Candidates in upcoming election answer questions

WATKINS GLEN-- Fifteen candidates for office in Schuyler County gathered Monday, Oct. 25 at the Watkins Glen Performing Arts Center for Meet the Candidates Night. The event was organized by a non-partisan committee of volunteers from the community and sponsored by the REVIEW&EXPRESS.
"It is a privilege to welcome the candidates who have joined us this evening, of the 45 candidates who appear on local ballots... 15 will be joining us this evening," said Judy Phillips, moderator for the event.
The evening gave those in attendance the opportunity to hear from the candidates and get a feel for what their positions were.
"I wanted to see what was going on with the candidates," said Drew Welshans, resident of Watkins Glen. "I have never been to something like this before and it's possible what they say will play a role in who I vote for (in contested elections)."
For the Schuyler County race for sheriff both candidates, Breck Spaulding and Kevin Rumsey discussed the most serious issues they see in the county both in the present and going into the future.
During his time speaking Spaulding emphasized the importance of a consistent effort to combat drugs in the community.
"There is a direct correlation between drugs and crime... when I was shot at 10 years ago it was by someone high on methamphetamine," said Spaulding.
Rumsey agreed with the importance of combating drugs in the community, and also emphasized the importance of scenario-based training to allow officers to keep up with the rapidly changing nature of police enforcement.
Spaulding, who serves as the current undersheriff in Schuyler County, also emphasized the importance of working with the legislature on the department's budget and that he would advocate for the return of a district attorney investigator position.
Rumsey, a retired Marine and investigator at the sheriff's department, discussed the importance of leadership in not only the community but the department as well. To emphasize the role of the department in the community, Rumsey said that he would try to create more youth programs.
All four candidates for the three positions on the town council in Hector appeared and despite the political differences seemed to agree on many issues.
When asked to analyze what issue is the most important for the town going forward, Democrats Katie O'Connor, Jessica Rodgers and Elizabeth Martin and Republican candidate Robert Mahaney all agreed on the importance of zoning regulations. Key to those zoning regulations would be balancing the need for economic growth with the importance of balancing the desire to maintain the character of the town.
For the two candidates for the one seat on the legislature for District 1, Republican David Reed was the only one to speak, with Democratic candidate Howard Cabezas not in attendance.
Reed, who described himself as an ultra-conservative, said that if he wins that it will be his last term as a legislator.
"Some people retire to Florida, I bought (property) in Alaska," said Reed.
Reed disagreed with the county's involvement with the updates and leasing of the Performing Arts Center space. He informed the audience that the Downtown Revitalization money was not enough to make the location viable, and issues such as asbestos make work at the location more challenging and expensive.
"We don't even own this building," Reed said of the Performing Arts Center.