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December 1, 2008

Lake Placid slate readies for political contest

Lake Placid slate announced for March village vote

By KIM SMITH DEDAM

LAKE PLACID — Three Lake Placid businessmen announced plans Monday to run for mayor and two open seats on the Village Board.

Craig Randall, a Republican and retired vice president for NBT Bank, has begun collecting signatures for the mayor's seat held by Jamie Rogers, an independent.

Regional economic adviser Zay Curtis and lodging business owner Art Devlin are also on the three-person petition, running for seats held by Republicans Paul Strack and Pat Gallagher.

Reached by phone Monday, Strack told the Press-Republican he would seek re-election as trustee. Gallagher could not be reached.

Trustees David Jones and Peter Roy won four-year terms last year.

Monday was the official start date for major party candidates to begin gathering signatures. Residents can petition for two trustee candidates and one mayor, according to election officials.

The coordinated multi-candidate petition is a political maneuver allowed in Essex County, but one that has not been put to the test in the Olympic village before now.

MAYOR'S RACE
In a phone interview Monday, Randall said the trio would be running as a team who can work well together.

"We are bringing our business experience and fiscal responsibility and accountability to the residents of Lake Placid," he said, an effort "absolutely important" for uncertain economic times ahead.

"We are looking toward creation of a team spirit that would pervade the entire village organization."

Mayor Jamie Rogers said he plans to seek re-election and respects the political challenge.

"I think any time anybody wants to get into public office to better their community it's a positive thing. The good thing about elections is it brings transparency to the community." Rogers is completing his first four-year term but cannot begin circulating petitions as an independent until Jan. 1, he said, because Republican and Democratic petitions are filed first.

He said the village is well-positioned ahead of the national economic crisis.

"We've managed to bring the village forward in terms of energy-efficiency cost savings, public transportation and protecting our environment with the new land use-code. There is more money in the fund balance than we've had in recent years. The last four consecutive village budgets have come at or below the rate of inflation," Rogers said, defending his financial leadership.

Trustee Peter Roy, who previously ran for mayor against Rogers as a Republican and independent, said he will bow out of any Republican challenge.

"I'm weighing my options whether to run as an independent (for mayor) or not. Right at the moment, I'm standing behind Craig," Roy said. "If Craig is willing to work with the board, then there wouldn't be any reason for me to run. We need new leadership in Lake Placid."

VILLAGE TRUSTEE RACE
Curtis said the trio of businessmen were approached six months ago and asked to run for office.

"It is a group of citizens from Lake Placid and North Elba," he said, without naming them. "We are going to release that information soon, in a proper way."

The village itself is one of the biggest businesses in the region, Curtis said, with a $17 million budget and $23 million worth of debt.

"The Village Board needs to be run in a businesslike manner, with people who talk respectfully to each other all the time," he said. "We're not running because we have an ax to grind; we're running because we don't have an ax to grind."

Strack said he will seek re-election on the Republican Party line.

"I'm running alone as Paul Strack, and as a Republican, so that means there will be a primary. I will continue to do the things I do best, looking at both sides of the issue.

"There's an important balance to find between tourism and homeowners. And right now, I think the homeowners are losing," he said. "If I can be that guy to look at both sides, then I think I've got plenty to bring to the table."

This election, Strack said, "could blow this village wide open. Either we're going to have a city here or a small mountain town like it's always been."

Primaries would be held Jan. 27, 2009, with elections on March 18.

E-mail Kim Smith Dedam at: kdedam@pressrepublican.com

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