Hosley has served town of Oneonta well
Phil Hosley has been ably serving the people of our town as a postal carrier for the past several decades, and is widely regarded as friendly, caring and dependable. The judgment and people-skills he is known for will make him an effective justice for the town of Oneonta.
I have known Phil for more than 40 years, and have admired his strength and determination in some of the hardest moments life presents. I am going to vote for him because he has the energy, the skills and the life experience to be an excellent Town of Oneonta justice.
Ken Jones
Oneonta
Good Samaritan may have saved a life
I was on my way to an appointment in Stamford Friday morning (Oct. 9) around 10:30 a.m. when a gentleman stopped me and another car traveling on state Route 23 in Davenport Center. He was desperately looking for someone with a cell phone. Fortunately I had mine and was able to call 911.
He was passing by and noticed smoke coming from under a porch roof of Fran Andrews' home.
After telling me of his concerns, he ran to the front door and pounded on the front door yelling, "Is anybody in here?" repeatedly. Finally he was inside and helped Fran out of the burning house, then returned to the house, looking for anyone else that may have been inside.
The fire department was very prompt and folks tended to Fran.
The purpose of my letter is to thank this gentleman for his courage and willingness to become involved.
The house was fully involved in minutes, and if he had not taken the time to stop me and then pound on that door, I'm certain Fran would have perished in that house.
To that fellow, THANK YOU. It's folks like you that make this country what it is!
Jo Bordinger
Oneonta and Davenport Center
Dick Miller's record speaks volumes
I live in the city of Oneonta and I have been following the news and letters regarding the upcoming race for mayor. It's great that we have three people running for mayor.
As I listen and read about what each candidate really brings to the table for the position of mayor, it seem very clear that Dick Miller's proven track record of leadership makes him the best choice.
His accomplishments in higher education, in philanthropy and in business, speak volumes for his ability to get things done. He is honest and has a passion for Oneonta. He is respected, not just in the city, but throughout the state as a person of action. This earned respect he has will open doors and give Oneonta opportunities it has never had before.
In politics, like anything, I suppose, there are always those that have many ideas and grand rhetoric to go along with their ideas. If it were only about ideas, and flooding the media with big talk, it would be easy. To be an effective leader, one needs experience and the skill-set to take ideas and make them a reality.
Dick Miller is the candidate that has the experience and skill-set to move Oneonta forward. He holds the community, and the race to represent us in city hall, with the highest degree of pride and esteem. His integrity, character, and ability will not disappoint you.
Dick Miller has my vote for mayor in November and I hope you will vote for him also. Thank you.
Tim McGraw
Oneonta
Quackenbush has real-world experience
When it comes to dealing with county budgets in a time of economic uncertainty, we need a county representative with two feet in the real world. That's why I urge Oneonta town voters to elect Janet Quackenbush our next county representative.
Janet is self-employed and is herself an employer _ she knows the stresses the county faces as an employer. She know what it means to make a payroll, to produce, and how to balance the books. She has valuable financial experience we need right now on the county board of representatives. As a business owner and a homeowner, she will make property-tax relief her priority, as she has done as a town board member for the past decade.
Janet Quackenbush's business experience will be a genuine asset to the board as it reviews the budget and makes decisions among competing needs.
For many reasons _ business savvy, town board experience, support for firefighters as a former fire commissioner _ Janet Quackenbush is the right candidate for country representative, and I urge town of Oneonta voters to make a change and support her on Election Day.
Hugh Henderson
Oneonta
Henderson represented the town of Oneonta on the Otsego County Board of Representatives from 1983-2007.
Keator is clear choice for treasurer
On Nov. 3, voters of Otsego County will elect a new county treasurer. It is an important position.
Section 550 of the New York County Officers Law defines the county treasurer as "the chief fiscal officer of the county." It further states, "The county treasurer shall receive and be the custodian of all money belonging to the county"¦ and shall keep a true account of all receipts and expenditures"¦."
In effect, the position of county treasurer entails bookkeeping, accounting and financial reporting. The job requires someone with training and experience in accounting. This year only one candidate has that experience _ Ed Keator.
Ed has nearly 30 years experience as a financial professional in both the public and private sectors. He has been a business owner and has done accounting for businesses and nonprofit organizations. Additionally, Ed knows and understands Otsego County's unique and complex budgeting procedures and our accounting systems.
As a member of the county board of representatives, I, along with my fellow board members, frequently relied on the guidance and insight provided by Ed Keator during his employment with the treasurer's office. Not only did he demonstrate a complete understanding of the fiscal issues facing the county, but he was able to offer solutions to many problems facing the board.
The Otsego County treasurer's job is not one of profit and investing as some would describe, but it is a job of stewardship and accountability. Both are qualities that Ed Keator has already demonstrated on the county's behalf. Both are qualities essential to the fiscal well-being of Otsego County.
This year the choice is very clear. Ed Keator is the only candidate for county treasurer with the proven experience and trusted judgment we need.
James Vincent Johnson
Fly Creek
Johnson represents District 8 on the Otsego County Board of Representatives.
NYSEG rate hike would be obscene
All indicators show that the wholesale price of electricity has been plummeting over the last several months and that natural gas is also in a downward trend. This means that suppliers' profits have ballooned over this period, giving them more than enough to cover any increase in expenses.
In view of this, any request by NYSEG for a rate increase, let alone one of 18.6 percent, is obscene. I would hope that the Public Service Commission would not only reject NYSEG's request, but instruct it to substantially decrease rates to bring them in line with actual product cost.
John Forman
Oneonta
