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Gordon Ireland for Town Supervisor
Phone (315) 673-3826
At Town Hall (315) 673-4144
The Ireland family consists of wife Nancy, four children and three grandchildren. The
family roots go back to the Revolutionary war on the Churchill side and early 1800's on
the Ireland side. Gordon has held several elective positions and feels privileged to have been chosen to
serve as Chairman of the Board of Assessors, Town Supervisor, County Legislator and again as Town Supervisor.
"With the help of the Town Clerk, Highway Superintendent and Town Board we have
brought into the town over $700,000 in state and federal money."
"Everyone works
together to improve the town and provide needed services for you.
The present town
board is the right choice."
"Ireland
to Run" - Skaneateles Press, 9/24/03
Charles Parsons for Town Council
Phone (315) 636-8338
C.J. is a 2-term member of the Board and also serves as Code Enforcement Officer. He
has been a resident of Spafford for over 35 years. He is a graduate of Marcellus high
school and holds a degree in Economics from Syracuse University (the Maxwell School).
Additionally he holds a certificate in computer programming from the Chubb Institute.
C.J. currently works at the Eckerd Distribution Center in Liverpool (formerly Fays). He is a Lay Speaker and former Treasurer of the Borodino United Methodist Church
where he sings in the choir.
"I have SCUBA dived off the underwater ledge in Skaneateles Lake and swam across
Otisco Lake when I was 9 years old. Nobody knows the Watershed better than me.
"Anybody who can get back $700,000 of our tax money from those vultures in Albany and
Washington gets my vote."
"Dear
Spafford Residents," by C.J. Parsons (PDF)
Bill Vinzant, Town Council Member
Phone (315) 673-3852
E-mail: bvinzant@earthlink.net
Bill and Ruth Vinzant moved to their small Spafford farm in 1965, choosing this community in which to raise their
family. He has since retired after 35 years with GE as a Systems Engineer. Since 1972 he has also been
associated with the Controlled Environmental Agriculture
(CEA) program sponsored by Cornell University's
Floriculture and Biological Engineering Departments. He served as the first Project Manager for the program
demonstration project. CEA is devoted to producing an environment where plants can yield at some optimum
level. "You may have noticed our greenhouse in front of the NYSEG building in Ithaca. It is the most
technologically advanced greenhouse in the county."
Bill worked with local organizations as President and line officer with the Borodino Fire Department and as President
and EMT with SAVES. He taught Advanced First Aid for the Red Cross and was an instructor with both local
organizations. He was Chairman of the Eagle Scout Board of Review for Limestone District for several years.
Bill and Ruth moved to Spafford because they liked it as it was, with the stability of an old community strengthened
by the strong rural ethic. There is no desire to modernize it or change it so it will be like every other up to date
town. Bill has taken all of the community zoning and planning courses of town officials that ESF offers. "I found
that 'There are no easy answers.' I think that our zoning law needs to be strengthened in two areas, stronger rules
on signs and restrictions on potential adult entertainment. I believe that a very minimal plan for the community
may be needed to prevent overturn of our zoning laws. These are very complex issues and cannot be addressed in
sound bites. The reason that they have not been addressed in the recent past is that we are trying to reach a
compromise with some significant community opposition and fear."
Although a registered Republican, Bill has a Libertarian streak. "As a relative newcomer to the community I am
reluctant to spend time thinking up new rules and regulations to impose on my neighbors, particularly those who
have lived here and cared for the lake and land for generations".
One of tasks Bill has performed for several years is that of informal "greeter" at Tax Grievance Day. "There is a
very small demand for bigger, more intrusive and more costly local government or added 'services' on Tax
Grievance Day. Each time I hear my opponents say 'I want to be your government so I can help you', I wonder
what they are thinking".
Position Paper -
Thoughts on Town Budget 2004
Tri-County
Water and the Spafford Party - printed 10/02/03 in
Skaneateles Press
Lisa Valletta for Town Clerk
At Town Hall
(315) 673-4144
E-mail: spafford@traknet.com
My husband, Mark, and I moved to Spafford in November 1994 with our 3 children.
We selected Spafford for the rural setting and the schools. Also, Mark has fond
memories of many childhood vacations spent at his grandparents camp on Otisco Lake,
near Lader's point. We both grew up in country settings and wanted to provide that
experience for our children.
I volunteered regularly at
K.C. Heffernan Elementary in Marcellus while my children
attended those grades. In 1997 we joined the membership of the Borodino Church I
became one of the Sunday School teachers that autumn and have been one ever since.
My youngest child entered kindergarten in 1997 and I found myself at loose end. The
position of Town Clerk was advertised in early 1998, and a neighbor suggested I apply. I
was honored with the appointment in February of that year.
It was quite a learning experience, but one that I thoroughly enjoyed. I met more of
my neighbors, and have found Spafford to be a warm, welcoming community.
I joined the Onondaga County Town Clerk's Association and the
N.Y.S. Town Clerk's Association and found a resource for information and guidance. These associations have
enabled me to provide you with current information regarding licenses, fees, laws, and
beginning in October, your passport applications can be processed through my office.
Records management is another facet of my position. Upon request, and following the
guidelines set by New York State, I am your access to public records. To facilitate
retrieval of these records, I obtained a grant through State Archives to install a modern
system of filing the active records for the town.
While you may know me as the "voice on the phone" or the "face behind the
counter," as your Town Clerk, I am your door to the government.
Carl Wiers for Highway Superintendent
(607) 749-7075
(315) 673-3906 - At Town Highway Dept.
Carl has lived in Spafford for the past 30 years. He and his wife Sherry have been
married for 24 years. They have 4 of their own children and adopted 2 more girls a few
years ago.
He served in the U.S. Army as a Heavy Equipment Operator for 6 years.
"I now work for the Town of Spafford Highway Dept. I have worked here for the past
20 years. I've been left in charge of the Highway Dept. a number of times."
" I know I have
what it will take to be your next Highway Superintendent. I ask for your vote on
November 4."
Carol Bourque for Tax Collector ^
(315) 636-8121
I have been a resident of the Town of Spafford for twenty-one years, having moved here in
1982 with my husband Ron and our four children, three of whom have since graduated from
Skaneateles High School. Our children, now grown, have blessed us with seven wonderful
grandchildren.
I am actively involved in the Spafford Area Historical Society as Vice President, having also
served as President as well as a member of the Board of Directors. With other members of this
community I helped establish the Spafford Food Pantry that serves our neighbors in need. I am a
member of the Borodino United Methodist Church and served as Treasurer of that church for three
years.
In 1993 I was elected as Tax Collector and have enjoyed serving in that position for ten years.
Not only does the job require organizational and mathematical skills but even more than that-the
ability to listen patiently and courteously to all who call my office, and to respond in a manner that
lets them know I am ready to help in whatever way I can.
"I look forward to serving the residents
of our town in this capacity for another two years."
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