Dear Friends,

First and foremost, it’s been an honor and a privilege to represent you and all of the residents of the Town of Seneca Falls. Together, we have been creating a town that the residents and the taxpayers deserve– a great place to raise a family, live, work, play and invest.

Although we have accomplished many objectives, there are a number of projects that I want to see to the finish line.

With the momentum of this administration, I look forward to continuing to lead our historic town in 2024 toward becoming a healthier, safer, green energy efficient and economically resilient, and vibrant place to call home that will be further enriched by its arts, culture and heritage for future generations.

INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE

Today, the town encompasses roughly 24 sq. miles, including the former Village, thus creating a need over-time for increased staff and services. The Town currently facilitates a $15 million-dollar operating budget which underscores every aspect of our community.

During the last four years, I have worked vigorously in collaboration with our engaged multi-consultant services to secure over $12 million dollars in grant monies for a wide variety of projects throughout our community. These projects include critical infrastructure improvements:

Updating street lighting in the former village to energy efficient LED lighting;

Establishing the Town as a designated NYSERDA Clean Energy 2.0 Community to reduce overall municipal energy costs;

Replacing 3-miles of aging sidewalks through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School program to encourage walking and bicycling to school, reducing motor vehicle-related injuries and fatalities and reducing transportation’s contribution to air pollution; and

Integration of $20M in upgrades to aging Water Treatment Plant and Sewer Treatment Plant facilities for improved treatment performance, community health and energy efficiency.

GROWING HOUSING & OUR NEIGHBORHOODS

I have been working with various public and private partners to invest in and develop a variety of new housing opportunities in Seneca Falls with the goal of increasing housing options by offering affordable, energy-efficient and sustainable builds. This will benefit first-time buyers, retirees, including those seeking adaptability or age in place house and will perpetuate the cycle of when one dwelling becomes available, a new family is welcomed. As we grow our capacity to house more people, our community will grow stronger and our local economy will reap the benefits.

PROTECTING PROPERTY VALUES & TAXES

Working with the Board, I’ve strived to continually enact upgrades and provide needed services throughout the Town while controlling taxes and it wasn’t always easy, however it was accomplished. With careful planning under my leadership, the Town also executed a property revaluation in 2022 overlooked by previous administrations. According to New York State Dept. of Tax and Finance:

“Municipal-wide reassessments are the best way to ensure that assessments are fair and accurate. After several years without a reassessment, some properties will be over-assessed and some will be under-assessed. This is because some properties will have obviously increased in value, while others may have decreased or stayed the same. Without a reassessment, all of the properties will continue to pay the same amount of taxes.”

It is apparent that reassessments can have real economic impacts. A routinely scheduled revaluation will ensure our property owners see the quantitative benefits of investing in Seneca Falls residential and commercial properties.

GREEN ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY

The Town Board has negotiated a new Host Community Agreement (HCA) with Seneca Meadows Inc. that would ONLY go into effect if the Department of Environmental Conversation (DEC) allows Seneca Meadows to fill-in the valley which is within the current landfill footprint. This agreement includes strong requirements for odor control, independent odor complaint reporting, collecting and disposing of the Town’s solid waste at no charge to the taxpayers, (currently the Town pays $296,374.00 per year for this service), no construction vehicles or garbage haulers working for SMI will be allowed to drive in the downtown area, $1 million dollar signing bonus, if and when, the Town signs the HCA; a $2 million dollar bonus when the Town issues the necessary permits for operations, and a projected $10 million dollar annual payment to the Town. The annual payment would allow for such uses as lowering taxes, making necessary upgrades to our aging infrastructure at no cost to the taxpayers, and provide much needed capital for other projects that will benefit the community-at-large.

FINDING BALANCE IN A GLOBAL PANDEMIC & FORWARD

The biggest challenge this administration and our community faced was the declaration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on February 3, 2020. With the exception of essential services, we temporarily reduced our workforce by 20%. In response to our Governor’s mandated workforce reduction For the duration of the pandemic, were able to facilitate all Town services and return our valued workforce to employment. Today, we remain Seneca Falls Strong and New York Tough for pulling together during a vulnerable time in our lives and exhibited incredible humanity to others. That is COMMUNITY.

ADVANCING SENECA FALLS

Looking ahead, we will continue to face financial and workforce challenges, like many other communities, as the economy and other variables impact our community and those across the country. When I grew up, Seneca Falls was an over industrialized community. Unfortunately, with minor exceptions, the companies (Sylvania/Philips ECG, Guaranteed Parts, Seneca Knitting Mills, Geb & Souhan, Seneca Machine Shop, etc.) and the taxes generated by those businesses and the employment force have diminished.

Therefore, we have to be smarter, work harder, and be willing to explore all opportunities to keep Seneca Falls vibrant and a great place to live. I will continue to drive responsive decision-making in the spirit of creativity, innovation and resiliency as we move ahead. I will continue to leverage public private partnerships to provide the best services and resources to our community. I’m confident that the team here at the town, which I’m very fortunate to lead, will continue to aggressively carve our path forward.

As your Town Supervisor, I am proud to have established the position of Town Manager to work in partnership with the Town Board.

In August 2022, Dr. Soscia came onboard and as an experienced educator and administrator in his own right, he has been an actively engaged team partner, and visible leader in the day-to-day operations of the Town. It is his position that affords Town-elected officials to provide leadership, develop a vision for the community, determine what services are most needed for its citizens, lobby the state legislature on the community’s behalf, and communicate and forge new relationships with constituents. Among numerous efforts, Dr. Soscia is also leading the ADVANCE Seneca Falls 2040 Comprehensive Plan planning process- the first since 2006, it will guide future boards on how you envision your town.

