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The Lansing Community Center was filled last night as Lansing Democrats came out to choose two Town Board candidates and one for Town Justice.  While incumbent Judge William Burin was unopposed for the justice seat, three candidates put themselves forward for two Town Board seats being vacated by Republicans Bud Shattuck and Matt Besemer at the end of this year.  Kathy Miller, James Mason, and Doug Boles answered questions before the caucus voted to endorse two of them as the Democratic candidates in November's general election.

The first order of business was to elect a caucus chair and secretary.  Former Lansing Democratic Committee Chairman Greg Lawrence was elected chair, and Marcy Rosenkrantz was voted in as secretary.  From that point Lawrence ran the proceedings, first asking the candidates to speak for up to ten minutes about themselves and their platforms, and then to answer questions.  Only registered Democrats are allowed to participate in a caucus.


Burin has been a Lansing Town Justice for 16 years, and will be running for a fifth term.  He has lived in Lansing all his life.

"My background has always been the law," he said.  "I served 25 years as an Ithaca police officer and detective, and 16 years as Town justice.  I believe I've been more than fair with the people in the Town of Lansing and even outside of the Town of Lansing."

Miller has lived in Lansing since 1986.  She has been on the School Board, a zoning committee and many others.  She spoke of bringing back businesses like the Sure Fine grocery store and the Cinnamon Shop bakery -- to bring businesses that people would like to see in the town, and to bring tax money back into Lansing.

"We worked at getting tax money for the library," she said.  "If we didn't get that money someone else would have gotten it, so I'm glad that money came to Lansing.  I truly feel the library is something that helps us get more money, because we've already taken money and shown that we can do something really wonderful with it."

Boles is a lifelong Lansing resident who owns his own contracting business.  He is currently working on the YMCA expansion in the Village of Lansing.  He said he is interested in the development of a town center, and development in the town that is fiscally responsible.

"My work allows me to work with people in all walks of life and in all kinds of financial situations," he said.  "Money has to get spent, but I like to see responsibility behind that money.  I like to listen to reason before I make decisions."

Mason is an engineer who has been involved with town issues such as the current county study to mitigate flooding in Ludlowville.  He and his wife Stephanie own the Federal house B&B in Ludlowville.  He spoke of maintaining and building town infrastructure, including properly load rating Lansing roads.

"This is a critical time in Lansing," he said.  "We're at a growth phase where things are changing and we really need to have an input and a voice that sees these things through tis critical light."


Questions ran over the allotted 30 minute period, with most centering on future growth and its impact on taxes and the quality of life.  A lively discussion of natural gas drilling and many possible negative impacts spurred questions about what the candidates would do to try to stop it.  Miller said that the information given to residents who signed leases with the drilling companies was incomplete, and might even amount to fraud.  If that is so, she said that there may be ways for people to get out of those contracts.

Burin asked the candidates whether they would stick to their guns if elected, or let other board members sway them.  All three said they would be firm in their stances, though they are open to being convinced.

Burin won the nomination by a voice vote.  A secret ballot was used to choose the two Town Board candidates.  Mason won an endorsement with 32 votes, and Miller won the second endorsement with 31 votes.  Boles got 21 votes.  He says he will not continue to run as an independent.

Mason and Miller will run against Republicans Robert Cree and Doug McEver in the November 3rd general election.  Cree is running on a platform of fiscal responsibility and looking for ways to lower town taxes, while continuing to provide maximum services to the town.  McEver served a term on the town board, then left to campaign in the primary for County Legislature.

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