Lansing Republicans were smokin'!  At least the barbecue was smoking at Myers Park Sunday where Local Republicans held a 'Meet The Candidates' barbecue.  All three Lansing candidates were present to tell voters about their campaigns in a lazy Sunday afternoon atmosphere.  Also present was Tompkins County Republican Committee Chairman Chairman Jamie Drader.  Drader said his Lansing candidates are on the right side of major current issues in the town.

"All three candidates were against the sewer project," Drader says.  "They are all for repowering Cayuga Power Plant because it's going to save jobs.  I think we have a great slate of candidates here.  Doug Dake, Robert Cree, Mike Sigler will all three do a great job.  They really listen to the people of Lansing.  That's their biggest plus."


Voters will pick two of four Town Board candidates this November.  Cree and Dake are challenging Democrats Katrina Binkewicz (incumbent) and Gay Nicholson.  Sigler, who lost his County Legislator seat to incumbent Pat Pryor in the last election, is back this year to challenge her again.  Sigler says the three main issues in the Town are sewer, repowering the Cayuga power plant and taxes.  He notes that sewer isn't a county issue, but he wants to address growth in the town.

"The town is still going to grow," he says.  "So how do we keep the rural character of the town?  That's a question I'm looking forward to meeting.  The other issue is the repowering of the power plant.  There is some talk about using waste to regenerate.  I don't know how they think they're going to get the waste up to the plant.  To power it with coal you need 27 cars of coal.  Do you know how much waste you'd be trucking in?  And a big issue for the town is always taxes."

Drader says that each town committee raises money and votes in its own way.  Lansing Republicans traditionally host a chicken barbecue to raise campaigns funds.  Sunday's 'meet and greet' was new.  On the County level Republicans hold an annual fundraising dinner.  This year a $50 per plate dinner at Caroline's Celebrations on September 26th will feature keynote speaker NYS Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin, and State Senators Tom O'Mara and Jim Seward.

In Lansing, Cree is running for a second Town Board term on a platform of accounting expertise, experience on the board and fiscal responsibility.  During his first term he took over auditing monthly expenses and helped other board members to better understand the Town budget.

"I say the same thing I said four years ago: as I look at the board as a whole there isn't anyone else including (my opponents) who has the financial strength and fiscal responsibility that I feel I am bringing to the table," he says.  "I've now been on the board for four years and have a much better understanding of how the board works, how the town works, all the issues that are in front of the town.  I think that brings something to the table as well."

Dake is the political newcomer on the Republican side.  He says he is just ramping up his campaign as he learns about running.  He says he was asked to run to help preserve the character of the town.

"I'm learning the ropes through (Republican County Board of Elections Commissioner) Elizabeth Cree and (current Lansing Councilmen) Robert Cree and Ed LaVigne. (Former Lansing Supervisor) Scott Pinney has been helping quite a bit, so things are going well," he says.  "I don't really have any issues.  There is some contention in the Town especially with the people I talk to.  I believe I'm relatively sensible and I think I could bring some decisions and balance back to what people seem to like here."


Drader says he hopes Republicans will pick up new seats at the County and town levels to further the party's top priorities of lower taxes, smaller government.  He is optimistic about getting more Republicans on the County Legislature, which will be smaller because redistricting has reduced the count from 15 legislators to 14.  He says he hopes that will mean curbs on spending.

"As far as we're concerned no new taxes is a good thing," he says.  "We don't want any new taxes at all.  I have to agree and I think both sides of the aisle would agree, that we need to get some mandate relief from the state.  It's a killer.  Even with the tax cap some of the towns are going to have a tough time meeting that cap."

Legislature Chairwoman Martha Robertson has gone to Albany several times to lobby for mandate relief, as has Lansing School Superintendent Chris Pettograsso.  Drader says Republicans have not lobbied in Albany, but instead have asked for fewer unpaid mandates from Republicans in Albany.

"We have voiced our concerns to our three state senators who are all Republican," he says.  "It's a bi-partisan thing.  We all know we need it.  It's just a matter of how we get there."

All three candidates are pleased with the progress of the campaigns.  Yard signs dot the landscape, and all three say they are garnering support from Lansing voters.

"So far, so good," Cree says.  "I've been pleasantly surprised at the continued support that I'm seeing within the town amongst current board members and fellow residents."


In a decidedly Democratic-leaning county just about any election is a challenge for local Republicans.  Drader says he couldn't find any Republicans to run in the City of Ithaca this year, forcing him to pin his hopes on town and county challenges.

The biggest prize this November may be seats on the County Legislature.  Three Republicans incumbents are hoping to win new terms on the Legislature including Dave McKenna (Newfield/Enfield), Frank Proto (Caroline/Danby), and Brian Robison (Groton and part of Dryden).  In addition Republicans Mike Sigler (Lansing), Laurie Murray (Ulysses), Amy Scott Fisher (Martha Robertson's Dryden seat) and Nancy Werney (Mike Lane's Dryden seat) are challenging Democrats for their seats.

"Fiscal responsibility is the biggest thing we can possibly do," Drader says.  "Lansing has a full slate.  Groton has a full slate.  Newfield has a full slate with the exception of a justice.  We've worked very hard to try to fill every possible position that we can."

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