November 09, 2005

ESPOSITO SAYS THE SHOW'S ON THE ROAD
By Christine Carrie Fien / cfien@mpnewspapers.com

Don't expect any fancy parlor tricks from Gates Supervisor Ralph Esposito, now heading into his ninth term.

Instead, he said, look for a steady meat-and-potatoes diet of cost-cutting and revenue-raising wherever possible.

"We're going to begin negotiations with the town of Greece for consolidation of some of the highway functions," he said. "It's ... on the list of the state comptroller and it's on our list as well."

Combining forces with Greece won't cost Gates highway workers their jobs, Esposito said, but they probably will lose out on overtime.

Esposito defeated second-time challenger Susan Swanton, a Democrat, Tuesday to win his ninth, two-year term as Gates supervisor. The position pays $89,980 annually.

"I'm honored to have the opportunity to serve the residents of Gates for another term," he said. "Sue Swanton ran the most negative campaign in the history of Gates and I'm very appreciative the Gates voters continue to reject her philosophy."

In response, Swanton said Democrats ran on Esposito's record and "if that leaves it open to being negative, so be it."

"I'm a very nice person," she added. "I'm sorry that Ralph doesn't see it that way."

As to the election results, Swanton said democracy is the real winner because voters had a choice, but "I don't think (Esposito's victory) bodes well for the town at all. (Gates) will continue to be in serious financial trouble."

The town's financial pickle made the Republican administration potentially more vulnerable than in years past, Esposito said. But Tuesday night's results prove that even if voters blame him, he said, they don't trust Swanton to fix whatever's wrong.

The town has been grappling with a cash-flow problem and is being audited by the state comptroller's office.

Swanton said she expects the audit to vindicate what she's been saying about the town's financial state.

"A great deal of truth...will be out," she said.

In addition to the consolidation effort, Esposito said he'd be talking to County Executive Maggie Brooks about swinging more county highway jobs to Gates.

"We can't cut the cost of government because our departments are as thin as can be," he said. "But we can try to...raise additional revenues."

The town will also be looking into grants and member-items from state lawmakers, Esposito said, to help with expenses like vehicle purchasing.

"We need to be much more aggressive in these areas," he said.

Swanton is Gates' former library director. She isn't sure if she'll make another run at public office, but she will remain active in the town's Democratic Committee.

"We're only going to get bigger and better and stronger," she said, adding that she has discovered pockets of unregistered voters in town and "you'd better believe we're going to do something about that."

Esposito also had the Conservative endorsement while Swanton was endorsed by the Independence Party.

Town Board

Republican incumbents Elaine Tette and Frank Allkofer also won re-election Tuesday night. Each will serve a four-year term. They defeated first-time Democratic challengers Frieda Caldarelli and Mark McIntee.

"I'm very pleased with the outcome. In fact, I'm ecstatic," Allkofer said. "I'm pleased that residents placed their faith and trust in all of us to return us to office."

Salaries for council people are $15,441 a year.

Allkofer was appointed to the board last year to fill the unexpired term of John Maggio. He is the director of the Monroe County Parks Department and formerly the head of Gates Recreation and Parks.

Tette has been on the board since 1997. She is also the town's deputy supervisor and retired administrator of central police services for Monroe County.

"It's a great victory," Tette said Tuesday night. "It just feels good to win this one. It really does. We ran as a team and we won as a team."

Town justice

Running unopposed as a Republican/Conservative, Peter Pupatelli will serve a second, four-year term. He was appointed to the position in 2001 and re-elected that same year.

Gates town justice's annual salary is $29,080.

Fast Facts : Gates Voting Results

According to complete but unofficial results from the Monroe County Board of Elections:

Supervisor