Meet the candidates: Town of Champlain

CHAMPLAIN — With the Town of Champlain election approaching, the candidates are cracking down on the issues they hope to solve if elected. For this election, Democrats and Republicans will be running opposed for two positions: town justice and town councilperson. Clarke Herdic, town councilman Democratic Party Before coming to the area, Herdic went to SUNY Brockport for four years and received a bachelor's degree in health and physical education. He went on to the University of Buffalo to complete a doctorate education degree. After working as a teacher in West Virginia for three years, he moved to Champlain and taught at Clinton Community College for 36 years. Herdic's top priority is to further town growth to what it was years ago. He and his wife, Janet McFetridge, have been working toward developing a community center in the village to help solve this issue. He also hopes that the expansion of the water and sewer district between the Town of Champlain, Village of Champlain and Village of Rouses Point on Route 11 will bring in more businesses and more families. "Despite the fact there's not a lot of jobs up here, it's still an excellent place to live," he said. "This little community in Champlain is a great place to live and raise a family. Steven Southwick, town councilman (incumbent) Republican Party Southwick graduated from Northeastern Clinton Central School and Ithaca College with a BS degree. He's been with the Champlain Telephone Company for 33 years, currently holding the position of outside plant manager. He's also been serving a one-year appointment to the Northeastern Clinton Central School Board and eight years on the town board. While serving on the board, he helped establish a Shared Services Committee with the Town of Champlain and the Village of Rouses Point to investigate of the water system infrastructures could be upgraded and expanded to encourage growth. In return, the Town and Village of Champlain were awarded with a $2 million grant to construct two new water towers, upgrade the water plant facilities and install pipes in the Village of Champlain and on Route 11. "One of my goals is to see the project through to its completion," he said. "My other goal is to work to grow other shared service opportunities between the Town of Champlain, Village of Champlain and Village of Rouses Point." Dennis Roberts, town councilman Republican Party Roberts was born and raised in Rouses Point, working for 30 years at Pfizer Inc. He served on the town board a few years ago and did run for reelection but opted out because of the potential closing of the company in which he would have to relocate. But it didn't, so now he's able to run for reelection. If reelected, one of the biggest issues he would like to address is maintaining the services they already have — upkeeping roads, code enforcement, etc — without raising taxes. Roberts would also like to see the water improvement project mentioned earlier come to an end, hoping that it will bring businesses to the towns and villages. "They're going to start breaking ground next year," he said. It's going to be a great improvement to the town." Kevin Triller, town justice Democratic Party Triller moved to the North Country in the 1970s when he was originally with the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base. He worked as a New York State trooper from 1986 to 2009 and retired to run a small farm. Triller wanted to run for the position years ago, but he didn't want to run against John Favreau and John Labonte, who he said were doing an excellent job. Since Favreau will be stepping down, he decided to run. Though he addressed the issues of border customs, heroin, small communities diminishing and the economy changing drastically, he said the system in place now works. "I don't see changing anything," he said. "I want to become a part of this system and keep it working." John Labonte, town justice (incumbent) Democratic Party Labonte currently holds the title on the longest sitting local judge in Clinton County: he's held the position since 1989. He's also been involved with town programs like the Meals on Wheels program and was named the first manager of the Edward and Beverly Bechard Senior Housing in Rouses Point. If reelected, he would like to make sure the community at large remains safe and send a clear message that crime will not be tolerated in the Town of Champlain. "I feel that I've made the people aware that if you break the law in the Town of Champlain that you will be held accountable," he said. "I would like to continue." Michael Phillips, town justice Republican Party Phillips could not be reached by this time. Craig Hicks, town justice Republican Party Hicks declined to comment when reached by phone.

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Meet the candidates: Town of Champlain

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