City GOP makes pick for Ward 3 special election
City Republican Chairperson David Souliere said Wednesday the committee is 'incredibly excited' to nominate Chaney, who lives on Rugar Street, for the seat.
Souliere said Chaney graduated from Plattsburgh High School in 1975, attended Clinton Community College for two years and then served his country for 20 years in the United States Air Force, where he served as a security specialist, as well as a recruiter.
This experience then led to his next career, 17 years at the Clinton County Sheriff's Department, where he served as a correction officer seargeant for 14 years, retiring as special deputy for the Clinton County Airport.
'Through these experiences Dennis has attained strong leadership qualities, along with the ability to collaborate, to attain goals that are in the best interests of his community as a whole,' Souliere wrote in a statement. 'These attributes will serve as a critical asset to the Common Council, and the Mayor, as they navigate long term debt stability, public safety issues, and future development within the City.'
Souliere said Chaney is already thinking about ways to improve Ward 3.
'Within Ward 3 is the newly annexed property off of Reeves lane, Dennis looks forward to working with the Common Council, and the Mayor, to find the most sustainable and responsible use for this property,' Souliere said. 'In conclusion, we could not be more excited to have Dennis Chaney as our candidate for Ward 3 City Councilperson. He will be your FULL-TIME Councilperson!'
The Ward 3 seat, which was made vacant in June when Democrat Elizabeth Gibbs resigned after six years on the job, will be up for grabs in a special election this November to fill the remainder of Gibbs' three-year term, which she was elected to last year.
Mayor Wendell Hughes was given 30 days from July 1 to find and nominate a replacement for Gibbs through the rest of 2025.
'This was nothing I planned on doing,' Hughes said in June after news of Gibbs' resignation was announced in June. 'If somebody told me I would be replacing Elizabeth Gibbs, I would have argued all day, but I'm happy for her as a friend. She's a friend of mine, and I respect her a lot.'
Gibbs' successor was made public Wednesday when the city of Plattsburgh shared that Hughes is expected to appoint resident Jackie Strack to the vacant Ward 3 seat through the end of 2025 at the Common Council meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
Chaney and Strack now appear poised for a November General Election face-off.
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