
"The chairman knew there was at least one more person interested in running for mayor of the village," Landis wrote. "I had emailed him on January 22 and again on February 2 declaring my interest along with the reason, a serious health issue, I wasn't going to be able to attend the interviews at that particular time."
Fredonia-Pomfret Democrats say their "continued support of Mike Ferguson is driven by his strong leadership and ability to bring people together. Mike is committed to working for the good of Fredonia and he has the skills, the drive, and the knowledge to bring the best out of his team and develop a quality of life second to none for our residents.
"The best leaders are those who know they do not have all of the answers and choose to surround themselves with people who exhibit expertise in the areas of question. Issues like water, which is essential to life, need the input of engineers, environmental hydraulics, water infrastructure development, and management must be at the table. Financial professionals who know cost analysis, return on investment, and long-term sustainability of such systems are needed to allow a government to make the best long-term decision for their community.
"The new candidate seems to think she is the only person capable of solving Fredonia's problems. That type of arrogance is why we still have a water problem in Fredonia. We are confused how she could think this way as she had four years to develop a solution and we are still boiling water and staring at significant fines and consent orders on that very system.
"Mike Ferguson has the ability to develop a unified and cohesive Board of Trustees united under a single vision, a mission for where our citizens would like to see our village two, five, 10, and 20 years down the road. Knowing that everyone at the table has a stake in the success or failure of our decisions. Not only making decisions that affect our residents immediately but the lives of their children and grandchildren for many years to come.
"Mike will approach all areas of the village with that same transparent, inclusive plan. He will work with law enforcement, police, and fire to develop long-term emergency/disaster plans to keep our families safe. He will listen to residents and use that information to improve the quality of life in Fredonia. He will have open lines of communication with our current businesses, helping to sustain their viability and grow their businesses to encourage additional investment by current and future business owners.
"Ferguson will strengthen the relationship with our many assets including SUNY Fredonia, JCC North, Brooks Hospital, and surrounding businesses that employ our residents such as Purina, Agri-America, and more. To maintain an open-door policy with area farmers and those who manage events like the Farmers Markets, Farm Festival, and others that are heritage events in our community. To encourage their continuation and growth as they continue to draw visitors to our area who may become life-long residents in the future.
"We encourage all residents to examine the record. You will find her claims of bias without merit and her record void of accomplishment. Mike Ferguson is the only endorsed candidate in the village and will respect that honor through service and cooperation across party lines."