Supervisor in Smyrna, town board in Norwich among Chenango’s races

By Melissa deCordova

Sun Staff Writer

mdecordova@evesun.com

NORWICH – Today’s primary is not just a race for Chenango County Court Judge. Registered Republican, Conservative or Independence Party voters in Norwich, Bainbridge, Guilford and Smyrna need be particularly mindful of the candidates vying for government seats in their locales.

That’s not to mention that incumbent New York State Senator James L. Seward, who represents Chenango County in the 51st District, is facing competition from James W. Blake for the Republican Party’s nomination.

For the City of Norwich, Republicans Thomas R. LoPiccolo, 52, and Daniel J. Palmer, 32, hope to fill a one-year term as Ward 6 Alderman. The council position came about in January after former Alderman Robert M. Jeffrey was elected Chenango County Supervisor for Wards 4, 5 and 6. LoPiccolo, through an appointment, is presently filling the vacancy. (See related city race story for candidates’ comments.)

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In the Town of Bainbridge, Republicans David A. DeClue and Kenneth Harvey are running to fill a three-year term on the town board. DeClue, 66, retired in 2011 after a long career practicing law in the town. He became Bainbridge Town Attorney in 1974, and served every supervisor over the following 30 years. He has also been a municipal attorney for the villages of Bainbridge, Afton and Sidney and is currently a director of the Bainbridge Development Corporation.

DeClue said he enjoys being involved in town matters, and would be an active voice in the management of natural gas drilling for Bainbridge should it be permitted by Governor Cuomo and the state’s environmental regulators.

Harvey, 59, was an executive with Home Depot before retiring last year. He is from New Jersey, but has owned property in Bainbridge for about 10 years. He said he was inspired to enter local government after talking to taxpayers who were struggling financially. “I would hold the line on taxes; would always vote for no increase,” he said. “We have to live within our budget.”

In the Town of Guilford, three candidates are striving for two positions on the Republican County Committee. They are: Celeste Aber, who was previously an assessor for Guilford; George J. Seneck, the current town supervisor; and Dennis Martin, formerly a town justice.

Stanley D. Foulds and Michael T. Ford race for the Republican nomination to fill a one-year term vacancy on the Norwich Town Board. Foulds, 52, who was Norwich Highway Superintendent from 2008 to 2011, was appointed in January to fill former Councilwoman Joanna Chiarino’s seat when she relocated. He is currently the buildings and grounds superintendent for the Norwich City School District.