YOUR VOTE

There are many more accomplishments that I will discuss in the future. This November 7th is Election Day and I believe it will be one of the most important elections for Seneca Falls. As your Town Supervisor, I will continue to engage the constituencies that I am so humbled and privileged to serve and continue to listen, learn and lead on people’s behalf. This election is about advancing Seneca Falls, not about Republicans or Democrats. On November 7th, I am asking for your support to ensure Seneca Falls continues to move forward with the leadership and dedication necessary to preserve, maintain and keep our community the safe and dynamic town it has been my entire life.

VOTE to return Michael J. Ferrara, as your Seneca Falls Town Supervisor on the Conservative Party Line, on Tuesday, November 7th, 2023.

I sincerely appreciate and thank you for the support you have given me over the past four years. If you have a specific question regarding anything I have said, or some other Town matter, you can always contact me directly at (315) 856-0784. Let’s Advance Seneca Falls- Together! Vote for Mike on November 7th.

Thank you,

Michael J. Ferrara, Town Supervisor

Town of Seneca Falls

IT’S OFFICIAL: EXPERIENCED LOCAL ATTORNEY JOHN NABINGER LAUNCHES REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN FOR SENECA COUNTY D.A!!!

Today experienced local attorney John Nabinger officially announced his campaign for Seneca County District Attorney in the 2023 local election. Nabinger is a Republican who started his career as a Seneca County Assistant District Attorney and has served as a Seneca County Public Defender for the past 20 years.

“I’m running for Seneca County District Attorney to bring my 25 years of experience to serve the community we all love,” said Nabinger. “Having served as a prosecutor and public defender, I have the balanced perspective, experience and qualifications to keep our community safer as your new District Attorney.”

For 25 years, Nabinger has served as an attorney in State, County and Municipal courtrooms across Upstate New York. During his career, he has handled more than 2000 cases, including more than 1000 felonies.

In 1998, fresh out of law school, he began his career as an Assistant District Attorney in Seneca County. He later served as an Assistant District Attorney in Onondaga County for several years. During his time as a prosecutor, he handled various areas of prosecution, presented to the Grand Jury and handled felony cases including homicides.

For the past 20 years, Nabinger has worked every day in the Seneca County Court system while serving as a Seneca County Public Defender. In this role, he provides the Constitutionally guaranteed right to a defense for those accused of crimes.

Nabinger and a team of volunteers are circulating petitions to place his name on the Republican and Conservative ballot lines in the November election. He has earned the endorsement of both the Seneca County Republican Committee and Seneca County Conservative Party.

“The Seneca County Republican Committee has enthusiastically endorsed John Nabinger for D.A. because he has the experience and balanced perspective needed for the position,” said Seneca County Republicans Chairman and former Sheriff Tom Fox. “He also will be a strong voice speaking out against bad policies like Defunding the Police and Bail Reform.”

“John Nabinger is an experienced attorney who knows the law – and has a strong understanding of the Constitution and Bill of Rights,” said Seneca County Conservative Chairman William White. “We’re proud to stand behind John and help elect him as our new District Attorney.”

Nabinger, 56, lives in Romulus. He is a graduate of the Syracuse University College of Law, SUNY Brockport and Onondaga Community College.

We are focused on a better Seneca County and a strong growing prosperous Seneca County.   Our positions have been and are being a Business Friendly Community and Republicans support this policy.  With these trying times and such a great loss of revenue for so many it’s even more important now than ever to remain strong, united and forge ahead. We as Republicans need to be supportive of new businesses and help all businesses survive. For so long Seneca County has relied on Tourism as a major source of income for many families and businesses. With the devastation of Covid threats it has reduced local tourism by three quarters. This is why we have to fight to keep present and operating businesses intact and operating. We can’t afford, nor do we want layoffs or businesses closing.  We have been dealing with the Covid Pandemic and our present Board of Supervisors have been trying to work through this. They have created a Covid  Task force and meet regularly on issues with this pandemic. There are different opinions on what to do, or how to do it, but they’re working on it. Republicans agreeing to disagree on these items is not all a bad thing. Everyone is working for the same goal and that’s to keep our community safe and try and slow this pandemic and return to normal as soon as possible. We all hear so many different comments and what’s happening but so much is half truths and not how things happen.

When we select candidates we need to make sure they have our goals for a bigger and better economy in Seneca County. We can’t allow the left wing liberals’ to destroy our future and economy over their personal agenda. We actually have people of the other party affiliation serving and running on present boards that have made it clear they only have one thing in mind and that is to close a business who is one of our major employers and contributors for local community organizations . 

It’s important to help keep our community safe and strong and fight side by side, elbow to elbow to achieve our goals. We want to be known throughout the state that Seneca County is open for business and we welcome you.  

Thank you and we’re all part of this movement of Business Friendly in Seneca County.

Tom Fox, Chairman, Seneca County Republican Committee

• Defending our Nation
• Reforming Government to Serve the People
• Appointing Constitutionalist Judges
• Preserving our Values
• Upholding the Constitutional Right to Keep/Bear Arms
• Upholding Equal treatment for All (i.e. sex, race, age, religion, creed, disability or national origin)
• Protecting our National Symbols
• Freedom of Speech and of the Press
• Maintaining the Sanctity and Dignity of Human Life
• Preserving Traditional Marriage
• Safeguarding Religious Liberties (Student Lead Prayer in Schools)
• Preserving Americans’ Property Rights

Defending our Nation
Supporting our Heroes
Reforming government to serve people
Maintaining the sanctity and dignity of human life
Protecting our second amendment rights
Safeguarding religious liberties
Defending our rights to own and enjoy our property

….these are a few of our core values.

visit us today @ senecagop.com