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After a dramatic defeat in a bid to become the candidate for Lansing Town Supervisor last week's Democratic Caucus, Deputy Supervisor Connie Wilcox said she would be filing as an independent.  This week she made good on that promise, officially announcing her candidacy at the Lansing Fire Commissioner's meeting.  Wilcox said that the Democratic candidate represents special interests in the town.  She promised to continue to provide good services while keeping taxes down.

"I'm running on the 'no special interest' party line," she declared.  "The Republicans have put no one up for Supervisor.  69 people could have more or less decided the election last thursday night.  I decided not to take it lying down.  I have worked hard for the Town over the past eight years, so I am running as an independent."

Last week Lansing Democrats made Councilwoman Kathy Miller their candidate in a vote that gave her about twice the number of votes as the sitting Supervisor Scott Pinney.  69 Democrats voted for Miller, 35 for Pinney, and 6 for Wilcox.

Wilcox is running on a platform of experience and fiscal conservatism.  She is serving her eigth year on the Town Board, and is currently the Town liaison to the Lansing Fire Department, Lansing Housing Authority, Lansing Older Adult program, and sits on the Bolton Point Water Commission.  She is responsible for taking the Lansing Farmer's Market from an idea to reality, and chairs the Town's Beautification Committee, Affordable Housing Committee, and on agriculture policy.

"I have nothing against Kathy Miller," she said.  "She's a very nice person.  She's been on the board for a year and a half, and she is very interested in special interest groups such as the library, the pathways committee... anything that liberally wants to spend money.  I think that we've done a good job of keeping our taxes down.  Whether you like Kathy as a friend or not is fine, but I don't think she'll make a good supervisor because there are too many special interest groups that she wants to take care of."


With her long-standing association with the Lansing Fire Department and the North Lansing Auxiliary Wilcox was preaching to the choir.  She asked how many times the Town liaison had shown up to commissioners meetings before she was elected eight years ago.  They could think of few instances.  Wilcox attends most of their meetings throughout the year.  She said that's how she approaches all tasks.

"When I am chosen to do a job I do it," she told the commissioners.  "I'm running because I have no special interests and I will keep our taxes low.  I want to keep our employees happy, and I want to provide this Town with the services the residents deserve."

Wilcox needs 198 signatures by August 16th.  She says her goal is to collect 300 to insure that she will be running in November.

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