Malta town supervisor race starting to take shape

PHOTOGRAPHER: Stephen Williams

The Democrat who lost the 2013 Malta town supervisor race plans to run for the post again this year, while Republicans have begun the candidate search.

Town Supervisor Paul J. Sausville, who is a Republican, plans to retire at the end of this year after 10 years in office, meaning there will be no incumbent in the town supervisor race.

Republican Councilwoman Tara Thomas said she’s seriously considering a run for supervisor. “I enjoy serving the town. It’s been a wonderful experience,” said Thomas, who has been on the Town Board for eight years. “I am giving it serious consideration.”

Town Republican Chairman Ted Willette said nobody so far has submitted a resume to the Republican Committee to run for supervisor.

Democrat Cynthia Young, however, said she’s definitely running for supervisor again.

Two years ago, she nearly beat Sausville. She lost by a single vote, in an election that wasn’t decided until an appeals court invalidated two absentee votes that were cast for Young because of unnecessary markings on the ballot.

“I think I won,” Young said Tuesday. “Those two voters whose votes weren’t counted were disenfranchised. I think I owe it to the people who supported me and to the people of Malta. And I still think it’s time for a change.”

All elected positions in Malta are now held by Republicans.

Also up for election this year are the Town Board seats currently held by Peter Klotz and Thomas. Should Thomas run for supervisor, the Republicans would need to field a different candidate for the Town Board seat.

Klotz, who at one time expressed interest in running for supervisor, said he’ll be running for a third four-term on the Town Board instead.

“I feel that with my years of involvement and my knowledge of the master plan and experience with GlobalFoundries, I feel I still have some good things to contribute to the town,” he said.

Also potentially up for re-election are Town Clerk Flo Sickels, Receiver of Taxes Lynda Bablin and Highway Superintendent Roger Crandall.

Sickels is Thomas’ mother. Thomas noted that she’s recused herself from issues involving her mother’s office throughout her time on the Town Board.

Even if candidates plan to run for re-election, Willette said it’s important that there be competition.

“My attitude is it’s up to the committee, which is made up of 24 people,” he said. “If you have competition, that’s what makes cream rise to the top.”

Willette said new people are also needed to serve in Republican leadership roles in the town’s election district.

The town continues to deal with the issues raised by the significant residential and commercial growth that’s been going on since the 1970s, and has been intensified by the construction of the GlobalFoundries computer-chip plant.

“Malta has seen significant growth over the last decade and it’s important that the Republican Committee seek individuals who want to be involved in the town’s growth over the next decade,” Willette said in a statement soliciting candidates.

Individuals interested in running for office on the GOP ticket or joining the Republican Committee are asked to email Willette at [email protected] or Vice Chairman Nick Wilock at [email protected], or call 885-6802 by Feb. 28.