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GOP looking to take control of Rotterdam Town Board
By Ned Campbell May 7, 2015


ROTTERDAM — Come November, Republicans could take back control of a Rotterdam Town Board that has been split politically since Mike Viscusi, a Conservative who caucused with the Democrats, resigned in October.

The town Republican Committee this week named candidates to run in the wide-open race for town supervisor and two Town Board seats; if just one of them wins, the GOP will have a majority on the five-member board.

The Republicans endorsed political newcomer Yvonne Cleveland to run for supervisor and Stanley Marchinkowski and Ryan DeBrino to run for Town Board, according to a news release from party Chairwoman Tracy Donovan.

Cleveland is described as “a business professional in our community for almost 30 years” who volunteered with Rotterdam Pop Warner Football for 20 years. Marchinkowski served as vice president and chief negotiator for the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Benevolent Association, and DeBrino works for state Sen. Catherine Young, R-Olean.

All three candidates would rescind a controversial $50 brush pickup fee approved by the Democrats last year.

Supervisor Harry Buffardi and Deputy Supervisor Wayne Calder, both Democrats, are not seeking re-election. The third open seat was never filled after Viscusi resigned. The winning candidates would join Republican board members Joe Villano and Rick Larmour, who are not up for re-election.

The Republicans also endorsed Highway Superintendent Larry LaMora for another term. “He has been doing an outstanding job, despite the lack of funding the Democratic administration has provided,” the news release said. “The Republican candidates have promised to cut spending and find money for the Highway Department.”

John Mertz, who is counsel to the state Assembly’s Minority Ways and Means Committee and previously served on the Town Board, was tapped to run for town justice and county Legislator Brian McGarry, R-4th District, was endorsed for another term.

The Rotterdam Democratic Committee is in the process of finalizing a full slate of candidates to run against them, said party Chairman Dan Garrow.