GATES DEMOCRATS ANNOUNCE 2005 SLATE OF CANDIDATES
At the 1st designating meeting of the Gates Democratic Committee, Maxine Reaves, chairperson of the Candidate Selection Committee, recommended the following candidates for approval by the full committee.
The candidates are: Susan Swanton for Town Supervisor, Frieda Caldarelli and Mark McIntee for Town Board, Doug Ross for Town Justice, Norma Polizzi for County Legislative District 4 and Steve Eckel for County Legislative District 26. Maxine Reaves and her committee interviewed all candidates and presented their background at the Tuesday, April 5th Designating Committee meeting.
Supervisor candidate Susan Swanton emphasized the Committee's slogan of 'Commitment to Community' and how the energetic and fresh thinking of the Gates Democrats will bring Gates voters a choice in voting for town and county elections for the 1st time since 1997.
Susan Swanton, 63, retired Gates Public Library Director, founding President of the Gates Historical Society and coordinator of the current Gates best selling pictorial history of the Town of Gates, has lived in Gates for 30 years. A graduate of Harvard and Columbia Universities, with a long list of community activities and proven leadership abilities, she is the mother of three Gates Chili graduates who have all succeeded in their college pursuits. She is new to politics, having been elected Chairperson of the reestablished Gates Democratic Committee last year, but has already been selected by the Monroe County Democratic Committee as 'Local Leader of the Year' for 2004.
Frieda Caldarelli, 56, Gates Town Board candidate is the owner of Pastiche Hair Designs, Inc., on Long Pond Road in Gates, where she has operated her own beauty salon for approximately 18 years. Married to Sam and residing on Howard Road near Wal-Mart, she is the mother of 3. She is currently serving as treasurer for the Gates Democratic Committee. Frieda was a supervising instructor in a beauty college in California and held special credentialing to teach students enrolled in the Coastline Regional Occupational Program. She was instrumental in designing and implementing specific methods of pre-testing to help enable student to successfully pass their state exams for licensing. Frieda was also the recipient of the Gates Beautification Award in 1996 for the most improved business of the year by the Gates Chili Chamber of Commerce. Thanks to her local business, many other worthy causes, such as the Gates Historical Society's drive to acquire the Hinchey Homestead, have benefited from Frieda's civic mindedness.
The other candidate for the Gates Town Board on the Democratic slate is Mark McIntee. Mark McIntee, 45, has been a Gates resident for 14 years and is a member of Trinity Emmanuel Lutheran Church. He lives on Pinto Run in the northwest section of Gates. Married to Diane and father of four children, he is a 1977 graduate of Webster Schroeder High School. He has worked 15 years for 84 Lumber, currently as an outside salesman.
Doug Ross, candidate for Town Justice, is new to Gates but was active in Democratic politics in Brighton and has much familiarity with town courts there.
Norma A. Polizzi, 56, the Democratic candidate for County Legislature, 4th District, is an attorney with the firm of Jaeckle, Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP. Her practice is concentrated in commercial and environmental litigation. She is also a member of the American, New York Monroe County and Women's Bar Associations, serving on the Public Education and Legislative Affairs Committees. Ms. Polizzi is the Assistant Leader of the Gates Democratic Committee and a member of the County Democratic Committee's Women's Leadership Council and sits on the Lawyers' Committee. Norma lives in Hidden Valley and has served on its Board of Directors for the past 8 years, including 3 years as Vice President and 2 years as President. She is also an ordained Elder and an active member of Gates Presbyterian Church.
Steve Eckel, 39, was appointed to replace Mitch Rowe as County Legislator for the 26th District, which covers sections of Gates, Greece, Irondequoit and parts of Northwest Rochester. He and his wife, Bridget Monroe, have two children and live in the Maplewood Section of the City. Steve is Assistant Professor of Photography at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, in Geneva, NY. Steve has served on the city Democratic Committee for 4 years, is an active member of the Northwest Democrats and is presently its co-chair. Steve is running for a full four year term in November.
With the many challenges facing the Town of Gates and Monroe County, it is good that voters in Gates will have quality choices in local and county candidates. "Gates has many problems, including the town's financial problems cited at this past April 4th Town Board meeting. Gates voters in November will see our Democratic candidates as the solution to resolving those problems" said Sue Swanton to the Gates Democratic Committee. For more information about the Gates Democratic Committee's slate of candidates, visit www.gatesdemocrats.org.
From L to R: Mark McIntee, Susan Swanton, Norma Polizzi, Frieda Caldarelli, Steve Eckel