Deans, Lozier vie for Clinton Co. treasurer seat

PLATTSBURGH | Clinton County will elect a new treasurer in November with two candidates on the ballot, Chad H. Deans and Randy Lozier. The county treasurer serves for four years. Election Day is Nov. 4 this year, with early voting at the John H. Zurlo Clinton County Government Center beginning on Saturday, Oct. 25, continuing daily through Nov. 2. The Sun asked candidates the same questions and to provide a brief biography. Responses are presented in alphabetical order. Chad H. Deans Party Affiliation: Republican Age: 48 Education: 1997 graduate, State University of New York College of Technology at Canton, AAS Mortuary Science. Occupation: Clinton County Coroner, elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023; Licensed Funeral Director. Previous Government/Civic experience: Member, Board of Directors of the New York State Association of County Coroners and Medical Examiners; member, Board of Directors at St. Mary's Mission Center in Champlain; former assistant Federal-State Supervisor at United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Livestock and Poultry Program, Quality Assessment Division. What is the most pressing challenge facing the county in the coming term? The most pressing challenge is to elect available, experienced, and capable leaders to county offices. How will you address it? I will address this by offering voters a devoted public servant who understands county operations and has great interest in the well-being of Clinton County, New York and its residents. I will be ethical and professional in the performance of administrative duties during the daily operations of the County Treasurer's Office on a full-time basis. Randy Lozier Party Affiliation: Democrat Age: 49 Education: Graduate, Seton Catholic High School; Clinton Community College, Business Administration; SUNY Plattsburgh, Business Administration. Occupation: Town clerk/tax collector, Town of Beekmantown; Interscholastic Athletic Coordinator, Clinton-Essex-Warren-Washington BOCES. Previous Government/Civic experience: President, Plattsburgh Babe Ruth/Plattsburgh Baseball Club; coach, 30-plus years for youth/high school sports; current, Town of Beekmantown town clerk/tax collector; chairperson 22-plus years, International Association of Approved Basketball Officials Scholarship, raised over $100,000 for local scholarships. Additional experience: creating budgets and implementing cost-saving plans to sustain programming, while being fiscally responsible; experience overseeing grants and budgeting of governmental accounting for various programs; auditing funds regularly to ensure on-time and correct budgets throughout the year. What is the most pressing challenge facing the county in the coming term? The most pressing challenge has two parts: 1. The uncertainty of tax revenue that our county relies heavily upon and 2. The increase in taxes for our upper-aged citizens. How will you address it? 1. I will coordinate with county administrators to have a budget that is responsible, yet provides employees and citizens the benefits the county offers in a fiscally responsible way. We have to plan on a potentially lean budget over the next couple of years. Clinton County has relied on tourism and traffic from across the border. There is no disputing that traffic and tourism is down in 2025. Being cognizant of potential shortfalls, we can sustain programming by exploring options to decrease spending, yet still provide the necessities that all taxpayers rightfully deserve. 2. To help contain tax impact on our upper-aged citizens, I would look at increasing the sliding scale for taxpayers, usually 65+. Clinton County offers a sliding scale now, but many people are finding it difficult to pay increasing taxes after they have paid taxes their entire lives in Clinton County. Clinton County has done well balancing a budget, and I look forward to assisting in continuing that trend. We need to better educate our citizens on property/personal exemptions, as well as learning how to file properly/timely applications for STAR or enhanced STAR. I will hold a monthly/bi-monthly meeting, having guest speakers come in to help educate and assist in securing the programs that citizens qualify for. In both cases, I will ensure that the county will get the best return on their money. Carefully managing cash-flow ensures a healthier opportunity for the county funds to sustain a longer time frame. We need governmental accounting experience in this vital county role. I bring that to the great citizens of Clinton County.

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Deans, Lozier vie for Clinton Co. treasurer seat

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