NOV - Vol. 11 - Issue 35  

 SPAFFORD PARTY

August 24th, 2003, Spafford residents (left to right) Joyce Barnett, Richard Malcolm, and Linda Sanders, filed a petition with the Board of Elections to form the Spafford Party-- the only new independent party formed this year in Onondaga County.  The Spafford Party is running against Republican incumbents: Town Supervisor, Gordon Ireland; Town Council Member, Billy G. Vinzant; and Town Council Member, C.J. Parsons.

 

SPAFFORD PARTY PLATFORM

  1. Provide a choice of Candidates 

  2. Advocate open communication with town government for all citizens.

  3. Preserve the rural character of Spafford: 
    * Encourage small business vital to a community (i.e. a country/convenience store)
    * Protect the agricultural base of the community
    * Provide guidelines for lake development and watershed protection
    * Provide guidelines for the increasing development projects
    * Encouraging community input for research of a master plan to deal effectively with growth and change. 

  4. Be open to community interest for services and use available funds more effectively.

  5. Provide sensible, efficient and impartial code standards, concerned primarily with health and safety, but also our community's character.

  6. Promote intermunicipal efforts to preserve the beauty, enjoyment and ecology of our two lakes.

 CANDIDATE PROFILES

Richard Malcolm, Town Supervisor
315-673-0744
Richard Malcolm's boyhood home is on East Lake Road, Skaneateles. "My career took me to some of the most beautiful resort areas in the US, but I came to recognize Spafford as a wonderful community, a beautiful location with so much to offer. I chose this community as the home for my family. I have seen the consequences when local government is unprepared or refuses to deal with growth. It is not realistic to expect that things will not change -- the key is to guide growth so that it benefits the community." Richard is a corporate Food and Beverage Manager for Servus Hotel Group and looks forward to applying his management skills to making Town government more productive and efficient. "Better services do not necessarily mean higher taxes." Richard and Becky are restoring a home and a one-room schoolhouse on their property. They grow and market gourmet herbs and vegetables on their farm.

Joyce Barnett, Town Council Member
315-673-0743
Joyce Barnett has been a resident of Spafford for more than 10 years. She is an independent consultant, specializing in fundraising and public relations. For over 20 years she has assisted dozens of CNY organizations to obtain funding from corporate, foundation and government sources. She also offers her skills in strategic planning, consensus building and conflict resolution. She especially looks forward to utilizing her career skills to increase funding opportunities for Spafford. "There are more opportunities than the Town currently pursues." She is very active in the Spafford community providing leadership to the Spafford garden club, the Spafford Historical Society and Town efforts to enhance the Borodino Four Corners and create a Veterans Memorial. She holds a BA in political science from Eisenhower College. "Bringing people together to work for a common goal is the most important contribution a citizen can make – that is what I hope to accomplish by offering my time as a Town of Spafford council member."

Linda Sanders, Town Council Member
315-673-1286
Linda Sanders is a 24-year resident of the Town of Spafford. She is a retired federal employee with a successful 26-year career in the Department of Health and Human Services. Since retiring 3 years ago, she has volunteered extensively to support Spafford civic projects. She is the current President of the Spafford Area Historical Society and has provided leadership to the agency's efforts to restore the Borodino Grange Building and establish the only Summer Youth Program for the children of Spafford. A professional garden designer, she frequently supports landscape efforts at the Borodino Four Corners and is an active member of the Spafford garden club and the Borodino Fire Department. "I am a strong advocate for our rural community and all it has to offer. I look forward to proactively helping Spafford better meet the needs of a community faced with changing demographics."

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