17 hours ago
4 seeking 3 seats on Ogdensburg City Council
Jun. 16—OGDENSBURG — November's election for three City Council seats has been finalized, barring any write-in campaigns, with four candidates on the ballot.
Running on the Republican and Conservative lines are incumbents Daniel E. Skamperle and Michael B. Powers.
Running on both the Democratic and Independent Voices for Reason line are John Tebo and Wendy Hamilton.
Skamperle is the longest tenured member of City Council, having served four terms after being first elected in 2009. A teacher at Massena Central School, Skamperle feels that there is "much unfinished business from city government."
"I believe I'm still the voice of so many people who want to see this city do better in many different ways. I want to move this city forward by creating economic development while lowering taxes, I believe the last administration in it's relationship with New York State and the county, in many respects, put this city on hold," stated Skamperle, citing the dispute with the county over sales tax and a legal "mess" with the city's firefighter union that are keeping taxes high.
Skamperle said that the city needs to address economic development to raise sales tax "since we are on our own now." He says two quick ways that can happen are by passing a new business and residential friendly zoning code and to develop Diamond and Shade Roller properties as well as the Marina District.
Powers was on City Council from 2008-2012 and served the remainder of a two-year term prior to being re-elected in November of 2021.
He retired from the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision after 34 years of service. Prior to retirement, he had been the president of the New York State Corrections Officer & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA).
Powers called the current council a "good council" and has enjoyed working with them over the past year and a half. Powers wants to continue the work they've done so far.
"The city is starting to turn some corners and I am happy and grateful to the citizens of Ogdensburg who have put their trust in me," said Powers. "The city is on to some good things here and I would like to continue to serve."
In April, Tebo was selected to fill the remaining term on City Council of Michael Weaver following his resignation earlier this spring after he moved outside of city limits. A retired teacher from the Ogdensburg City School District and longtime coach, Tebo is running to remain on City Council for the next four years.
"I think we are moving in the right direction. With the recent grants we've gotten with some other things that are happening I think I want to be part of that positive forward motion that the city is about to take," said Tebo. "It's better than sitting back and complaining about the city when maybe you could do something to help it."
The lone newcomer to the election process is Hamilton who moved to Ogdensburg four years ago from South Carolina.
A regular at City Council meetings, as well as speaking at the podium during public appearances, Hamilton sees herself as someone who can "shake up the status quo."
"There are a lot of familiar faces and names there (City Council) and my research into Ogdensburg's political history is much that has happened is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. So I think a new perspective, a fresh perspective is needed," said Hamilton. "I've lived here for four short years and I love Ogdensburg and I think there's a tremendous amount of potential here and I think I see it through a different pair of eyes because I don't have the historical loss connection."
Hamilton retired from what she calls a "corporate life in human resources and organizational development," has run a small "niche" business. In her retired life she has acted as a mentor to Senior Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) that provides free business consulting to small businesses.
"I have both a corporate and small business perspective as well," she added.
