On November 3rd voters will choose from among four candidates for two Town Board seats.  The Lansing Star asked the same questions of all four.  Two appear in this week's issue, and the other two next week.

Rick Hayes (R) is running for one of the two open Town Board seats.  A Newfield native, Hayes also lived in Ithaca before moving to Lansing 25 years ago. He is a real estate agent.  He and his wife, Charla, have two sons.

Hayes is the only candidate running for the Board who has not served on it before.  He says he has been reading minutes of past board meetings to prepare for a term on the Board.  He says a fresh perspective and new ideas are what the Town needs.


 Lansing Star: What prompted you to run for Town Council now, in this year’s election?

Rick Hayes: A couple of people asked me if I'd be interested.  I thought about it and said that I would.  I've always been interested.  I'm interested in the community.  I thought it was an opportunity.

You are the only person running for this office who hasn't already been on the board in the past.  What would you say are the most important things the Town has already accomplished?  How will you build on that, if elected?

Being that I am the only one I'm hoping that I will have fresh ideas, things that haven't been discussed before.  I will take what has happened up to this point and try to build on it.  I don't back-track a long ways and look at things that were done wrong.  I like to go from this point forward.

What do you think is the most important thing that Lansing needs right now?  How will you make that happen?

I would continue the development of Lansing, as far as a Town Center, try to bring more businesses into Lansing and get Lansing rolling.  Those things will help the tax base of this town.

A follow-up question: I've heard different people talk about the town center in different ways.  One way is to build the town center on that big field across the street from the town ball fields.  Other people have said let the town center naturally develop up from the south as more people build houses there.  Others have said the Village is our town center.  Which vision are you interested in seeing?

I would like to see development increase from the south up.

Where do you stand on repowering Cayuga Power Plant?

I believe they should repower it with gas and keep it going.  I don't think they should just kill it and upgrade the power lines.  it's there.  It's a tool.  And there will be a time when they need it.  To see people lose their jobs... the building is already there.  They just want to convert it to natural gas, which we have.

Where do you stand on the gas pipeline from Freeville through Dryden to the Warren Road area?

I feel that it needs to happen.  Without it they're not going to be able to develop.  We're not going to be able to grow, and we want to grow.  Businesses and more housing is going to bring up the tax base in the Town.  So it's all part of growing.

There has been a lot of talk about new development and traffic in the Town.  Do you agree with the comprehensive plan?  If not, would you follow it anyway as representative of what the Town wants?  Do you have an action plan as to how the comprehensive plan should be implemented or not implemented?

I agree with the plan.  I would like to follow it.  Once I am in office I would like to help develop it and make it better.

After years of political split on the board, people are saying the election this year is an important one.  Why would you say this election in particular is important for Lansing?

There will be two new seats on the Board with two new people with new ideas.  It will bring continuity among board members.

Votes on the board have been very much along party lines.  Do you believe that will continue in the next four years?

I take each issue and listen.  I like to do what I feel about it, not how the party feels.  I tend to listen to people to hear what they really want and what they need.  If there are two different (viewpoints) I try to bring them together. 

Of the four candidates for Town Board, what makes you the best choice?

I'm new and I have fresh ideas.  I am the only one who hasn't been a board member before.  I feel I can bring some new ideas, a new perspective on things and help with the continued growth of Lansing.

What would you like people to know about your candidacy that we haven't talked about?

I'm fair. I would really like to serve the community of Lansing.  I've done it in many ways by fund raising, I sing to seniors, I'm an active Lion's Club member, and this is just a new way that I can serve Lansing.

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