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Mike Sigler (R) announced today he is running for reelection to the Tompkins County Legislature.  Sigler has served two terms so far as the legislator representing most of the Town of Lansing outside the Village.  He says that especially in the current term he has worked hard for the Town and Tompkins County, weighing in on every single issue of substance.

"I've worked hard the past four years for the people of Lansing and I am a fierce advocate for the town.  I've worked to keep the power plant on the tax rolls, keep taxes down, and defended the town against a group of folks calling themselves progressives, but who seem more committed to hobbling Lansing's economy and tax base, negatively impacting our great schools and my constituents' household budgets," said Sigler.  "I always have the voters in mind when I'm considering a proposal or law change. My record shows I've been accessible and responsive and will fight for Lansing at every turn."

After his first term Sigler was defeated by Pat Pryor (D) in 2009.  At that time he was accused by some of not being entirely engaged or commutative with his constituents.  In the following election 2013 he won the seat back from Pryor, and says that loss was good for him in that it made him reevaluate the way he represented the Town.

"Not all loss is bad.  I learned a lot of lessons by losing the last time," he says.  Sometimes you lose and become a better public servant because of it.  I think that's what happened.  When people asked why I was running again I'd say 'I learned a lot by losing and I think I've become a much better representative.  And I've been working really hard for the Town and I think we've done some good things.  I'd like to see some of those to fruition and I'd like to get some other things done."

In his second term Sigler has reports to the Town Board on top County issues at its monthly meeting, and provides a written report for the few meetings he has had to miss.

"My goal this time, too was to communicate better with the Town.  I think I've done a good job with that" he says. "I've been one of the most transparent elected officials in the county, meeting monthly with my town board, posting to Facebook and writing often on my positions to the local papers and web based new sources,.  You may not always agree with my position, but you know what it is and you should challenge me.  I don't pretend that I'm always right and I can change my position if you make a better argument."

He says he has fought hard to support the power plant, salt mine, and has worked with the Finger Lakes land Trust to try to obtain the Bell Station property to be made into a state forest.  He has been a vocal advocate for the Ithaca-Tompkins Regional Airport, and continues to work with the State on making roads safer.


"The power plant is a good example," he says.  "I really stood up for that.  I went out and got signatures and gave them to the Governor.  We put up billboards and got radio time.  We did a lot of things to try to save that power plant.  So far the power plant hasn't closed.  I'm still hopeful that some good things are going to happen, because it is such an important part of our community."

He meets with power plant officials at least once a quarter.  He says the new owners bought the plant for a reason, and he is waiting to see what their plan is.  He says he will support whatever that plan is.

Sigler has also aligned himself with town officials in his stance on removing the moratorium on new natural gas customers in Lansing.

"It's no big secret that when it comes to natural gas, I see it as a bridge fuel," he says.  "So when it comes to running a pipeline to our town I'm in favor of that.  I think we need that kind of economic development.  That doesn't mean I'm against heat pumps.  There are certain projects where you're going to need that option, and we can't offer that option."

When it comes to the alternatives, Sigler says they are just not yet viable for many homeowners, including himself.  He attended a HeatSmart meeting to look into converting to heat pumps for his Lansing farmhouse.  He says after talking with one of the approved contractors he felt the cost would be prohibitive for ground-source heat pumps, and in his case an air-source heat pump would also cost too much, especially when you add the cost of solar panels he was told he would need to supplement it.

"If a developer runs the numbers and that works for him, that's great," he says.  "But they're cutting an awful lot of people out of natural gas, and the people who are telling you not to use natural gas are all gaining the benefits of it.  They're all paying much less for heat, a third of what we, up in Lansing, are paying to heat our homes.  It's a pretty massive imbalance at the county level."

"On the County Legislature at times you have to do things for the whole county," he says.  "The Pine Tree Road project was a big project.  It was an expensive project.  It took us a long time to get that passed.  But I've driven over there.  It was dangerous.  So yes, that's where as a county person you have to fix that issue.  Or bigger issues the County does like tourism or early intervention programs... those are all county-wide issues."

Sigler will be challenged my former Legislator Mike Koplinka-Loehr (D), who plans an official campaign announcement Monday morning.  Sigler says that while Koplinka-Loehr is running as a Progressive Democrat Sigler considers himself a 'middle of the road Republican'.

"It's one thing to call yourself that, but if you look at how I vote it's pretty clear that that's who I am," he says.  "I think it's probably good (that he is being challenged in the election).  You do get a clear choice.  He's saying he's  running as a progressive.  I think the choice is going to be clear."

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