Bezio, Kirby run for Area 4 county legislator

PLATTSBURGH | The race for Area 4 legislator brings two candidates to the ballot. David Bezio, the Democratic incumbent, faces a challenge from Edward Kirby, a Republican. Area 4 is a section of Clinton County that includes the eastern portion of the Town of Beekmantown and the eastern region of the Town of Plattsburgh, encompassing Cumberland Head. Election Day 2025 is Nov. 4. David Bezio Party Affiliation: Democrat Age: 63 Education: Graduate, Mount Assumption Institute, 1979; four-year International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) electrician apprenticeship; four-year IBEW lineman apprenticeship. Occupation: Line supervisor, City of Plattsburgh Municipal Lighting Department (MLD), overseeing line department, approaching 30 years. Previous Government/Civic experience: Four years, Area 4 Legislator, incumbent; three years, legislative chairman of County Buildings & Grounds Committee; oversaw $15 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for 17 major building projects; one year, legislative chairman, County Health Committee; 13 years, IBEW #1249 unit chairman, City of Plattsburgh MLD; 30-year member IBEW; founding member, City of Plattsburgh Healthcare Insurance Task Force; five-year volunteer, North County Honor Flight. What is the most pressing challenge facing Area 4/Clinton County in the coming term? The most pressing challenge at the moment is the closure of the Clinton Community College campus. This property and the buildings belong to Clinton County. The county legislature approved earlier this year to pay off half of the debt service remaining to the New York State Dormitory Authority. This leaves Clinton County with approximately $2 million of debt service remaining. The county now has a new budget line item, and this includes the maintenance, lawn care, plowing, building repairs, insurance, security, fuel and electric costs for the former CCC campus and buildings. This is estimated, conservatively, to be between $250,000 to $300,00 per year. And we have to have a person on staff to walk the halls at least once a day. That is what we are facing. How would you address it? It is imperative that we focus on the repurpose of this magnificent property. We need this facility to once again be a viable entity for the county. I will work diligently to find and vet out ideas and offers. Whatever reuse gets the okay, it needs to employ many residents of Clinton County with good, sustainable jobs, first and foremost. I would also like the plan to have little or no effect on its residential neighbors. The sale of the college property could bring a large, one time financial boon into the fund balance of Clinton County, potentially lowering the tax rate for all residents. The property would then go on the property tax rolls as an assessed property, contributing to the tax base. I hope to be able to tie its use to the Clinton County Business Innovation Gateway, which is Clinton County's Industrial Park (the former Clinton County Airport). This economic development together could be seismic. However, until a buyer is found, I will partner with Clinton County Legislative Chairman Mark Henry to ask the state for resources to help us to maintain the property. I also will partner with Chairman Henry to ask the NYS Dormitory Authority to forgive all or part of the debt service. Edward Kirby Party Affiliation: Republican Age: 59 Education: Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Empire State College. Occupation: General manager, GM Collin Skincare USA. Previous Government/Civic experience: President 2024-2025, Plattsburgh Noon Rotary; exalted ruler, 2024-2026, Keeseville Elks Club; Town of Plattsburgh Assessment Review Board, 2024-2029; member, Mountain Lake PBS Community Advisory Board (CAB); member, and two time past president, Senior Citizen Council of Clinton County; executive board member, Twin Rivers Council Scouting America; annual campaign committee member, YMCA; board member, Strand Theatre for the Arts; member, All Ways to Recovery advisory board. What is the most pressing challenge facing Area 4/Clinton County in the coming term? One of the biggest issues we face, and I hear it all the time, is affordability to live in our area. Rising costs of energy, our every day commodities and our taxes puts a stress on the hard working families. How would you address it? A few things need happen to accomplish this. I will continue to push for industrial growth to create new job opportunities and work my hardest to keep taxes as low as possible. I will continue to build relationships and partnerships with our municipalities to better understand the needs of each as well as the needs of our residents. In doing so, I will lobby for the people I represent to remove waste and add resources to ease that financial burden. This is a beautiful community we live in and my vision is supporting growth and keeping it affordable.

Signup for our newsletter

Bezio, Kirby run for Area 4 county legislator

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS