Minerva town race focuses on economic growth, fiscal responsibility [The Post-Star, Glens Falls, N.Y.]

Oct. 29--MINERVA -- Town Supervisor Sue Montgomery Corey is being challenged in her quest for a second term by Deputy Supervisor Stephen McNally.

Corey, who has the Democratic and Citizen's ballot lines, said her top issue is developing a four-season tourism industry. Minerva is working with four other towns on partnerships to grow the economy.

Sound financial planning is another priority, and Corey said it looks like the 2014 budget will stay under the state-mandated tax cap.

"We, like everyone else, have had to really look for ways to maintain our services and our facilities with a shrinking resource base," she said. "We've starting looking for other resources, grants and investments that can help us."

Corey said she also wants to improve broadband and cellular telecommunications infrastructure in the town.

The town is in the process of upgrading the kitchen at town hall, where the Adirondack Community Action Program serves lunch three days a week and breakfast and dinner twice a month. The organization also prepares meals for home delivery.

A new air filtration system was installed, and painting was completed. Corey said Minerva may need a new building to house that facility because of its growth.

She said she is pleased to have implemented the home repair grant, which will help about a dozen homeowners improve their houses. The money comes from the federal Small Cities Community Development Block Grant, and the program is administered by the Housing Assistance Program of Essex County.

Corey said other accomplishments during her tenure include making government more transparent and fixing the roof of the highway garage. A new boiler was also installed at the parks department building to increase energy efficiency.

Corey, 55, is owner of Community Power Network of NYS, vice chairwoman of the state's HEAP Block Grant Advisory Council, a member of the Minerva Service Organization and the Association of Counties Economic Development Committee.

McNally is running on the Community Service Line. He could not be reached for further comment but submitted a candidate questionnaire to The Post-Star.

He said improving the efficiency of government is his top issue.

"We need to get things done timely and accurately," he wrote.

In the questionnaire, McNally, 52, said he is a fiscal conservative and a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. He has been on the Minerva Town Council for 10 years and is general manager of the American Van Service.

Four people are seeking two seats on the Town Council.

Incumbent Keith Edward Dubay has the Republican ballot line. Rob Lee is on the Progressive line. Douglas S. McCall is on the GOP and Honesty ballot lines, and Peter McNally has the Democratic Party nomination.

Lee, 70, said in his candidate questionnaire his top priority is to create new jobs, reduce taxes and increase school enrollment.

He said he would seek federal and state economic development grants, if elected. Lee serves on the town Planning Board and is a retired Army officer who has managed three different business and taught high school history and government, he wrote in the questionnaire.

McCall, 47, has been on the council for eight years. He said his top issue is to fix the earthen dam at Minerva Lake. As a self-employed contractor, he said he brings business sense to town government.

Dubay and Peter McNally did not return candidate questionnaires.

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