Guy C. Case

John C. Gaylord

BOONVILLE — Allegations about mismanagement of funds and lack of an open government are issues that have surfaced as an Air Force veteran and a retired state police trooper face off for the supervisor seat in the Nov. 3 election.

Supervisor Guy C. Case, of 8411 Jackson Hill Road, a contractor for Rome Laboratory and a veteran, lost the Republican primary to newcomer John C. Gaylord, of 115 James St., retired trooper and former owner of Slim’s Restaurant on Main Street, 282-210.

Case is still in the running, however, on the Independence and Conservative lines on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Case said Gaylord has made false and misleading accusations against him and the town board during his candidacy. To set the record straight, Case said he has invited Gaylord to partake in a public debate at his convenience so that some issues can be addressed.

In a letter addressed to Gaylord and the residents of Boonville, Case said, "On Sept. 10, 2009, my opponent, Mr. John Gaylord, charged me and our current town board with ‘mismanagement of funds’ and the need for a ‘more open government,’ implying that our current board may be keeping something ‘secret.’ I assure you, there are no secrets. My question to Mr. Gaylord is, if you feel this way, why haven’t you said so before now? On behalf of the town board members, I ask Mr. Gaylord to meet me in an open forum that the public is invited to attend."

Case said during his term as town supervisor, Boonville has seen the creation of new businesses, jobs and programs.

"While I have been the Boonville town supervisor, we have created jobs for the town of Boonville as we brought in Owl Wire, new jobs created with the New Hand in Hand Childcare Center, bringing affordable day care for working parents to Boonville," he said in a statement. "We passed the Cold War Veterans Tax Exemption law, the first ever in the history of Boonville. We are helping to keep Boonville beautiful with the annual Town/Village-wide Clean-up, which includes free large appliance drop-off along with free yard clean-up for home-bound residents."

"We brought the DMV (state Department of Motor Vehicles) satellite office to Boonville weekly at the town/village offices," Case continued. "We passed the first town of Boonville Dog Control Law. We also increased the senior citizen tax exemption for the first time in 17 years. I believe I’m the best choice for town supervisor based on my accomplishments while in office, and because I truly care about Boonville."

Case is also a life-time member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a 20-year member of the American Legion and the Boonville Elks.

Gaylord said because he is retired, he would be willing and able to devote his obligations to the town full-time, rather than treat the office of supervisor as a part-time job.

"I am a life-long resident of the area, and I want to see the town run as a business, not as a political tool," Gaylord said. "I have time to address the issues and regular town business. We’re in tough financial times, and we need to be frugal with our expenses and purchases. We need to optimize every opportunity for outside funding and not just put it on the backs of the taxpayers."

Other town races:

• Town Board (vote for two)

Michael A. Croneiser, of 336 Hayes Road West, Republican, Independence, Conservative.

Janine M. Smith, of 1922 Dorn Road, Democrat.

David Stocklosa, of 8864 Jackson Hill Road, Republican, Independence.

• Highway Superintendent

Fred H. Wiedmer, of 8835 Sudol Hill Road, Republican.

• Justice

Nadine J. McIntyre, of 12649 Route 46, Republican, Democrat, Independence, Conservative.

• Town Clerk/Tax Collector

Katherine S. Crill, of 8245 N. Pfendler Road, Republican, Independence.

There are a total 2,641 registered voters in the town of Boonville. According to the U.S. Census, the town population was 4,614 in 2008.

A break-down of party affiliation in the town: Democrat: 722; Republican: 1,279; Independence: 121; Conservative: 32; Working Families: 7; Green: 2; Blank-No Party: 458; Liberal: 10; Right to Life: 6; Other: 4.